British Eventing Favourite Toytown Dies Aged 24
It is with sadness we inform our readers on the death of British Eventing favourite, Toytown.
Owned by Zara Tindall, Toytown was officially retired in 2011 on the final day of the Gatcombe Festival of British Eventing. The pairing enjoyed considerable success over the years, including individual Gold and team Silver, at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Germany.
Toytown, who Zara described as a ‘horse of a lifetime’, briefly returned to accompany the Queens granddaughter for the carrying of the 2012 Olympic torch, at Cheltenham racecourse.
The 17hh chestnut gelding was initially spotted by Captain Marks Phillips, Tindall’s father. With unknown breeding he was described by Zara as a ‘cross country machine’. The pair have been inseparable enjoying a career spanning almost two decades. Despite a rocky start in the showjumping ring, their first real success was achieving the Young Rider title at Bramham Horse Trials in 2002.
He will be missed by not only by Zara, her family and his field mates, but by thousands of adoring fans.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.