4 October, 1962
On Borrowed Time He Finishes School, Starts Training
( continued from paged) always loved horses and went with his Daddy whenever he could. At first Sam would walk and lead the pony. Later we bought him a buggy and he and Donald rode to school.
Attacks of pain would come on Sam overnight, and he would hate to go get an operation. At one time it was so bad he had to stay in bed for 13 months.
1 remember that on one occasion Sam was in the hospital for three months and I did not go home a single time. He has had a total of 31 major operations— the last being five years ago. He also suffers much from arthritis— and wakes up in the morning often with sever pains in his back. I often rub him with liniment to help relieve this pain.
He wanted to keep on with school— whenever he was able to go— and he studied a great deal in bed. He could not participate in athletics of any kind— but saL on the sidelines and wa tclied other youngsters.
Sam ' s Daddy had some Tennessee Walking Horses but did not train them. Sam showed his little Shetland Pony sometimes at picnics and small fairs when he was able. He and Donald developed a barn for Walking Horses at Porterfield but at first Donald did all the riding and Sam coached from the ground. Lated Sam had a barn at Woodbury but had a sudden attack and had to close down the barn— although Donald helped him for a time.
The doctors taught me to do many things in nursing Sam— how to give hypodermics, take respirations and handle other things. But it seemed that he could not gain relief from pain without more scraping of the bone to get rid of abscesses.
It was only after we bouglu this farm at Murfreesboro( Cilyview Stables on E. Main St.) that Sam was able to ride consistently. His barn has never been closed while here— although once he could not go to the barn for an entire year. Capable help was on hand to keep it open.
He surely has been a brave boy, I’ ll tell you. If he had not been brave he wouldn’ t be here. One can hardly believe how much suffering we have seen him undergo at these times.
Three Champions— two World’ s Grand Champion Horses and their World’ s Champion Trainer— Sam Paschal. Ebony Masterpiece( left) won this year; Setting Sun won in 1958. When pictured both were at Cilyview Stables but Selling Sun is being converted to an amateur horse to be ridden by Betty Ann Bullard— daughter of the turner. M. M. Bullard of ISeicport. Trim.
I believe Sam has the best religion there is. He believes that if it were not [ of god— he would not be here. Often he says he wished he had been a minister. He loves religious singing.
I remember when Sam was 13 years old the doctors gave up hope for his life. That happened at least three times. Also they wanted to amputate his leg. Sam heard the nurses talking about“ amputation” one time and Sam told me:“ Mother, don ' t let them amputate. If I go, I want to go all in one piece.” He never would let us give up.
Often Sam and Donald worked together. I recall one time they went out horse-trading for three days in an automobile, with Donald carrying Sam to the car. They bought 46 horses on that trip and Sam did not get out of the car except at night. Sam estimates he and Donald have bought or sold thousands of horses in their trading.
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