16 July, 1962
Worrell ' s Mare Purchase Started Solitude Farm
The growing world of the Tennessee Walking Horse numbers many fabulous figures— people of attainment in various spheres— but surely none have lives more unusual lhaL that ol the 70-year-old retired businessman who rode Son of Midnight on the cover page of this magazine for the month of April.
Astride this stallion was H. L. Worrell of Goodlettsville, Tenn., whose entry into the Tennessee Walking Horse story defies fancy.
At age 70 Mr. Worrell is right nowspearheading a movement to raise SI, 500,000 and make possible a S3 million hospital for East Nashville. Last year he became head of a farflung cemetery development firm that operates in a dozen states.
Stallion Sired Ebony ' s Masterpiece
His stallion sire pictured on the April cover is father of Ebony’ s Masterpiece— a stallion that at age five years has come out of " almost nowhere” to become a prime favorite for the 1962 World’ s Crown for the breed, as told in the March issue of this magazine.
Son of Midnight is the horse originally known as Skipper ' s Son of Midnight— when owned by B. A. Skipper, Jr. of Longview, Texas.
The Worrell Story ' in Tennessee Walking Horse History has been more seen than written. Seen by the millions of motorists who have sped along the mile of white fence where his 500-acre farm borders along U. S. Highway 31W. He took over this tract in 1948 and transformed if from an eroded hillside acreage into one of the most amazing Walking Horse farms in the world.
He calls it Solitude Stock Farm yet invites the entire world to his doorsteps. Thousands visit his place every year.
Hidden in Walking Horse History is one of its most unusual records— set at age 64 by Horseman Worrell. He personally won every major Walking Horse championship amateur class in the nation that year( 1954) on his great gelding, Oklahoma Gypsy— then age 7. This horse died several years ago in Little Rock at Trainer Wallace Brandon’ s stables, This horse placed fifth in the 1952 National Celebration Stake and tenth in 1953 with professional riders. At one time in his early career the horse sold for a very small amount of money, we understand. Son of Midnight piled up an impressive record for two other owners before he was acquired by Worrell on Dec. 1, 1952.
The Son was foaled at the historic Harlinsdale Farm of H. H. Harlin at Franklin, his owmer being B. A. Skipper, Jr., long prominent in the Walking Horse field, a show ' judge, and oilman. Son’ s dam was Princess Allen, whose pedigree traces back to General Brooks— a great Walking Horses strain of 100 years ago.
Skipper rode Son of Midnight to w ' ide acclaim. His winnings at the Celebration included third in the 1948 tw ' o-year-old gelding-stallion class, and third in the Junior Championship Stake in 1949. In 1950 the horse was owned by Raymond Rebsamen of Little Rock. He placed second in the 4-year-old stallion and fifth in the World’ s Grand Championship Stake w ' ith professionals riding.
Shown By Dr. N. B. Hardeman At the 1952 Celebration Dr. N. B. Hardeman, a Church of Christ minister long prominent in Tennessee Walking Horse history, rode him to the Amateur Championship of the World a few ' months before Worrell acquired the stallion.
Solitude Stock Farm at about this time became one of the most dominant factors in the National Celebration at Shelbyville.
At the 1953 show ' three ribbons for higher places went to one mare— Pride of Stanley. This horse w ' as named by Worrell for the Stanley Products Co. He has spent many productive years in this nationwide sales organization— winning a reputation as one of the foremost sales directors in the nation. Although now ' retired, he still serves as a senior sales counselor.
Big Sweep At 1954 Celebration
The 1954 Celebration found Solitude Stock Farm sweeping four World’ s championships, two by Worrell himself on Oklahoma Gypsy; two by Trainer Wallace Brandon on Gypsy and a 3-year-old gelding, Son’ s Gay Boy; and three other second place ribbons. The winners of the red ribbons were Midnight Helen,. 3- year-old mare, Midnight Minister, 3- year-old stallion, and Son of Midnight ridden in the Grooms Class by James Brown. For an eighth-ribbon Brandon rode Gypsy to third in the aged gelding class.
Solitude Stock Farm— due to its unique location and its dedicated and detailed development— is recognized as one of the showplaces of Middle Tennessee. It is the symbol of the Tennessee Walking Horse in an area that is also w ' ell known for gaited horses, jumpers and Thoroughbreds.
Many visitors from the North and East pause at the sign, turn somewhat to the right, and find out " what is a Tennessee Walking Horse?”
Taking care of the visitors nowadays, as we 11 as caring for the horses, are personable young Trainer-Manager Fred Brake and his assistant, Thomas Coley.
Owner Worrell is busy with that East Nashville Hospital project and no one who knows the magnitude of this individual will doubt his ability to complete the task.
Working Harder At 70
At age 70 he is working harder than ever he did at 50 with much more know-how than when he won sales renown at 30 and 40. When the Voice Editor saw him he was the picture of health— ready to ride if need be.
The biggest miracle in the Worrell Story is how he happened to start riding and raising Walking Horese.
A friend says Worrell heard a youth talking about wanting to go to college. The young man’ s major asset was a mare of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. Worrell paid the youth § 1,000 for the mare to help him go to school.
The purchaser had no land on which to put the mare, and no time in which to train her, so she was boarded with a trainer.
When Worrell returned from one of his sales trips, his mother mentioned seeing a farm advertised for sale. Site suggested that he buy the acreage himself as a place to keep and train his mare.
This he did... and he fell in love with the mare. Fie decided to train her himself. That’ s when the Tennessee Walking Horse industry won one of its most dedicated developers.
A Man’ s Love For Horses
Solitude Stock Farm— with all of its magnificent development— came as the natural result of a man’ s love for horses— one step at a time. That’ s
( Continued on Pn? e 17)