Circus horse Toni
takes away a little boy's fear of animals
In his old age, Toni takes away a little boy's fear of animals
From the perspective of an Aiderbichler
(written by Gisela Pschenitschnig)At the proud age of 42, Toni, an Arabian mix, is a horse with many stories to tell.
In 2004, Toni, Zenzi, Leslie and Ali Baba were bought from a horse dealer and lived at Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf from then on. The horse dealer had taken them over from a man who was confined to a wheelchair due to an illness and could no longer look after his horses.
The horses travelled the world for years
The circus horses travelled the world for years – from one city to another. Their job was to walk in a circle. Screaming, excited children sat on their backs. The horses ran round and round, undeterred by the noise all around them. Their job had been to bring money. Where was the love for the animals? The question of their well-being? Whether they had enough to eat, whether they were tired?
The health of the horses was disgraceful
When we took over the horses, their halters were partially ingrown, their eyes were sick and their hooves were bad. When we arrived in Henndorf, the grooms immediately let the circus horses out into the paddock. It remains an unforgettable picture, an atmosphere that no-one who was there can forget. There was sunshine, blue skies, green pastures and wide open spaces as far as the eye could see. For years, the Arabians ran in circles one behind the other – just like in the circus when the children sat on their backs.
Toni has survived them all, as if to warn us
Zenzi, Leslie and Ali Baba have been over the Rainbow Bridge for years. Toni has lived in our old stable at Gut Schellenberg for seven years.
Toni’s eyes had to be surgically removed a long time ago. His eyes had not been cared for and medically treated for too many years.
Toni has known how to deal with his blindness for many years. When he was still standing at the visitor centre in Henndorf, some people turned away in horror because there were two caves overgrown with fur where horses’ eyes would otherwise shine.
Like blind people, Toni has enhanced his sense of hearing and his sense of smell for orientation. Due to his age, he can no longer hear. But his nostrils are still in full swing. They smell the muesli, the hay, the wind brings Toni the scents of the flowers and the other horses. He smells his grooms and he still likes to live. It is a joy to watch Toni in his life.
Toni loves children and took away a little boy's fear of animals
During a guided tour, a family got to know the blind, deaf and old Toni. The people listened to his story with emotion and one little boy, who until then had avoided all the animals he met, stood rooted to the spot in Toni’s stable. At some point he asked “Can I stroke him please, can you pick me up? How do I not hurt him?”.
Toni smelled the little hand and slowly approached, allowed himself to be stroked and came closer with his head. The boy stroked him and they were both lost in another world. How beautiful feelings can be for animals and how quickly positive feelings can dispel fear.
There was a great harmony between Toni and the little boy, who stroked the eyeless horse with a devotion and tenderness that I have never been able to experience myself. Thank you for being there, Toni. Sincerely, Your Gisela
