This Hard-Napping Event Horse Is All of Us: Life Lessons from Legend of Toro

We love shining the spotlight on eventing’s hardworking adult amateurs! Have a rider who deserves some attention? Email us at [email protected].

Earlier this year a video landed in the EN inbox of a very sleepy horse named Legend of Toro. Watching the video, I know we can all relate. Been there, buddy.

Fast forward to earlier this week, when I noticed while compiling weekend competition results that Legend of Toro must have finally woken up from his slumber because he’d won his Introductory Combined Test at MDHT March Starter Trials at Loch Moy. I was inspired. Maybe — just maybe — if the world’s most shamelessly nap-loving event horse could rally for a blue ribbon, perhaps the rest of us could make it through another workweek afternoon.

I needed to meet this horse. Who was he? What was his secret? I reached out to Legend of Toro’s owner, Chelsea Spear.

“Toro is known for his naps,” Chelsea laughs. “If I go to get him out of the field when he’s laying down and put his halter on, he lays flat to protest. He groans and is so dramatic about it, but always gets right up if you really ask him to.”

As it turns out, MDHT was Chelsea and Toro’s very first combined test together! He has a sweet story, and his owner’s story is inspiring, too.

Chelsea grew up a horse crazy kid, dabbling in everything from saddle seat (“Yes, gasp, saddle seat!” she says) to team penning and fox hunting, then pleasure rode as an adult.

“Then after having two kids I needed something for me, to find myself again, as I felt like I was losing myself in the sleep deprivation exhausting but amazing thing called motherhood,” she says. Chelsea also owns her own company, Caprika Realty, with her husband. “Sales can be stressful, so horses are my sanity! You can’t think about other things when riding.”

She splurged on a 17.3-hand draft cross chestnut mare named Daisy and decided to try a new endeavor: eventing. Learning to event at age 31 was no easy task, Chelsea says. “You are more aware of your mortality, and it’s daunting!” But she couldn’t resist the sport. “It was love. Fun and challenging, and the community is just amazing.”

Chelsea and Daisy. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Spear.

Daisy wasn’t so much into the dressage — “And if you’ve ever owned a 17.3-hand half draft chestnut mare, you would know that you can’t MAKE them do anything haha” — so she found a new home as a fox hunting and Chelsea began the search for a new partner.

She was determined to take her time and try as many horses as possible, but as fate would have it the first horse she tried was The One. Toro was a 4-year-old OTTB chestnut gelding, sourced by Natalie Hollis of Destination Eventing. “They raved about his brain and correct jumping, etc., and he looked adorable. We went and tried him and it was love. I never even tried another horse!”

After a year or so of treating Toro’s moderate-severe ulcers, putting weight on him, dealing with a few injuring and moving barns, the pair was in business. Chelsea credits her trainers Jennifer Clover and Samantha Allen, of Allen and Clover Sport Horses, for helping build her confidence and the skills to bring a young OTTB along.

Riding Toro has been a mental challenge, Chelsea says: “The main thing was battling fear from going to a much more forward horse, and baby antics.” One thing she says really helped was talking lessons on a more experienced horse, wherein she could focus on her own position.

Chelsea and Toro. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Spear.

Jennifer Clover says, “Chelsea and Toro are a super pair. Toro is not always an easy horse, and Chelsea is putting in the work and stepping out of her comfort zone on a regular basis. We’ve gone back and worked and worked on the basics and are creating a solid foundation for fun and success. This is the beginning of a happy, confident pair getting ready to get out there and go!”

Chris Talley has also lent a helping hand, putting a few rides on Toro and helping Chelsea at clinics. “I think it’s really fun to see when people are willing to invest of off-the-track Thoroughbreds,” Chris says. “Chelsea has done a wonderful job bringing Toro along, who himself is a wonderfully talented OTTB. It’s been fun to be a small part of their development and the exciting journey that lies ahead.”

Chris Talley schooling Toro. Photo by Christina Dale.

“They have helped me incredibly,” she says. “When I got to holiday Toro was only a month or two off stall rest and I was scared to canter him. And this last weekend we did our very first combined test (though Intro level with hardly anyone else in our division!). Dressage was meh, but stadium, for the first time on him, was FUN. Like, that was our first show jumping at a show together and it was amazing.”

Some of those big cheers at the end are from Toro’s connections at Destination Eventing, who stayed after their rides to support Chelsea and Toro in their first show.  “They are like extended family,” Chelsea says.

Next up for the pair is a trip to Aiken to visit with friends, train and compete at the Stable View Starter H.T. on April 14: “We are FINALLY on track, and are excited for 2019.”

“He makes me a better rider every day and challenges me and makes me rise to his level of athleticism,” Chelsea says. “He is loving and sweet and an amazing horse.”

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Spear.

Best of luck to this pair!