2023 was only VL Todd Michael's third full season showing western pleasure, and the Morgan gelding made it his winningest year yet. In 13 classes, 'Toad' finished first or second in all but one, including earning Reserve World Champion and World Champion titles, respectively, in the amateur and open ladies western pleasure classes at the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show in October. In recognition of his outstanding performances, he was named a 2023 US Equestrian Federation National Horse of Honor.
But for his owners and breeders, Dan and Leslie Kelley of Victory Lane Farm in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Toad's spectacular competitive success is not what makes him so remarkable.
"He's got an amazing personality," says Leslie, who is a 2nd generation Morgan breeder. "He is very people oriented, and he continuously nickers when people walk by - it doesn't matter who it is. It is really hard to just walk by his stall.
"I wish everyone could meet him, because they would just fall in love with the Morgan horse," she continues. "He's got that much personality.'
Toad's intense connection with people is perhaps due, at least in part, to a difficult first week of life. The Kelleys owned both Toad's sire, CP Anchor Man, and his dam, Isabella Fiore; Toad was the mare's first foal, and when he arrived, she wanted nothing to do with him.
"She was almost afraid of him," remembers Leslie. "She was trying to paw at him, and kick him, and corner him - it was if she wanted to kill him. But the minute we held her, she would let him nurse. It was a bizarre situation."
Mare and foal were separated, and for several days, the Kelleys led the baby over to his dam every few hours so he could eat. When it became clear the situation wasn't improving, the family arranged for a nurse mare to take over. She was completely blind and mostly toothless, but to Toad, she was absolutely perfect.
"He just wanted someone to love him, and be a horse with," says Leslie. "The first few weeks, he was pretty much raised by people and had hands on him constantly. We got to know him really well."
But this wasn't the only hardship the family would navigate that week. Two days after Toad was born, the Kelley's childhood friend and fellow Morgan enthusiast, Todd Michael Sansoucy, lost his fight with esophageal cancer. The Kelleys were devastated, and decided to name their special foal in honor of their beloved friend.
"His name is Toad, because that is what I used to call Todd," says Leslie. "After Toad started in his show career, so many people came up to me and said, 'that's a wonderful tribute." A lot of people knew the Sansoucys, and it's been a wonderful kind of circling back."
With the help of trainer David Rand, Toad made his show debut in the pleasure driving division as a 3-year-old, and their daughter Hannah Kelley took over the reins in the junior classic pleasure driving division later that season. Although Hannah and Toad would go on to earn top ribbons at the World Championships that year, the Kelleys weren't convinced Toad was meant for pleasure driving.
"It was pretty obvious from the way he carried himself, and his frame, that he'd be beautiful in silver, so the decision was made to try him western and see if it was a better fit," says Leslie.
Almost immediately, it became apparent that Toad had found his niche. First with Rand, and later with trainer Christine Nava Moulthrop, Toad was nearly unbeatable in every western pleasure class he entered. Most recently, Nava Moulthrop and Hannah have shared showing duties, a partnership which suits all involved.
"Hannah was connected to this horse from his birth," says Leslie. "She recently married a military guy, and military life is not grounding at all - this horse has been her ground. Christine and Hannah have a good connection, too."
Leslie says that nothing she has previously achieved in her equestrian career compares to breeding her own horse, putting her own child on his back, and seeing them succeed.
"What he has accomplished this year - we're still in awe of it all, truly," says Leslie. All of these awards he has won, we never expected it for him."
Leslie adds that despite many offers, Toad is not - and never will be - for sale.
"People I don't even know - and I've been around Morgans since 1970-will come up and say, 'we're such a huge fan of Todd Michael," says Leslie. "He is such an amazing ambassador for his breed."
