Huge Thanks to Tonto's old owner - we feel very privileged that
you allowed us to purchase Tonto back.
Tonto will now remain us for
the rest of his days.
The day was Thursday
18 February 2010 - I
was looking at a farm property and thought I'd take a drive by. When
driving back towards home I remembered that the road I was turning
i nto was the same as road I had sold my gelding to several years
before. I scanned the properties driving down the road,
keeping a watchful eye and then I saw him .... Grazing roadside!!!
   
Initially we owned Tonto for almost 10 years
he was certainly a big part of our life.
I also did low
level endurance with him later on, up in Auckland and boy did Tonto
get a new lease of life - LOVED IT!
Our fondest memories are of my 5 year
old daughter riding Tonto down winding Country road, riding a total
of 10kms in a day, lunch and backpack on her back alongside the big
girls from over the road. They would ride to Light Horse Club
grounds in Tawa, Wellington every second Sunday. That little girl is
now 18 yrs old!
I
Foung Tonto all those years ago in the Rangitikei District,
grazed out on a big station being used as a shepherds hack.
Apparently Tonto would occasionally pig root if he didn't like th e
rider and so ended up down the road with the Shepherd.
I can't count the number of kiddies Tonto's taught and looked after
over the years and he never ever pig-rooted with me or my children.
Standing at just under 15.2hh his height never bothered the kids or
nervous adults as Tonto was such a kindly gentleman. On the odd occasion when friends
turned up, and if their husbands insisted on having a ride Tonto
would tell the husband in the first 4 strides whether he was "in" or
"out" with pig-roots.
We hope that we have many years left with him, he will mind the
foals here at stud and hang out with our other very aged gelding.
For all those who keep asking me ..... "YES" he remembered me, and
had a little pose for the camera while he leapt and bounded up the
paddock in Tonto style. He kept coming back over and muzzling me.
I
have cried more in the last few days than I have in years!
I didn't once visit him after we sold him 5 years ago, as I knew it
would break my heart.
Immediately after he was sold - I
had to live with the deep regret.
Over the following years when I phoned his owner I'd ask if I
could buy him back - but that wasn't an option. That was until last week
when it was like a dream come true for me.
To be reunited with Tonto is the best
wishes to have ever come true.
Dyllan hasn't really shown a lot of interest in horses up until Tonto
arrived, as he kept on making a fuss of her.
It's really special that she asks to sit up there as he is a big boy
and until now she has had no desire to climb on board. Even her 17 month old brother has outdone her in the courage
stakes! 
Dyllan is now independently getting his hay in her wheelbarrow
delivering his hay several times a day and she independently fills his trough
with the hose.
Dyllan lightens up his day and he does this for her.
It's simple really I guess ...
Tonto is sharing his magic around, just like he did all those years ago
with big sister Sophie and has done his entire equine life that we
know of. Tonto just has that effect on people - a one in a million
boy and we hope that he's with us for many years to come.
Photos below taken the day he
arrived - had a
little pose and raced up the paddock


Then he meets Dyllan, 3 yrs old
and immediately he goes into little people mode - always did LOVE
little people.
The pictures tell a story and Tonto loves water so bury's his head
in his water trough as Dyllan studies him hard.
My other photo's show that Dyllan then decides to get wet in the
trough, he thought that was amusing!
Tonto kept sloshing his head in the water then dripping it all over
Dyllans bare body.
Then he'd nuzzle all over her and lick her bare skin - highly to her
amusement!

Photos below taken our last
endurance ride together around 6 years ago
  
Photo below taken in December 2004
- minding duty, loves the babies

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