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
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