Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse 25
Blankenship Tells Of Washington Trek With Walking Horse
( Editor ' s Note— E. S. Blankenship of Rt. 3, Pullman, Wash., wrote for his friends a brief account telling how he brought the first Tennessee Walking Horse to appear in the Palouse River valley area in Southeast Washington state. We were privileged to receive a copy— and present it herewith. BAG)
As far as I am able to ascertain, I was the first person to bring the Walker to this area. My first Walker mare came from Tennessee— a direct descendant from Roan Allen F-38( the first). She was bred and bought from McGill when one year oldshipped from Tennessee in 1942. Mr. Devoe from Yakima( Wash.) purchased her. I bought her from Mr. Baldwin of Wapito and Seattle.
She was bred to a registered Palomino stallion owned by Mr. Whitman at Wenatchee. I sold this filly for $ 700. The next two colts, both fillies, also were sold in this locality. One went to Mrs. Mae Hatcher of Lewiston and the other was sold to Abe Haynes, then of Moscow, Idaho. Two more fillies were sold— one to Carl Gray of this city and another to Mr. Haynes of Winchester, Idaho.
When I lost the lease on the land 1 had been renting, I was forced to sell the original mare, Mai Gill, together with a registered stallion I had bought in Canada. This beautiful animal also came direct from Tennessee— raisecl by Mr. Spiller— and was registered under the name of Spiller’ s Gold Dust. He was all that his name implies. The last colt I raised— a gorgeous Palomino— was bought by Mrs. Velma Bryant. She was Meb Boyregistered in both the Palomino and Walker Classifications.
The only Walkers that I knew of at that time were in Walla Walla and Pendleton. After seeing these animals 1 knew they were not the refined animals that I knew as a boy in West Virginia. My father owned and raised fine Walkers and some of our mules had the gaits... I was often kidded about wanting a Walker— so I could show these people a fine animal of the type I wanted. I believe I made good on that promise, for when these parties came and saw Mai Gill under the saddle they agreed they had never seen a better pleasure horse.
I am very happy that we are getting an organization to promote the only real pleasure horse and hope the Walker will soon come into his own
Walker Shows " Human Qualities " In Fighting Snow To Save Trainer
Loyally, docility, intelligence and imagination are some o £ the“ human " qualities of the Tennessee Walking Horse that are best shown by stories oC what horses have done in emergencies.
A case in point developed last year in Missouri. The Voice Editor received a clipping from a friend of the March 11, 1961 issue of the Kansas City Star. It was a Page 1 story with a 6-column head that said:“ Horse Fights Snow To Carry Exhausted Trainer Home." There were 2-column pictures of Robert Gibson of Independence, Mo., resting after his ordeal; and Miss Martha Edith Sermon, daughter of Mayor and Mrs. William H. Sermon of Independence with My Golden Merry Boy, the TWH gelding who saved her trainer. The newspaper article says: " A Tennessee Walking Horse, owned by Mrs. Editor Sermon, wife of Mayor William H. Sermon of Independence, apparently saved the life of its trainer yesterday when the man— exhausted after fighting his way out of an ice-covered pond into which he had fallen, collapsed on the horse ' s back and was carried home.
“ The man was Robert E. Gibson, who owns a large farm east of Independence on Salisbury Road. He rents stall space and pasture to horse owners and trains saddle horses.
“ According to Gibson, 62 years old, he went to his barn yesterday morning and noticed that a broodmare, also owned by Mrs. Sermon, two cows and a burro were missing from the feed lot. He rode the Tennessee Walking Horse bareback about a mile to a farm, which is on his farm.
“ Gibson said that when he got to
in these parts. Those people who want to ride for pleasure will stop being prejudiced and will enjoy the ease to be found only in riding a Walker. People will still argue that the gaits in a Walker are man-made, but 1 don’ t believe they have ever seen a newly foaled colt get up and sLart off beside his mother with the natural gait. I do agree that it takes man to develop the gaits, the flat foot walk, the running walk and the canter, but surely the animals are born with the gaits.( E. S. Blankenship, Rt. 3, Pullman, Wash.) the pond he saw one of the cows but could not see the other missing animals. He walked out on the ice to investigate and fell through.
" He said he thrashed about 10 or 15 minutes, breaking thin ice to get back toward more solid ice so he could lift himself out of the water. The pond is about 10 feet deep. When he did get out, Gibson said, he was so exhausted he simply crawled up on the horse’ s back, draped himself over the animal and collapsed.
“ The horse, whose name is‘ My Golden Merry Boy,’ but is called’ Spook,’ carried Gibson, who was unconscious part of the time, the mile back to his house. At times, according to Gibson ' s wife,’ Spook’ was confronted by snowdrifts up to the animal’ s belly.
“ Gibson said he remembered that when the animal found a drift it could not get through it simply backed up and tried another route.
“ A doctor, who examined Gibson, said the horse trainer suffered shock from his immersion in the cold water and would require rest.
" The cow Gibson saw was rescued, but the other cow, the broodmare, valued at S500, and the burro were uol found immediately.
“ Mrs. Sermon, excited over her horse’ s feat, said:‘ I didn’ t know a horse would have so much imagination.’’’
FOR SALE
9 Yearling Colts Broodmares, colts by side or in foal( Wilson Allen and Merry Boy Bloodlines) At Stud— Merry Boy ' s Cadillac— Fee $ 50
R. C. BOYCE Route 2, Unionville, Tenn.
SUN SPOT One of the Top Three Geldings 5 Years Old— Lady, Child Broke. One of the Greatest Running Walking Flcrses Living Today
Vic Thompson ' s Stables SHELBYVILLE, TENN. PH. 4-4461 & MU 4-395S