Eagles Thunder n Toby at the 2007 World Championship Show in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Wow, I would never have believed I could have a horse that would go this far.

It all started, before the turn of the century, when I decided I needed a different breed of horse to compete in distance riding. I always had a love and desire to own a horse as a child. At a local horse show, a man had a very colorful horse and I had to ask what kind it was - an appaloosa. I don't remember seeing appaloosas before this.

At the beginning of the year in 2000, an acquaintance had Eagles Thunder n Toby shipped from Washington to Texas. He was only five months old. I begin to learn about the appaloosa breed and their history. I purchased a couple of appaloosa mares to ride.

After the owner of Eagles Thunder n Toby lost interest in him, I boarded and took care of him for over a year. Since he wasn't my horse, I didn't spend much time with his training. Eagles Thunder n Toby didn't have a very exciting life.

In the year 2003, arrangements were made, and now I own this fabulous horse. I begin to look more into the bloodlines of this breed - and into the Foundation Appaloosa Horse Registry. I've learned how they are trying to preserve the bloodlines of the Appaloosa breed and finding out more on the background of Eagles Thunder n Toby and his foundation bloodlines.

This stallion was four years old when he became mine and had very little handling or training. I'm sure he was very bored being a backyard breeding animal.

One evening, Bill Wicklund,of Hurricane Ranch in Oklahoma, called me about some mares. I knew Bill from past NATRC (North American Riders Conference) rides. It was the latter part of the year 2005. Our discussion got around to distance riding. Bill said we needed to get started with Eagles Thunder n Toby if we were going to get his Bronze Medallion in 2006. Eagles Thunder n Toby was about to begin his REAL education and career. This was to be his first year (2006) of any type of competition. It begin with Bill Wicklund riding him in AERC. I attended as many rides as possible to help as a crew member. Since Eagles Thunder n Toby had known little other than to breed mares, being out among all those other horses was quite a challenge, for horse and rider. Bill has written stories about the different rides on Eagles Thunder n Toby, so you felt you as if you were there on the trail with them.

The ApHC's had their first Inaugural National 50 mile Championship Ride in Palmrya, Wisconsin. Eagles Thunder n Toby had qualified$#33; William, my boyfriend, made sure my truck and trailer were ready to go. I picked up Eagles Thunder n Toby and Bill in Oklahoma and we were on our way. It was the longest trip I had ever made hauling a horse. He took to the road well. At the ApHC National Championship Ride, he was the only stallion to compete and he received 8th place.

Some of his other achievements earned for the 2006 year were: Bronze Medallion, Register of Merit, Sixth place in the AERC Central Region Point standings, Jo Ann Tate Memorial Annual Achievement Award-High Point Registered Appaloosa-Ozark Country Endurance Riders, CRHA Novice Endurance Horse.

Wow. . . . .you could not have convinced me in 2005 that all this could be achieved.

For Eagles Thunder n Toby to receive his next medallion, he had to have show points. Bill suggested Jim Jirkovsky in Nebraska (J Bar S Training). Bill spoke to Jim about Eagles Thunder n Toby and the abilities he thought this horse had. It was a hard decision to make, sending my horse so far away and the financial obligations. I wasn't sure when I was going to be able to get Eagles Thunder n Toby to Nebraska. Jim said he could help me out on getting him to their place in Nebraska. He and his wife Sandy were going to be judging in Waco, Texas. They had family who lived in north Texas. William and I took Eagles Thunder n Toby to north Texas to continue his trip onto Nebraska to work toward his Silver medallion.

Eagles Thunder n Toby started his show career in 2007. He has earned a number of national points working cattle, reining, steer daubing, and halter with Jim Jirkovsky.

Eagles Thunder n Toby's 2007 World Championship Appaloosa Horse Club events included:

Senior Judged Heading
Senior Judged Heeling
Heading and Heeling (Eagles Thunder n Toby was tied for 10th place in the nation).
Paul Tierney was the exhibitor on these events.

Senior Judged Heading events, we missed the top ten by a half a point! Eagles Thunder n Toby had a score of 201 and it had to be 201 ½ or better.

Senior Judged Heeling, his score was 200, it had to be 210 or better.

Heading and Heeling - he made the finalist group ( 47 contestants). There were sixteen for the final run. On the final run, he broke the barrier too early -a 10 point penalty. The final score left Eagles Thunder n Toby in the 15th position. We walked away with a beautiful medal: World Championship Appaloosa Show, Timed Roping Finalist 2007, donated by www.BarnCam.com.

This foundation appaloosa has proved dreams can be achieved. It has taken the support and encouragment of people that have a love for this horse and his breed. The owners of two of his sons (one in Rhode Island and one in Malaga, Spain) plan to do some distance riding. Tracey Parker (Spain) and I think one day, Eagles Thunder n Toby and Kiss My Finest Heart will compete-father and son-in distance riding. A far fetched dream, but then several years ago the Bronze Medallion and qualifying for the World Championship Show was just a dream.

Go for it! Deanna Brown.