6 October, 1962
Jan Wright Sweeps Record 4 Blues At Dallas
On November 20, 1962, at Nacogdoches, Texas, Jan Wright will surely have a birthday party. She will be 11 years old.
Among the gills on hand will be a Tennessee Walking Horse record ol competitive riding that the Voice believes is without equal in the history of the breed for any other little girl— achieved during her tenth year.
Actually this record cannot be called a gift— not by any means.
It has been truly earned over a period of time that started with the spring of 1962, ran through the summer, soared to the heights at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration at Shelbyville and kept right along in orbit during the State Fair of Texas Horse Show at Dallas, Oct. 5-9.
At the Dallas show Jan swept blue ribbons in four classes— believed to be without precedent for a 10-year-old rider.
She won classes in which a total of 29 contestants look part— there being 11 in the Juvenile Champion Stake for riders up to 18 years old; 6 in the Equitation( Walking Horse Seat) class for riders 12 years old and under;-1 in the Walking Horse Seat Championship; and 8 in the Juvenile Stake for riders 12 years old and under. A little more than a month earlier little Jan had won the Celebration’ s World’ s Championship for the Juvenile Class with riders 12 years old and under. She also took part in several other Celebration classes involving older riders and took ribbons, and rode a borrowed pony in one class.
Her record all year has been a succession of victories under almost every conceivable condition— before many different judges.
Most of these triumphs have come on Dark Shadow— formerly known as Walkaway Dark Shadow.
This mare is a five-year-old that just seems to fit Jan— and Jan fits the horse. She also rode at times her Honeytime— another mount in the Lone Star Stables maintained by the Texas Farm Products Co., which Jan’ s grandfather founded. Her father, Joe Wright, is vice-president of this big company that deals in feed, fertilizer and poultry with retail outlets in several states.
Dark Shadow was sired by Go Boy’ s Shadow out of Amber Star. In her background on her dam ' s side are Limestone Wilson( by Wilson’ s Allen out of Nellie’ s Black) and Dixie Green Bailey( by Spider out of Mc Mahon’ s Nell— a daughter of Hiles Allen F-72.)
Jan ' s reputation as an“ exciting rider " who gives a lift to all who look upon her in the ring has circled the nation and probably the globe since her sweep of victories began last spring in the Southwest Circuit.
She took two firsts and a reserve at New Orleans; a reserve at Beaumont, Tex.; two firsts and a third in Little Rock, Ark.; two firsts in Oklahoma City, Okla.; first in Tulsa, Okla.; and a first in Houston.
Then during a vacation visit in Middle Tennessee she competed in open classes and in four one-niglu shows swept two firsts, a second and a third— and in the process defeated 30 adults riders, practically all being men. One show was in Georgia. There were no Juvenile or Ladies classes.
Always with her are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wright; and with her horses is Trainer Bill Moore, who has been with Lone Star Stables since this operation was started by the Texas Farm Products Co.
Only time can disclose the future for little Jan Wright— the 84-pound girl with sunshine in her haid and a perpetual smile on her face. She has a start in life that no little girl of her age ever before gained on the back of a Tennessee Walking Horse.
For now, her sixth grade school duties are foremost. She has always been a“ grade A student."
Party Line
“ That Wonderful World”
‘‘ I and my family are newcomers to the wonderful world of the Tennessee Walker, but horse and pony owners all our lives," says Mrs. Merle R. Trimnell, Route 4, Box 176, Franklin, Indiana.
“ After our 13-year-old son’ s horse died in January of colic, we gave him permission to use money from his savings to buy a Tennessee Walking mare. At the time I owned a beautiful young sorrel( W. M. T.) highspirited Western horse. Now since beautiful, trim, lovable 10-year-old Pat( red sorrel) came to our home to live, I traded my Western for her.
“ Even though she is a grade mare and a pleasure animal, we are the envy of all our horse-loving friends and she is the only one( Tennessee Walker) in our vicinity.
“ I subscribed to your magazine to learn more about the T. W. H. and I am very thankful to you for the wonderful magazine, especially the articles we pleasure riders can benefit from. Anxiously awaiting the next issue.”
( Mrs. Trimnell, your report is quite similar to others we have read and heard about, The Tennessee Walker is“ truly different " and folks who find out this difference become Walker boosters in the No. 1 rank. BAG).
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Husbands Attention! How To Please Wives
There’ s a big lesson to husbands in a letter we have received from Mrs. Milton Zemlyn, 1017 Park Blvd., Chester, Illinois. She says site ' s a“ novice, never having seen a Walking Horse until last November," but if you turn the page you find her com menting:“ The possibilities of the Walking Horse as a pleasure horse are unlimited. My husband recently presented me with a pleasure-show horse. This five-year-old, jet black gelding is a true pleasure to handle and work, so I can personally recommend this fine experience.”
Mrs. Zemlyn also said:“ Your valiant efforts in behalf of this gentle and willing breed are bearing fruit! The Tennessee Walking Horse is becoming increasingly popular in outpart of the country. It is a thrill surpassing no other to see these fine horses perform their distinctive gaits in the show ring— so much so that even the‘ gaited’ men comment in admiration."( Mrs. Zemlyn, it is fine for you to“ discover " the Tennessee Walking Horse, but it’ s even finer for the horse to“ discover " a supporter 1 ike you. It’ s great to have you on the Walking Horse team. BAG.)