44 August , 1962 Vic Thompson ' s New 300-Foof Concrete Barn Called Pattern
44 August , 1962 Vic Thompson ' s New 300-Foof Concrete Barn Called Pattern
Vic Thompson ’ s Tennessee ’ Walking Horse Stables of Shelbyville moved to a new location July 21st and occupied a 44-stall concrete block barn that may set a pattern in permanent , functional , year-around Walking Horse facilities . The 300-foot long building is 50 feet wide with a 26-foot walkway and a quonset type aluminum roof . It is located eight miles northwest of Shelbyville on U . S . 41-A ( The Unionville Highway ).
Every stall is occupied and more than 100 other horses are in pasture on the 244-acre farm — formerly known as the Spencer A . Clardy Farm but bought several months ago by Thompson . Erection of a residence for Mr . and Mrs . Thompson and their two daughters , Vicki Lynn and Cathy , is due to begin soon .
The stables were moved in quick time with a two-van shuttle operation from the former Burch Stables on the New Tullahoma Highway . Thompson occupied that barn 11 years ago when he moved here from Indiana with 15 horses .
Thompson said his associate , Bill Gill of Oklahoma City , Okla ., former city manager there and one of the South ’ s most prominent construction contractors , has purchased 173 acres across the Unionville Highway from the stables — and will operate a major breeding establishment . Two buildings have been remodeled for breeding purposes . Stallions in service , a highly selected band of broodmares , and visiting mares will be quartered there and in fenced areas on the property .
The stables have features believed never before incorporated in a permanent facility of its type .
Thompson plans to develop a “ Celebration-dimension ” show ring in front of the bam to be illuminated with two vapor floodlights set for automatic operation from dust to daylight .
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The barn has special rooms for a blacksmith shop , a tack room , two wash racks , a walker-cooler to cool off horses , a medicine and cleaning equipment room , utility storage room , oat bin , two rest rooms and a 16 ' by 32 ' air-conditioned office with a large fireplace . A concrete 16 ' by 32 ' porch or patio will be placed in front of the barn .
All stalls have watering bowls . Feed can be placed in the stalls from the hallway .
The farm property fronts approximately one mile on each side of U . S . Highway 41-A , has a mile of creek frontage , seven developed surface wells , and 100 acres in cultivation , Thompson said .
Thompson is nationally known as a Tennessee Walking Horse trainerrider and salesman of the breed . He rode Sun ’ s Jet Pra . de to the World ’ s Grand Championship at the 1957 Celebration , and also won the big stakes at the Montgomery Southern Championship and Baton Rouge Jubilee — an unparalleled record for a Celebration grand champion in one year .
He for years trained Mister Sensation , gelding world ’ s champion for six straight years , winner of many other titles with a total of 400 blue ribbons in nationwide competition , and twice reserve world ' s grand champion . Sensation died on July 24 at Omaha , Neb . ( See details on Page 28 .)
His daughter , Vicki Lynn , age 18 , has been one of the great girl riders of the nation since she began showing at age 9 — and won the world ’ s pony championship in 1959-60 — and the world ’ s Juvenile championship on Mark of Glory and other ribbons in 1961 .
Boy , 15 , Tells Of Losing Twin Colts , Mare Saved
Charles Lee Curtis , age 15 , of Route 1 , Cookeville , Term ., writes us this letter every Voice Friend will want to read : It tells about his losing twin horse colts :
" I am a 15-year-old farm boy , my father takes the Voice and we all want to be the first one to read it . We read iL over and over . We save each copy for it is something that will boost the Tennessee Walking Horse as long as it is published .
“ I have a 4-year-old registered Tennessee Walking Horse for my project in Agriculture in high school . She is out of a Merry Boy mare and sired by a Wilson Allen Horse . I bred her last year to Hal Allen ’ s Glider .
“ She began to labor June 25 and I called Dr . Keller in Cookeville but I had to lake the mare to his hospital as she could not foal . Dr . Keller took twin horse colts from her . They were black with stars on their foreheads . I sure hated to lose them , but thanks to Dr . Keller for saving my mare . I hope to have better luck later ." ( Charles , I think that letter will be interesting to all the thousands who read the Voice . You write a fine hand , express yourself well and you know how to take a loss . Those are excellent qualities . Much luck to you . BAG .)