Tokaruk Show Stables NEWS

 

Winter 2008

We are once again headed to Wellington, Florida for the Winter Equestrian Festival. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested in heading to sunny south Florida to ride, train, or compete with us this winter!

 

Fall 2008 News

Many thanks to all who helped out and participated in the 2nd annual Aiken SCPA benefit clinic conducted by Michael Tokaruk and hosted by Tokaruk Show Stables. We had a great turnout, good weather and lots of fun. We also raised much needed funds for the ASPCA's Aiken, SC chapter. Special thanks to Betsy Minton and Barbara Nelson for all their help!

Congratulations to Lindsay Strafuss with her horses, Jetset and Polaris on a successful indoors circuit competing in the junior hunters and the equitation finals!

 

Congrats to all on a fantastic Aiken Fall Festival Show!

Jaclyn and Lemon Drop won the $10,000 Children's/Adult Jumper classic

Ana Bobilev and Touche were reserve champion in the Children's/Adult jumpers

Michael "Barack Obama" won the trainer equitation medal class...Luke "John McCain" was a distant 4th place.

Michael and Lordy were 2nd in the 25,000 Aiken Grand Prix, he placed 5th on Roger Rabbit and 10th on Shakespeare.

lindsay and Jetset were champion in the large juniors

 

Colorado Summer Circuit 2008 Highlights:

Luke and Lucius 35 won the Colorado Horse Park Grand Prix. Michael and Lordy finished 4th.

Lindsay Strafuss and Polaris won the USEF Medal.

Jaclyn Ruocco and Luke teamed up to win the $5,000 Team Take Your Own Line Class

Elizabeth Grimes earned top ribbons in the Adult Jumpers and in the 1.15m classes

Lindsay Strafuss and Jetset were Reserve Champions in the Large Junior Hunters 16-17 two weeks in a row

Surreal and Michael were Champions in the Baby Greens every week and were Circuit Champions!

Michael was 10th in the $40,000 Rocky Mountain Grand Prix

Luke finished 12th in the $60,000 AGA Grand Prix of Denver

Michael and Polaris were 2nd in the $15,000 USHJA High Performance Hunter Derby

Michael and Roger Rabbit won the 7/8 year old YJC jumper classic

Polaris and Michael were Reserve Champions in the Regular Working Hunters

 

Congratulations to the entire TSS team on a GREAT SUMMER CIRCUIT at the Colorado Horse Park - great fun and success was enjoyed by all !!!

SUMMER 2008

Congrats to Jaclyn and Lemon Drop - winners of 3 classes in Brownland, including the Children's / Adult NAL jumper classic. Also congratulations to Ashley and Lochland on their Reserve Championship in the younger Children's hunter division.

Shakespeare was 3rd, Lord Byron was 7th and Lucius 35 was 12th in the $25,000 Grand Prix

Congratulations to Michael and Surreal, Baby Green and Low Hunter Champions at the Nashville summer show. He also was the winner of the Modified Jumpers on Shakespeare and the 7/8 year old jumpers on Roger Rabbit. Congrats to Jaclyn Ruocco and Lemon Drop on winning the level 2 jumpers.

roger rabbit

Roger Rabbit

 

Congrats to Michael on his 3rd place finish with Lord Byron and 8th with Shakepeare and Luke's 9th place finish with Lucius 35 in the $25,000 salute to Elvis grand prix in Tunica, MS

shakespeare

Shakespeare and Michael

 

Congratulations to Ashley Kieth and Lochland on their reserve championship in the Children's Hunter,14 and under division at the Nashville Classic horse show!

Lochland

Ashley and Lochland

 

Congratulations to Michael and Lord Byron on their 4th place finish and Pim on their 8th place finish in the $30,000 Carolina Company Grand Prix in Aiken, SC -- May 4th

Many thanks to all who made the first annual "Champagne on Ice" party at Tokaruk Show Stables such a great event. The silent auction and donations for the Aiken Equine Rescue totaled $3000. Thanks!

Welcome back to Jaclyn Ruocco and Elizabeth Grimes with their horses Lemon Drop and Roxanne. We are glad you guys are back and are excited for another great summer!

