Jimmy Toon
Photo by Jennifer Wood/PMG
Table of Contents / Horse Show
By Jennifer Wood
James "Jimmy" Toon has been training for over 30 years. JT Farm is in South Salem, NY, where he has a farm that encompasses more than 50 acres and has impeccable facilities. JT Farm has a southern location in Wellington, FL.
Top horses that Jimmy has trained have won Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit championships, tricolors at every major show in the country and Horse of the Year titles. He has also been one of the most sought-after judges in the industry for years and has judged many of the best horse shows in the nation, including the USEF Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay National Championship and Pony Finals.
While Jimmy has generated many top hunters, he is also a trainer who focuses on producing championship equitation horses. This past year, his horse I-Toon won the WIHS Equitation Finals with rider Maria Schaub. He has also trained the 2006 WIHS Equitation Finals champion Littlefoot, In Pursuit, Jeter and more.
Sidelines: For the equitation division, what's something that you look for in horses?
JT: I think horses need to be comfortable; comfortable off the ground, in the air and landing. Their technique could be very beautiful, but you don't want the rider to lose their position. I don't like horses that give the appearance of being very flat over the jumps. I want them to be very athletic. They don't have to crack their back and jump the rider loose, but they don't need to be flat and not use their neck and have their legs drooping. I like them to be reasonably attractive movers and be attractive horses. They should always be willing to help the rider. Equitation horses can't be spooky; they have to be very fearless. They have to have a big step and be adjustable. That's where the trainers and riders can work to get their horse to respond, to lengthen their stride and to close their stride. There are exercises that can be done for that.
Sidelines: How do you match up horses and riders?
JT: When I go to buy horses I ride them all, even if they're for a client. I have to have a feeling about them. If I like it on the flat, then I continue on jumping it. Many times I've bought horses for people that they've never sat on. I buy horses with the idea that it will be for someone. Every person needs a different type of horse. Some need horses with a lot of blood - blood is good, but you have to weigh it. What I mean by blood is energy level. I don't want one out of control, but I don't want one that the rider is constantly pushing. Some riders can make a horse brighter and some put them to sleep. You have to match the rider to the horse. I think that's something that I'm able to feel and see. I've been fortunate with that, and it's worked numerous times.
Sidelines: With your equitation judging and training experience, what do you like to see happen in the show ring?
JT: With judging, I try to think about it like I teach. I like to see style with a rider. In the equitation ring, I have to want to watch them from the moment they step in the ring. Some riders are breathtaking on the flat and then they get to the first jump and they're horrendous. When a good rider canters up to a jump, I want to see their horse just melt, slow up and jump a beautiful jump. That's very hard to do. When you judge, it's comparing a rider to the next one and the next one.
My goal and thinking is that I'd like to see an effective rider, and I think strength is really good. You have to have a feel for the horse. I don't like to see someone that's rough on their horse. I like to see riders be kind to their horse. It's not always perfect, and sometimes the courses are very demanding. It's trying to find the correct balance between everything.
Sidelines: Do you think kindness and feel can be taught to a rider?
JT: I think if rider and horse are matched up quite well, then yes, the rider can work at that. When someone has too much horse, it's hard for a rider. Lots of times when riders have horses that are hurt, lame or don't have enough scope, it's hard to teach them because they're struggling. In today's time, you need very nice horses. It's becoming a sport of very good athletes.
Sidelines: What can be done to keep horses at peak performance?
JT: Horse management has a lot to do with things. I'm a fanatic about good care. I like to see horses eat well, and I'm a nut about good hay versus grain. I've always been that way. Being willing to change bits and things is important, to a degree. We all use preventative medicine. We all do the therapeutic blankets, ice boots, massage, et cetera. Everyone has all the gadgets. It's trying to stay on top of everything right from the beginning. But, I think it all comes down to what type of horse you're buying.
I think the hardest thing for people to do in this day and age is to back off. If your horse gets hurt, you have to give them the time off. Horses try to talk to you, but are we able to read them? That's the hard thing. I've made mistakes too, and Isaid to myself that a horse was trying to tell me something but I just wasn't listening. Everybody today just wants to get in the show ring and show, show, show. It's really hard to tell someone that it's going to take six months. Some people can't afford six months or can't afford to buy another horse, so things get pushed.
I think this mindset has come about for many reasons. There's no question in my mind that horses are better athletes today than they were decades ago. I think we demand a lot out of the horses today, and we show the horses more than we ever did. There are a million horse shows to go to. Can you stop people from showing? That's the hard thing. Trainers have to keep going to the ring too, in order to pay for everything - their property, their help- and it's a vicious cycle.
Sidelines: What do you see for yourself in the near future? Do you have goals for 2008?
JT: I didn't come from any money, and the sport has been good to me. There are a lot of things wrong with it, but there are also a lot of good things. I try to be in this business to enjoy it now. I like teaching kids, and I love teaching them to be good horseback riders. I want them to be educated and understand what they're doing. I want to have good quality horses.
I think my goal is trying to create something so that I can have more junior riders. I'm trying to push more into the equitation division. If kids start riding with me, I don't care if they ride in the three-foot division, the pony division or the junior divisions. I would also like to bring along more equitation horses; horses that I feel can be doing the major equitation events and even be horses that are on the level of final horses. I'll have horses that can jump around the finals courses and be ribbon contenders.
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