20 April, 1963-
A Message from the Mississippi Delta
From; i 55-year-old native of the Mississippi Delta— Cecil Mason of P. O. Box 246. Kennett, Mo.— the Voice Editor has received a letter that tells a personal viewpoint of the Tennessee Walking Horse. We believe Cecil ' s views are typical of those held by thousands who own and love horses of this breed. Cecil speaks for all of them when he says:
1 am a subscriber to your fine publication, Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse. In fact, I sent in orders lor two subscriptions several months before publication of your first issue. I also have the " Biography of the Tennessee Walking Horse.” I would like to say here that they are both great, and 1 am sure that the Biography especially has and will do mote to acquaint people with what the Tennessee Walking Horse is than anything that has ever been written before. The monthly issue of the Voice is a tremendous vehicle for getting Walking Horses and Walking Horse people better acquainted with each other.
Appreciates Quarter Horse
To say that 1 am a horse lover or admirer is about the mildest statement 1 could make. I can appreciate the qualities of strength and agility and the speed and movement of the Quarter Horse. No one who has seen a real good cutting horse work cattle could deny that it is a thing of beautiful timing and dexterity. This is truly the ballet of the horse world.
Certainly Quarter Horses have their place in our America of today as is evidenced by the thousands who attend rodeos each year. The long beautiful sweeping strides of the Standard Bred when really turned on is a thrilling sight to behold. Who could deny the graceful peacock strut and finesse of the American Bred in the show ring?
But then we come to what is, to my way of thinking, a combination of the finest qualities of all of the best horses that have ever been developed and moulded into the one perfect product of them all— it is the Tennessee Walking Horse.
I have a heartfelt feeling of gratitude and appreciation for all the fine people of Tennessee who have worked so long and hard to accomplish what the Tennessee Walker is today. I know h * w many times it was a difficult and trying thing to hold on to the fine ideas and ideals held by those men who have had so much to do in breeding, training and developing the great horse he is today.
Knew‘ Plantation Horses’
1 am 55( fifty-five) years old and was reared in the Mississippi Delta. I know how the plantation managers and owners held on to their " Plantation Horses” as we called them then, long after there was no work for them to do. He was a work animal, and I know of no other animal that could have " hit them cotton rows” from daylight until dark day after day except the fine strong animal that was brought out of Tennessee and sold through the mule barns to the plantation owners, to be ridden by the men who made the Mississippi Delta what it is today.
Progress has changed all that and there is no place anymore for the Tennessee Walking Horse as a work animal. Somewhere along the road of progress, before the Plantation Horse became extinct as a vital necessity of the working equipment of the plantation owner or riding boss, the horse show came into being. I think this was probably another reason or excuse to keep the old trusted friend! Most of the shows at that lime were held in late summer or early fall after the work load had become somewhat lighter. I have seen some good shows won by horses that had been ridden long hours every day almost up to show date.
Then along came people who wanted horses for show purposes only, and most of these had the kind of time and money that could be put into making and developing the best show animal in the world. There was no limit and the results have been great and truly wonderful. No human could possibly dream up a more perfect animal of beautiful conformation and precise rhythm than has been achieved in the top show horses of today, and yet I know, or am told, that the breed is being constantly improved. 1 am sure that it will be.
TWH Show Most Thrilling
To me there is nothing more thrilling than a Tennessee Walking Horse show. Anyone who has ever seen one knows that there has been a tremendous amount of time, effort and money spent in bringing these horses up to the achievement they have made in the show ring. I am completely in agreement with them, and wish I could attend at least one good horse shotv each week for the rest of my life! I am convinced that the interest and enthusiasm for these fine shows will continue to grow in popularity, and that is as it should be.
However, Mr. Green. 1 have another purpose in writing this. 1 am not in the horse business, either buying or selling; the only thing I want to see here is an idea. Many people seem to have the conception that owning a good riding pleasure horse is expensive, but it really is not when compared to most every other recreation of today.
I would like to see every person thirty or over have at least one good Walking Horse in the family, just for the sheer pleasure of enjoying one of the most rewarding recreations there has ever been. That is owning and riding a good horse just for the joy and healthful recreation of it. I would like to get the idea across that a man does not have to own a world champion to enjoy the world ' s champion sport.
Pleasure Horse Not Too Expensive
I would not attempt to say exactly what it would cost, but if you just have one good horse, and have no aspirations to make anything out of it but a real good pleasure horse, it would not be expensive. However, if you have to hire professional trainers, grooms, have corrective shoes, tail sets, etc., you might then have an expensive hobby. If you will divide the original cost of a good pleasure horse over the number of years you will ride and enjoy him, it would be very little, no matter what the original cost of the horse might be. Compare it with any of the popular participation sports or recreations enjoyed today.
I am sure there are lots of good horses, offspring of the good show horses, that will never be world champions, or state, county or even community champions, but that does not mean that they would not be wonderful horses, and I will guarantee you that your pleasure horse will be the champion of your heart! Any man who can alford to fish or play golf can afford to own at least one good walking horse, and I do know from experience that nothing can compare with owning, training and riding your own personal walker.
If a person thinks that they could not own and ride a horse because they
( Continued on / Mge 21)