Extra Special Filly Wins National Championship & Hearts
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t the 2013 Sport Horse Nationals in Lexington, Virginia, GJR Shahanna Khan (Sher Khan AC x GJR Dakars Honky Tonk) won the 2-year-old Arabian Filly Championship. “Tonka” (as she is affectionately known) was bred, trained, and handled by Mike Troxler, Equine Director of the William George Agency for Children’s Services (WGA). The WGA is a residential treatment center helping at-risk young people and has a longstanding tradition of involving kids with horses. So for many familiar with the history of the WGA program, this win was “extra special.” Prior to 2009, no one envisioned a program that would teach the level of horsemanship and horse management currently being achieved at WGA. “Coming from the world of show ring training, I never imagined that my life would take the turn that ended up 44
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with a move from Colorado to central New York, but life is full of wonderful surprises and this is one of them,” says Troxler. “I can honestly say there is nothing more exciting than really making a difference in a young person’s life, and at WGA I get the chance to do that every day! The majority of the horses we have are donated. Like the kids, they arrive with various life stories of their own. While it’s true that these kids might not be around horses after they leave, the lessons they learn here are not just horse lessons; they’re life lessons, and you just don’t know how big an impact the experience might be.” From the minute she was born, Tonka (like all of WGA’s young horses) has been handled by the students (under the supervision of Troxler and the WGA Equine staff). As Tonka learned to lead, pick up her feet, and
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Brandon gives Tonka a body clip. Tonka and Nelson. Tonka and Joe practice the stance. Joe and Tonka practice for the sport horse in-hand class. OPPOSITE: GJR Shahanna Khan aka Tonka with Mike Troxler at the Sport Horse Nationals.
stand tied, WGA students learned about compromise and patience. While Tonka learned to wear a blanket, stand for clippers and load in a trailer, WGA students learned about consistency, communication, and strategy. The result was a symbiotic learning experience — a true “winwin” scenario wherein Tonka learned essential skills and the students learned to build relationships through trust and respect. The inaugural team of WGA student handlers competed at two Class A Arabian shows in New York this year. WGA students showed in the Sport Horse In-Hand division and placed well not only in Amateur To Handle but in the Open division as well. In fact, Tonka placed first in Sport Horse Mares In-Hand Open with a student handler at the Empire Arabian Horse Show in May.
In July 2013, Tonka was purchased by Peg and Jim Hay who graciously agreed to continue Tonka’s education with WGA through Region 16 and Sport Horse Nationals. Finding a great new home for a young horse is a big win in any horse trainer’s book. “At WGA, success of the Equine Program isn’t measured by ribbons or titles. Our big wins come when it’s time for our kids and our horses to leave,” said Troxler. “And they do so with the skills and confidence needed to succeed outside the confines of WGA. For the team, each WGA departure is a “win” because one more student or one more horse is better equipped to tackle the world than they were when they arrived — and each one is richer for having experienced the human/ equine connection along the way. Issue 1 / 2014 • MODERN arabian horse
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