Introducing Toby

Yes that is exactly what he'd make! He is ideal as an easy, straightforward, go anywhere, do anything horse. In terms of eventing, he is green and he is naturally quite cautious as opposed to being super-bold over fences. So he will need to be produced slowly to event, introducing him to new questions one at a time to build his confidence. But he can definitly jump! This is an 85/90cm oxer:

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Good job I'm at the other end of the country or I'd be tempted to view him AE! Sadly being part-time this year means I've got to curb my enthusiasm for horse buying!
 
I've had the feeling all along that you've kept your emotional distance with Toby. Whether it's because Amber has totally stolen all of your heart, or whether you knew Toby was a stop-gap solution.... or whether you just didn't gel with him ?‍♀️ I know you're obviously fond of him and your posts have always been informative and interesting, but I just don't feel "the lurve" radiating from them like when you post about Amber ❤️

In any case, you've done a lovely job starting him ? He's now ready to go off into the world with a fab all-round education. I'm sure you'll find him a lovely home in no time.
 
You're totally right Coblover. Toby is fab but he's no Amber and I never intended to keep him long term. I have loads of fun on Toby but I feel totally inspired and 'home' when I ride Amber. Toby is much more suited to me on paper: better size, easier to ride, confudence giving to hack and friendlier. But Amber has my heart completely despite everything.
 
Well the last few weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster. I decided to sell Toby to bring Amber back into work as she is now at a place where she can rehab (my yard isn't suitable). I then got disappointing news about her. But decided to sell him anyway as my motivation to ride any 'Not Amber' horse disappeared. I decided I needed a break really. Sell Toby, focus on getting Amber better (or not). So I stuck him on FB, and got an offer that was only £500 off the price I had in my head that I would accept. She said she would not want to vet and could pick up from Somerford today. But we could not agree on a price and I was in no hurry anyway so that was that. And OMG Toby was AWESOME this weekend. I keep kind of going off him through no fault of his own - just the circumstances in which he came to me. And then he goes and behaves like the total Saint he is. I just can't fault him. He tries SO hard. He is SO genuine and willing and kind. And he can move. And he can jump. What's not to like? I spent all weekend thinking thank goodness that buyer isn't picking him up. Id be gutted! So there we are. Looks like he is staying after all :D:DIncidentally Izzy rode all weekend and he kooked after her beautifully, dodgy arm and all. He is a sweetheart.

 
I really wouldn't be in a hurry to sell him unless / until you are 100% certain your head is in the right place to make that decision. Horses like him really don't come along often, particularly uncomplicated, healthy young ones. And if the girls are enjoying him too, then all the more reason to hold onto him. Personally I think he looks wonderful.
 
He is a star. I know what you feel about Amber and heart horse. Partly that may be mare versus gelding. I love mares but my great RI who had her own TB gelding said that what one needed in competition was reliable and predictable. Which geldings are?
 
Sorry to read you've had a bit of a set back with Amber but so pleased you've decided to keep Toby. My Charlie is proving to be very similar to Toby, nothing fazes him and he's very chilled but I suspect Toby is a bit less cheeky. Charlie is definitely exploring boundaries at the moment! I haven't started jumping him yet even thought he's a year older and had jumped a fair bit out hunting in Ireland. I want to sort is canter first. He's a big boy and struggles with canter in the school. I had our first 'proper' one to one lesson last night and got told in no uncertain terms that I am as much the problem as he is - I need to sit on my bum more and not throw him off balance by leaning forwards. We're doing a fun ride at the weekend though so I might pop a few in a straight line, we can canter in straight lines all day!
 
Ambers Echo said:
Yes. Nearly-but-not-quite selling has been a wake up call and helped clarify how I really feel. I am so relieved he is still here! Ultimately he can't stay forever because I can't afford to run 3. But we are along way off that with Amber's future still being very uncertain.
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This really played on my mind last night when I went to bed (goodness knows why I’m so invested... ??‍♀️).

Sounds as if Toby may have had a lucky escape if the potential purchaser was a dealer (which it sounds like).
 
No but Somerford is only an hour away so I decided to go there with him for a viewing for someone who basically wanted to hack most of the time. I knew he'd be good as gold and a long fast hack was a good test for her. She started off the hack saying 'I'll only walk' and ended cantering behind and in front! Toby was fine with Dolly cantering away and leaving him behind too. By the end of the hack she was saying she was having him but her OH put his foot down on price.
 
I think I need a Toby in my life. With BBPs current status I don’t think I will ever really ride properly again, but if I did I would love a lovely cuddly sensible TB type that would take me over a few fences and enjoy going out exploring with me. BBP is my horse of a lifetime for many reasons, but he’s also a lunatic (perhaps for good reason) who robbed me of a lot of ‘normal’ horsey activities. That said, I couldn’t afford a Toby!
 
So Toby has has a jumping clinic with an Olympian! He's going up in the world. I had a clinic with eventing silver medallist and European gold medallist Nicola Wilson. She was very lovely about all the horses but I'll choose to believe her praise of him was sincere. No one who booked on put less than 70/80cm on the booking. I'd put 60, but he held his own in a 70/80cm group.
Weirdly, Nicola commented at the end how like Amber he is: bold and forward. But he used to be cautious and a bit backward. Hard work to get in front of the leg. So the comment threw me till I realised how much he'd changed. He is pretty super-charged now and he really is quite like Amber. Only saner.

He's so cute: he was clipped on Saturday and his coat was velvety. He kept rubbing his nose up and down the fuzz. Obviously liked the feel of it. He stood like a rock throughout and basically went to sleep towards the end. So I can add 'good to clip' to his list of qualities. I am really beginning to connect with him. Suddenly the idea of selling on is very, very unappealing. I think we could be good together.
 
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