Brothers enjoy national success
11/4/2009 9:52 PM
By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer
It's no surprise that Michael and Luke Tokaruk continue to enjoy success since they have added to their impressive list of accomplishments with a strong showing in 2009.
Tokaruk Show Stables continues to expand in terms of the number of its horses and clients, said Michael. The brothers are based at Phillip and Evie Dutton's Red Oak Farm in the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community.
They enjoyed success at a number of shows nationwide and competed successfully in Colorado, Nashville, Tenn., Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Okla., Conyers, Ga., as well as Aiken, in 2009.
"I did some shows that I had never done before that had been really nice and good for our horses and clients," said Michael.
A number of horses exhibited by Michael may be making an impact in the early part of 2010 at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., those include Angela Woodbury's Shakespeare and the rider's Lord Byron and Roger Rabbit.
"I'm looking forward to having Shakespeare to show in some of the World Cup and FEI classes in Florida this winter," said Michael.
Roger Rabbit will turn 9 in 2010, and Michael recognizes his potential. The tandem won the 7- to 8-year-old YJC Jumper Classic during the 2008 Colorado Summer Circuit.
"I think Roger Rabbit will be close to doing those kinds of things (show in the World Cup and FEI classes), in terms of his maturity and training."
Michael is looking forward to showing Roger Rabbit this fall and winter and believes the Hanoverian gelding is really coming in to his own.
"He's a horse I can take out to the international ring in Florida," said Michael. "I have high hopes for Roger Rabbit. I'm usually understated about a lot of things. He's really an exciting horse, he's progressing very well, and his jumpoffs are getting better all the time. I now can go for it a little bit with him instead of having to hold back or protect him."
The Tokaruk brothers will be competing in Nashville for two weeks at the end of October and will then spend two weeks in Conyers, Ga., in the beginning of November before going to Wellington, Fla.
Michael appeared on the July cover of Practical Horseman. He has always read the magazine and believes it's the best instructional magazine for English riders.
"It was an honor to be asked to be in the magazine, and then to be put on the cover is pretty remarkable," said Michael. "It's very flattering to be included in a magazine that had George Morris and Laura Kraut in it (June 2009), and the next month to be on the cover was really special for me and is the highlight of my career. It's been great personally and for business; it's helped our national exposure. I've had calls from all over the country, and e-mails from people all over the world who want to do business with us, and I think that has a lot to do with the Practical Horseman issue."
It gave Michael a chance to reconnect with friends who aren't involved in the horse business and share with them the fact that he had been featured in the widely read and distributed publication.
"It's been great; it's been the high point of the year and my riding career," said Michael. "I've always looked up to the people who have appeared in the magazine."
Lucius 35, whom Luke teamed with to win the 2008 Colorado Horse Park Grand Prix, has missed the better part of 2009 but appears ready to return to competition.
"I'm quite excited that he's coming back; he's been in work for a while," said Luke. "I'm hoping to show him in Conyers in some smaller classes and then hopefully in some bigger and international classes in Florida."
One horse that Luke has been enjoying success with is the 8-year-old Rival du Jour du Point. He'll be showing him in Nashville and Conyers.
"I hope to step up with him and do some of the medium classes in Florida," said Luke.
Another horse in the Tokaruk brothers' barn is Lexington. Luke did a speed derby with him in Colorado.
"He's kind of a multipurpose horse," said Luke. "A client leased him for a while. We'll see what he can do. He's potentially another Grand Prix horse."
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.
11/4/2009 9:52 PM
By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer
It's no surprise that Michael and Luke Tokaruk continue to enjoy success since they have added to their impressive list of accomplishments with a strong showing in 2009.
Tokaruk Show Stables continues to expand in terms of the number of its horses and clients, said Michael. The brothers are based at Phillip and Evie Dutton's Red Oak Farm in the Bridle Creek Equestrian Community.
They enjoyed success at a number of shows nationwide and competed successfully in Colorado, Nashville, Tenn., Kentucky, Oklahoma City, Okla., Conyers, Ga., as well as Aiken, in 2009.
"I did some shows that I had never done before that had been really nice and good for our horses and clients," said Michael.
A number of horses exhibited by Michael may be making an impact in the early part of 2010 at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., those include Angela Woodbury's Shakespeare and the rider's Lord Byron and Roger Rabbit.
"I'm looking forward to having Shakespeare to show in some of the World Cup and FEI classes in Florida this winter," said Michael.
Roger Rabbit will turn 9 in 2010, and Michael recognizes his potential. The tandem won the 7- to 8-year-old YJC Jumper Classic during the 2008 Colorado Summer Circuit.
"I think Roger Rabbit will be close to doing those kinds of things (show in the World Cup and FEI classes), in terms of his maturity and training."
Michael is looking forward to showing Roger Rabbit this fall and winter and believes the Hanoverian gelding is really coming in to his own.
"He's a horse I can take out to the international ring in Florida," said Michael. "I have high hopes for Roger Rabbit. I'm usually understated about a lot of things. He's really an exciting horse, he's progressing very well, and his jumpoffs are getting better all the time. I now can go for it a little bit with him instead of having to hold back or protect him."
The Tokaruk brothers will be competing in Nashville for two weeks at the end of October and will then spend two weeks in Conyers, Ga., in the beginning of November before going to Wellington, Fla.
Michael appeared on the July cover of Practical Horseman. He has always read the magazine and believes it's the best instructional magazine for English riders.
"It was an honor to be asked to be in the magazine, and then to be put on the cover is pretty remarkable," said Michael. "It's very flattering to be included in a magazine that had George Morris and Laura Kraut in it (June 2009), and the next month to be on the cover was really special for me and is the highlight of my career. It's been great personally and for business; it's helped our national exposure. I've had calls from all over the country, and e-mails from people all over the world who want to do business with us, and I think that has a lot to do with the Practical Horseman issue."
It gave Michael a chance to reconnect with friends who aren't involved in the horse business and share with them the fact that he had been featured in the widely read and distributed publication.
"It's been great; it's been the high point of the year and my riding career," said Michael. "I've always looked up to the people who have appeared in the magazine."
Lucius 35, whom Luke teamed with to win the 2008 Colorado Horse Park Grand Prix, has missed the better part of 2009 but appears ready to return to competition.
"I'm quite excited that he's coming back; he's been in work for a while," said Luke. "I'm hoping to show him in Conyers in some smaller classes and then hopefully in some bigger and international classes in Florida."
One horse that Luke has been enjoying success with is the 8-year-old Rival du Jour du Point. He'll be showing him in Nashville and Conyers.
"I hope to step up with him and do some of the medium classes in Florida," said Luke.
Another horse in the Tokaruk brothers' barn is Lexington. Luke did a speed derby with him in Colorado.
"He's kind of a multipurpose horse," said Luke. "A client leased him for a while. We'll see what he can do. He's potentially another Grand Prix horse."
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.
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