 

SPRING 2008

Conyers, GA - Michael and Luke were both in the ribbons at the Cherry Blossom Grand Prix in Atlanta on March 30, 2008. Michael won the class on Lord Byron- their 4th Grand Prix win as a pair! Luke placed 5th on Lucius 35 in their first grand prix ever together! The Tokaruk Show Stables owned entry, Windsor, was Champion in the 3'3" Pre-Green hunters. Congratulations to all on a great show!

 

 

 

Congratulations to Michael and Luke on winning multiple classes in Wellington, Florida this winter!

great success!

Fall 2007 News

Congratulations to Elizabeth Grimes and Roxanne and Jaclyn Ruocco and Lemon Drop on a successful summer in the jumper ring. Best of luck at school this fall!!

roxanne

Elizabeth and Roxanne

 

lemon drop

Jaclyn and Lemon Drop

 

Michael is featured in the August 2007 Issue of USHJA's IN STRIDE magazine...

"...For all of you who are thinking about pursuing careers as riders and trainers, take the time to study the example set by Michael. He is a young man who has made it his mission to be educated, hard working, and dedicated to his sport, attributes that anyone wishing to succeed must possess. Michael is an active member of the USHJA Youth Council and is a fine example of a future leader in our industry..."

--Bill Moroney, President, United States Hunter Jumper Association

Check out IN STRIDE for the full text, as well as Michael's article: "Advice from a Young Professional"

 

June 2007 - "MICHAEL TOKARUK, OF TOKARUK SHOW STABLES, MAKES DOVER CATALOGUE HISTORY"

Flashpoint Media Services is proud to announce that Michael Tokaruk, of the Aiken, S.C.-based Tokaruk Show Stables LLC, will appear on not one, but two Dover Saddlery Catalogue covers in 2007: The Elite Hunter/Jumper Edition and Dover’s General Edition. The dual images mark a momentous occasion, as no other rider has ever appeared on both covers in the 25-year history of the company. The catalogues will be published simultaneously in June.

The Elite Hunter/Jumper Edition will feature Tokaruk aboard the Mary Haley Hamm-owned Polaroid, a Dutch warmblood gelding who was most recently Green Hunter Reserve Champion at the Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic in March. The General Edition image is Tokaruk with his own Holsteiner gelding Lord Byron, most recently the winner of $25,000 EMO Grand Prix of the Gulf Coast in Gulfport. Both pictures are by the nationally ranked event photographers Flashpoint Photography, sister company of Flashpoint Media Services.

“We look for a certain ‘Wow’ factor that draws the eye in, “ said Dover’s Director of Corporate Communications Janet Nittmann of the selection process, “so our first priority is always quality—looking carefully at both horse and rider. Our customers are accustomed to seeing superior images on the covers of the catalogues,” continued Nittmann, “and these photos of Tokaruk and his mounts fit all of our criteria.”

“This is fantastic news,” said Tokaruk when informed of the announcement. “I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say other than thank you and I’m flattered beyond belief!”

One of the industry’s most promising stars, Michael Tokaruk, 25, is a native of Ontario, Canada. As a junior, he was a working student for numerous top hunter/jumper/equitation trainers, including Ken Berkley, Scott Stewart, and Missy Clark. He had been riding professionally for David Pellegrini’s Spring Mill Farm in Eads, TN., before partnering with his brother Luke to launch Tokaruk Show Stables, a showing, training, and sales facility in Aiken, S.C. just last month.

Dover Saddlery, Inc. (NASDAQ: DOVR) is the largest direct marketer of equestrian products in the United States. Founded in 1975 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, by United States Equestrian team members, Dover Saddlery has grown to become The Source for equestrian products. Dover offers a broad and distinctive selection of competitively priced, brand name products for horse and rider through catalogs, the Internet and company-owned retail stores.

Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713
 

 

April 2, 2007 - Aiken Standard- Aiken, South Carolina

 

 

March 1, 2007 - "Landing Spring 2007- as seen in The Chronicle of the Horse

Reins and Manes, and the Plaid Horse magazines"

March 2007 - "Feature article in the Chronicle of the Horse "

 

For more info and links to articles, please view our links page
Michael. 202.413.2303 262 Eastgate Drive #386 Aiken, SC 29803
Luke 931.260.7589