Off The Track - Toby's Story
Story by Anna Sharpley, Photo - Julie wilson

Reprinted with the kind permission of Horse Deals Magazine

New Zealand !

On Sunday 20th March Danielle Butcher and Twins Big Higgs were the only combination to jump clear around the Bell Tea Olympic Qualifier Cup at the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show.

Even with the addition of three time penalties, Danielle and the 17 year old Thoroughbred came home in front of a classy field. After the two rounds of the competition they finished in equal seventh position, with the prizemoney of $6,500 paying for the trip. Along with three other Australian combinations, Jamie Kermond with Colthaga, Julia Hargreaves riding Vedor and Billy Raymont with his Thoroughbred, Stardom, Danielle and Big Higgs earned their London Olympic Games qualification. This, of course, does not mean they will go, it means that if they are chosen, they are recognized by the International Equestrian governing body, the FEI, as being up to Olympic standard. It was a super effort from the young rider and the “old schoolmaster” and it again proves, if anyone needs convincing, that there is room at the top level of international showjumping for the Thoroughbred.

Big Higgs was bred at the MacQuarie Stud in NSW in 1993. He is by Covetous out of the Sir Stistram mare, Lineesa. It is certainly more than a coincidence that Sir Tristram pops up more often than not in the pedigree of the Thoroughbred jumping horse. Also Lineesa is out of a mare by Head Hunter, the sire of the noted jumper producer, Dusky Hunter. Racing as Uncovered, Big Higgs had 44 starts for ten wins, including a hurdle race at Colac, earning $94,000 in prizemoney. Certainly a fair career, as many racing experts assure me that, “not many horses win ten races”. An for students of racing form, Uncovered is a half brother to the 2001 Southe African Champion Stayer, Global Legend. During his last race, a hurdle at Moonee Valley in June 2001, Hig Higgs fell over a horse that had fallen in front of him. After that the owners retired the horse and the beginning of the second stage of his career began in the Gippsland paddock of part owner and Harksway Homes principal, Andy O’Shea.

Gippsland showjumping enthusiast, Colin Wareing is always on the look out for a good horse. “We heard through a friend that the horse was sitting in Andy’s paddock. We went to see him, chucked a saddle and bridle on him and rode him in a 15 acre paddock. He was just a really nice horse, so we bought him.” Colin and his wife Michelle are both keen jumping riders and they both rode the horse in some small competitions. “From day one he was a very pleasant horse and straight off the track, you couldn’t fault his attitude. He always jumped, he was a really genuine horse, but he did not suit either of us.” International jumping rider and trainer, Greg Smith knew the horse and liked him. Greg explains; “a client of mine Louisa Stewart was looking for a horse ans I suggested she look at the big thoroughbred at the Wareing’s. I was preparing to go to the World Equestrian Games in Janez in 2002, otherwise I would have purchaced him myself. Louisa bought him and agisted  him here, with the idea of me training them both for competition. After 18 months, the horse had not been off the place and Louisa’s interest had waned a little, so in conjunction with Debbie Higgs I bought him in 2004 and we called him Big (as he is 17.1hh) Higgs. I have another horse with Debbie, Henry Higgs (an OTT subject a few years ago) and we just wanted to continue the naming theme. Louisa called him Toby, so that name just stayed with him at home. At ten he was a bit older than I would have liked to start a D Grader, but because he already had a couple of years light training, he was able to go out and be competitive straight away. His first big win was the main class at Berwick Show in February 2007 when he was still a C Grader. He went on to win the Mt. Gambier Grand Prix at Easter 2008 and two weeks later won the Western Districts Championship, which he won again in 2009. He is a horse with huge scope and a great technique. I have found too that Thoroughbreds get better as they get older, as they learn to focus more on the job at hand. He just had a wonderful feel over a big fence.”

“I started him in a few World Cup classes and he was sixth at Sale in 2009, which was basically the last class with me. During that time the commitments with my trucking business became greater and I did not have enough time to do him justice. I felt that in a professional yard, Toby had more to offer. I spoke to George Sanna  about the horse and he thought he would be a good horse for the Butcher girls.” George takes up the story. “We tried him and he was great. From day one it was a match made in heaven. Danielle is a very uncomplicated rider with plenty of experience and she does not make a lot of mistakes; the horse really loves jumping for her. He is scopey and careful and has a great heart; he is the perfect Grand Prix schoolmaster.

The round he jumped in the Olympic Cup was not a fluke, he was fantastic all show; he did not jump a bad round”. “I have formed a good partnership with Toby in such a short time”, continues Danielle; “he just suits me so well. He has a lovely soft mouth and a really nice canter and this massive jump and at first I found it hard to sit on him. I have had him now for 12 months and have been riding him in big classes for about nine months. He was just amazing in New Zealand, I would have been happy to jump with four or eight faults around the Olympic Cup. On the course I saw a long spot into the treble, but Toby just found the scope and jumped over them all. My reins got a bit long and he just kept jumping. Walking the course George said, at fence 13, the last; whatever you do don’t get excited and run at this fence. But that’s exactly what I did and Toby jumped it. He was a good boy and he is the sweetest horse on the ground too”.