Lucy Borrack flying high with Mighty Tosca. Image by James Abernethy Photography.
There are horses whose names are so familiar, they transcend time, discipline and even each of their riders. They’ve been at the top of their sports and in the placings for what feels like decades. Labelling them a “schoolmaster” seems obvious. But these horses are truly masters of all.
Mighty Tosca is a name you’ve likely seen before. Somewhere in the results of an eventing competition? Or maybe a show jumping one? Was it for a junior championship, a national interschools event, or perhaps you read about him on an Australian team? Maybe you’ve followed his story enough to know that he’s done all of that, and more.
Naomi Lawton (nee White) with a young Mighty Tosca. Image supplied.
Tosca’s results and appearances are numerous, and his impact is far reaching. He’s had an amazing life and accolades in abundance, even more incredible when you consider that he arrived from the South Australian drought markets to the Wandin Riding Academy in Victoria at around five years of age with no knowledge of his breeding or beginnings.
“At 15.3 hands, he was an eclectic mix of Clydie, Arab and Thoroughbred, he had two microchips and a hint of a past life,” recalls Naomi Lawton (nee White), who was at the Wandin Riding Academy when he walked off a truck and into her life. “Emily Anker was coaching me, and her mother Angela Anker had purchased Tosca with the intention he would be a school horse. But he was a bit too naughty and jumped a bit too well.”
So, Tosca was officially not a school horse and instead purchased for 12-year-old Naomi by her non-horsey parents. Her sister, Hannah, knew he was mighty right from the start, and henceforth he became known as Mighty Tosca.
“He was not an easy horse to begin with. He used to buck and bronc all the time!” laughs Naomi. “He was learning at the same time I was, so it took a while to click.” When they did click, they developed together – all the way from Grade 4 to Grade 1 Pony Club, ultimately winning the PCAV State Horse Trials in Grade 2 and Grade 1, before also securing the Grade 1 National Championship. “I must credit his and my development to Emily Anker. We were based at Wandin for five years. Emily still coaches me today,” explains Naomi.
FROM PONY CLUB TO FEI
With Pony Club limits reached, Naomi and Tosca turned their talents to Equestrian Australia eventing (EvA) and the FEI. “We won Melbourne International Three-Day Event (MI3DE) in the Junior one-star (now two-star). I would love to relive that, the first taste of an FEI competition, and the biggest atmosphere we had experienced,” reflects Naomi.
In the dressage arena, Tosca could hold his own amongst purpose-bred performance horses. “He wasn’t the flashiest mover, but he was so accurate and consistent that he was always up there,” says Naomi. This consistency always kept Tosca competitive, even as they moved up the levels, eyeing off more three-day events, more wins and a step up to two-star (now three-star) where they finished fifth at MI3DE.
Naomi and Tosca went all the way up through the Pony Club grades and on to FEI four-star level. Image supplied.
By this stage, Naomi considered Tosca to be “point and shoot, bold and brave” on cross country. But he could also be a bit too bold and add some unnecessary airtime to what was a huge fence already. “He gave it a bit of extra go and jumped me off at Adelaide,” laughs Naomi. No matter how impressive he was in the competition arena, you could never underestimate his spice and personality – and the edge it gave him. This prickliness and attitude extended also to travelling to and from many competitions. “He could be so tricky to truck or float, often running backwards and taking off just as you were about to put the ramp up!” laughs Naomi.
Picking herself up from ejection out of the saddle at Adelaide, Naomi and Tosca went on to represent Australia on the Young Rider team for the Oceania Eventing Championships at MI3DE the following year, before tackling three-star (now four-star) at Friends of Werribee, where they had an unusual crash into the water. Determined to make it at the four-star level, Naomi planned for one more attempt.
“I knew that was a big push for him,” says Naomi, who realised that the resources required to keep a horse continuing at the elite levels was not at that time realistic. “I was too young; I felt pressure with the cost of it as a self-funded 19-year-old. I had great support at competitions from Hannah, but I didn’t have the money to maintain a horse at that level and I didn’t want to step us back down the levels for the sake of it, when he could teach someone else so much.”
With that in mind, Naomi selected an event for one last run together at four-star level, fittingly back where it all started at Wandin Park. Naomi had the best ride of her life around Wandin, with her home crowd cheering them on. “I crossed the finish line in tears, I knew that would be the last time together.”
Tosca became a “point and shoot, bold and brave” cross country horse. Image supplied.
FINDING SOMEONE WORTHY
Of all their challenges together, finding someone worthy of taking over the reins of his cheap, Indian leather bridle would be the biggest yet. “He’d done a heap of miles; he needed someone who I knew would look after him,” says Naomi. That person was out there in the form of Stephanie Ivanovic. Stephanie and Tosca completed two junior two-star starts at MI3DE together, both times clear. They also competed together in the two-star at the Australian Interschools Championship, where his next rider, Jack Barker, first noticed him.
Jack is now known for his success as a young rider on the show jumping scene, but back then he was competing in dressage at the Australian Interschools Championship and thinking he would like to give eventing a go.
“We saw Tosca on cross country at the Interschools Champs and someone mentioned to us that Steph was selling him,” remembers Jack. They arranged a trial and soon after purchased Tosca – and then Covid hit. So, the best laid plans of taking him eventing were put on hold and they instead show jumped a lot during lockdowns.
