JUNE 2018 THE RIDER /3


Sunnybrook Stables Continued from Page 1.


wee hours of Victoria Day, May 21st, 2018, made international news. Quick action by Toronto firefighters and police, who were summoned after an observer in a nearby apartment complex saw the flames, saved the newer barn which adjoins Sunny- brook’s indoor arena, and the 13 horses inside. The Toronto Police Mounted Unit swiftly mobilized their own trailers to relocate the survivors to the stables at the Horse Palace. Sixteen school horses, however, lost their lives in the fire, which totally consumed the bank barn.


special memories of a favourite horse or pony. Some of the Sunnybrook mounts had been resident in the park for upwards of 20 years. The out- pouring of sorrow on social media has been overwhelming, as have been the offers of funds, supplies, and green field time for the survivors. I was an instructor at Sunny-


brook, and these horses were my work partners and my friends. So that they are not forgotten, I’d like to say a few words about each of them:


Sugar – one of Sunnybrook’s begin- ner specialists, Sugar was a red roan mare with a dished face and a big blaze. Her history as a Western pleas- ure mount gave her a super-slow trot and a rocking-chair canter, perfect for nervous riders.


Axel – a chestnut paint gelding, nar- row and long-backed. A legendary grouch in the barn, a surprisingly will- ing partner for Sunnybrook’s interme- diate riders in the arena.


Sampson – one of the barn’s newer recruits, a cheeky black-and-white large pony who was a little green. He provided a nice challenge for the school’s more advanced riders.


Sandy – a little Appaloosa pony mare who was winding down to retirement and only used lightly in the school. Those who loved her, loved her fiercely.


Beau The barn, which was built


around 1910 as part of the estate of Major Joseph Kilgour, and was do- nated to the city of Toronto in 1928, became part of Sunnybrook Park, an urban oasis of trees, trails, picnic grounds, soccer fields … and a riding school.


Walter Shanly founded Sunny-


brook Stables Ltd. in 1979, leasing the facility from the city. Shanly passed away in September 2017, and his widow, Jacquelynn, now operates the school. The cause of the fire has yet to


Sutherland – the indispensable “Sudsy”, a 20-something gray Percheron/Arab cross, was beginner- friendly but forward. He liked to get on with the job.


Hercules – a liver chestnut Welsh cross, Herc could shuffle in slow-mo- tion or turn it up a notch. He would mess with his small riders by drifting off the rail into the middle of the ring to test their steering skills.


Poomba – 12 hands of pure cheek! He would babysit to a degree, but he could also be a handful. Over fences, he was on springs, rocketing kids out of the saddle with his exuberance.


Blossom– a black-and-white medium pony mare with a kind heart and enough quality to have not been out of place on the A circuit.


Apollo – of Pony of the Americas breeding, Apollo was under 10, but behaved like a much more seasoned pony. We could always count on his level head.


Phoenix — a round little Arabian mare who was a nervous Nelly in the barn, but surprisingly well-trained and confident under saddle. A fun ride for the more advanced kids.


Tess – a bay Quarter Horse mare with a downhill build, Tess played the grumpy mare card but was well- schooled, with some fancy dressage moves in her repertoire.


Misty – a red roan mare of predomi- nantly QH breeding, with one split ear, Misty was goey, sensitive, and a little spooky, not for a beginner. She really shone over fences.


Mr. T


be determined. It is not considered to have been suspicious, despite the ru- moured presence of individuals set- ting off fireworks in the park that evening.


LOST SOULS When a privately-owned horse


passes away, those closest to that ani- mal grieve, of course. But the school horses at Sunnybrook were known, and loved, by literally thousands of Torontonians, each with their own


Marty – a dark bay Thoroughbred mare who was a nice junior hunter be- fore arthritic hocks slowed her down, Marty was also for the more advanced students. She defended her stall space like a barracuda, and gave students a taste of ‘more go than whoa’.


Gifford – Sunnybrook’s mini mascot, reputed to be about 38 years old, was adored by everyone.


Beau – an irreplaceable beginner hero, this big yellow Appaloosa geld- ing trucked around tiny children and large, awkward adults with equal equanimity. For a first taste of canter,


you couldn’t do better than Beau, who went off instructor voice commands.


Mr. T – another stalwart who had been at Sunnybrook almost longer than anyone could remember. T was an almost-black Clyde cross, with a dignified Roman nose and the kindest eyes you could imagine. The extra white hairs sprinkled around those eyes spoke to his long years of serv- ice. T never got grumpy about his lot as an uber-dependable beginner mount, and


viewed the world with quiet bemusement. I will miss him most of all.


At this time, with future plans for re-


building uncertain, Sunnybrook Stables has asked that fund-raising be put on hold. If you wish to make a contribution, they suggest Greenhawk gift cards, which can be used towards replacing the lost tack for the surviving horses. A permanent memo- rial for the horses, in the park, is in the planning stages.


Photo above: Interior of the barn,


with (on the left) Sutherland, Axel, Apollo, Geronimo (now retired, so did not perish in the fire), Beau, and hiding behind him (dark ears


only visible), Mr. T. On the right, two of the ponies, Blossom (closest) and Hercules.


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