Gail Jones Tells
Of Her Horses
30 July , 1962
A FOOTNOTE TO HISTORY
Wilson ' s Allen At Stud- $ 25 , Remember Those Days In ' 39
WILSON ’ S ALLEN , AGE 22 , SOLD FOR 82,500
( Reprinted from the Nashville , Tennessean 1939 — column by Margaret Lindsley Warden )
Major Walking Horse news of the day is the sale of the 22-vear-old Wilson ’ s Allen for S2.500 . The end of July , E . H . Hoover of Murfreesboro and Steve Hill of Beech Grove bought him from B . F . Wilson of Pelham in Grundy County , and he is now at the Hill barn .
By general assent , this is the leading sire of the breed . His get includes Pride of Memphis which sold for a record price of 55,000 ; owned by Claude Whiteman ; and Strolling Jim . the present undefeated champion which his trainer-rider , Floyd Carothers , thinks is the greatest of Walking Horses .
Wilson ' s Allen , a rich chestnut with near hind coronet white , is believed to be the only living grandson of Allan ( F-l ), He is by Roan Allen from Birdie Messick by Allan . He was foaled the property of Steve Hill ’ s father , Johnson Hill , at Beech Grove . B . F . Wilson of Pelham has owned him for the last 16 years . ( Later developments showed that Merry Boy was also a double grandson of Allan F-l , being by Roan Allen F-38 out of Merry Legs F-4 . Both the horses were sired by Allan F-I out of Gertrude F-84 and Nell Dement F-4 respectively .)
It is said Wilson bought the stallion ( Wilson ’ s Allen ) from Bib Kerbey of Wartrace for Si00 and a ’ possum dog . Now , old and famous , he has fetched one of the high prices of the breed , not for a rich man ’ s fancy , but on value carefully calculated by business horsemen .
Wilson ’ s Allen , foaled in 1917 , according to the register , does not look old . Only slightly dipped in the back , he is in good flesh and muscle , clean limbed , alert , and moves off with a long , loose walk stride that his get , especially Strolling Jim , have made famous . He is taller , slraighler-legged , and has more quality all over than most Walking Horses . His long neck and shoulder and straight hocks can be followed in his offspring .
Since his arrival at the Hill barn , 26 mares have been sent to the court of this noted stallion at § 25 a service . Most good Walking Horse sires stand at SI0 to 515 .
Steve Hill , one of the best known breeders and developers in the state , will have four sires at stud next season . Besides Wilson ’ s Allen there are the brothers — Giovanni King and Victor Giovanni ( by Giovanni — Bess Crouch by Roan Allen ) and a young son of Merry Boy . Victor Giovanni in about 75 shows has never been unplaced .
( Remember — all this was written 28 years ago . BAG .)
Gail Jones Tells
The Voice Editor can shut his eyes and see the bright-faced teen-ager who wrote this letter . She is Gail Jones , 616 W . Lelia St ., Florence , Tenn . and she knows the joy of having a Tennessee Walking Horse for her very own . Her stationery shows two horses ’ heads , a mare and her colt . Gail tells us :
“ Congratulations on your wonderful new magazine , ‘ The Voice .’
“ 1 read your book , ‘ the Biography of the Tennessee Walking Horse ’ and enjoyed it thoroughly . I am really looking forward to your next book on training and care of Walking Horses . Good luck on it .
MORE PARTY LINE “ Right *’ With Mrs . Wright Mrs . K . M . Wright of Spring Creek , Duke , Mo ., tells us she liked our Biography , has seen the Voice and wants to gel it regularly starting with the March issue . Her letter was mailed from Newburg , Mo . We believe some good friend showed her the Voice , and here ’ s appreciation from us . Thanks .
$ * * A Coasl-To-Coasl Friend
One of our valued new subscribers is Lackey W . Moody , Box 546 , Batesvilie , Ark . 1-1 is stationery shows he is district sales manager at Batesville for the United Farm Agency , a coast-tocoast agency dealing in farms , ranches , and country real estate . This appears to be a very large firm with offices in Kansas City , Dallas , St . Louis , Chicago , L . A ., Frisco , Detroit and Orlando . Welcome Lackey . BAG .
Of Her Horses
“ I have been riding since 1958 , when we bought a little Walking Horse , Old Glory ’ s Sensation — 561036 . He died a few months later with an unusual blood disease .
“ We now own a gelding , Walk With Me Henry , a mare , Valiant Lily — 561184 , and a two-year-old stallion , Maugray ’ s Big Man — 620709 .
“ My family and I go to horse shows close to home and we have attended the Celebration several times .
“ Again , I wish you the best of luck on ‘ The Voice ’ and the books you propose to publish .”
( Note — Such girls and boys and people inspire us . They appreciate the Tennessee Walking Horse with love and understanding . Thanks . Gail , for a line letter . BAG .)
Pedigreed Walkers For Sole Registered Walkers For Sale Choice Yearling Studs , Fillies and Mares . Come and see the 1962 foals .
Bar 7 T Ranch
PEARL TOMPKINS
On the shores of Beautiful FLATHEAD LAKE , On U . S . 93 — 35 miles south of Kalipsell , Montana
ELMO , Montana