“We actually only took him cross country schooling once. He wasn’t young anymore and he was too good of a show jumper not to give that a go,” says Jack. He was right: Tosca’s careful tuck of the knees and speed, which had been so crucial to finishing on a dressage score in eventing, was just as competitive against pure show jumpers.
Jack Barker competing in the show jumping arena with Mighty Tosca. Image by EMB Photograpics.
“I did my first Junior Championship on him at Boneo, and we won it,” says Jack. “I did my first 1.20m courses on him and went to the Victorian State Titles. One of our biggest achievements together was third place at the Australian Children’s Final.”
You could almost say Tosca was a mother’s dream, but as always he liked to balance the success and keep everyone guessing with a reasonable amount of bad behaviour, like the time Jack’s mum, Fiona, took him to Mordialloc beach while Jack was at school. “He bucked her off and then galloped up and down the beach refusing to be caught,” laughs Jack.
‘A GREAT PERSONALITY’
Despite his occasional spice and love for lifting his back feet off the ground (when not required), Tosca was a favourite for Jack. “He was always lovely to have around, such a great personality. He’s the reason I show jump now.” Jack currently competes a team of six horses up to 1.50m. His love for the sport and skills learnt he credits to Tosca.
“He’s had the biggest impact of any horse; he was so good at it and made it really fun. He’s not a very forgiving horse; he’s very honest and won’t put up with bad riding. He pulled up at the first jump once because I put him too far off a good spot, so I learnt to be accurate,” says Jack.
Eventually, Jack aged out of Children’s classes and had two other horses lined up, so the decision to move Tosca to his next home was reluctantly made. “He was such a super horse, and he started it all for me,” says Jack. Tosca had made such an impression within the show jumping circles that he already had some admirers who would have loved to have him in their stables, and so Jack sold him to the Borrack family, who were keen show jumpers at Anakie, near Geelong.
Luke Borrack, father of Lucy, Sunday and Harry, had seen Tosca at many a competition and was thrilled at the opportunity to have him join the family. Partnering first with eldest daughter Lucy, Tosca won countless 1.10m and 1.20m classes.
Lucy Borrack and her siblings have learnt a lot from Tosca. Image by James Abernethy Photography.
“He taught Lucy how to ride technically in a jump-off on a great line,” says Luke, adding it’s something that he attributes to Tosca’s dressage training. Tosca also showed all three kids the subtle art of adjusting strides to bigger fences and then letting him be. Bigger fences indeed – Lucy and Tosca completed a big, technical round at the Adelaide Royal in the Junior class. “It was a highlight for us,” says Luke.
An even more impressive achievement when you consider that by this point Tosca was in his twenties and had a whole life of competition behind him, which also means a whole lot of maintenance.
“He has the most
incredible buck…”
STAYING FIT & SOUND
Luke makes sure they all take part in managing Tosca’s health and fitness to ensure he always feels his best. “We make sure that we don’t let him down. He’s worked most days but not jumped too often and warmed up at his own pace until he’s suppled. He follows the same regime as our polo ponies to make sure he’s fit and sound,” explains Luke. Tosca even had a 10-month spell a couple of years ago, returning to ridden work better than ever.
Luke understands why the age of some schoolmaster horses can be off-putting but encourages people to not dismiss these older horses and what they have to offer. “Adjust as you need for them and do the sensible thing,” he advises. For the Borrack family, that has meant an adjustment in the levels Tosca competes at, currently jumping 90cm-1m tracks with son, Harry. It also means extra love and care, for which Tosca is appreciative. “He loves being stabled, legs wrapped, ready for a show,” laughs Luke. It’s the full royal treatment.
But even that amount of attention and affection can’t persuade Tosca to behave all the time. He now has a reputation as not only a lover of a good buck, but particularly for the unseating of parents; just as he did on Mordialloc beach with Fiona Barker, so too has he done with Luke Borrack – twice!
“I work him at home, and he’s got me off twice. If you don’t use a mounting block… halfway over, he’ll make sure you hit the ground. He has the most incredible buck,” laughs Luke.
Luke fondly recalls his family’s time with Tosca, and the profound impact he has had on his children’s riding careers. “It’s been an honour to have him in our lives, we are so lucky.” The journey isn’t done just yet either, as Luke is planning on a possible Australian Jumping Championship appearance in November.
“He’s still enjoying it and is competitive. What’s the point in retiring him now if this is what keeps him going and happy?” asks Luke. Tosca will keep jumping around tracks with Harry, adding to his list another capable, skilled and talented rider, ready to take on their future horses and challenges. He’s given so generously to a group of people who have experienced, undoubtedly, some of the best moments of their young lives with him and set them up for their future endeavours.
Naomi looks forward to welcoming Tosca back in his retirement. Image supplied.
“I got to chase the
dream really early,
I owe him everything.”
For Naomi, he set the benchmark that she will forever try to experience again in her equestrian life. “He gave me such a sense of fulfilment at such a young age, before life got in the way. I got to chase the dream really early, I owe him everything,” says Naomi. “He’s done his job for us, and everyone that has owned him has given him their world.”
Naomi plans to have him back in her world too, when Tosca and the Borrack family are ready to hang up that same, cheap bridle that has remained in use with Tosca all these years.
“He will live out his retirement back with Naomi. I would love for nothing more than just that,” says Luke. “It would be the best thing for him, a full circle moment, the best ending. He deserves it.” EQ
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