1963-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1963 December Voice | Page 9

DECEMBER
1963
Walking Horse Activity
Provides Family Fun
For the Keith Kropps
“Everyone can participate in
some way or another—”, so said
Polly Kropp, mother of avid Walk­
ing Horse juvenile rider, Susie
Kropp, of Signal Mountain, Ten­
nessee. Here is one family that has
varied interests, but one common
bond in showing horses. There are
St. Petersburg, Florida
three children in the Kropp family,
and only Sue rode in the shows
Our our way from Clayton, Ohio
last year; however, overall en­ to St. Petersburg, we visited our
thusiasm will undoubtedly see
another member tall in the saddle, new publishing offices in Chat­
tanooga, Tennessee. With Ben
come Spring, 1964.
Little Sue Kropp rode her first Green continuing as head of the
horse in April, 1963. This first ride staff, we should cover the Ten­
was on a Tennessee Walking Horse nessee Walking Horse activities in
and she immediately showed a such depth as to please our most
great interest in riding. Her
mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. discerning readers.
I invite your personal visit, letter
W. Keith Kropp, Jr., set out to
look for a horse that a 7-year-old or phone call to me here at the
girl could handle. They found a Gulf Winds Apartments, St. Pe­
sorrell, 6-year-old mare, at City tersburg Beach, Florida. Hope to
View Stables in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. Sam Paschal assured be here until Spring, so be in
them that this mare was so set in touch.
her gaits that Sue could handle her
To those of you who have not
with ease. They bought the mare, had the opportunity or perhaps the
SIR HENRY’S LADY LEE, to desire to visit Florida, let me sug­
Battleground Stables in Port gest you are missing a great ex­
Oglethorpe, Georgia, only a few perience. The way of life is re­
miles from Chattanooga. Their laxed, down to earth with genuine
trainer, Billy Brantley, began heartfelt consideration for human­
teaching Sue how to ride a show ity. Better pack up your family
horse. Sue and LADY soon made and horses and come to the Florida
a good team. Although Sue has circuit shows.
turned 8 years old, her legs are
Tampa Visit
still not long enough to canter the
It
was
a
smiling Roy Fleeman
mare. She gives a signal by touch­
ing her shoulder with the crop. who greeted me as I drove up to
Under the guidance of Mr. Bran t­ the Tampa Yacht Club Stables.
ley, Sue made 12 shows last season Roy had been working in the east­
and came home with 10 ribbons, ern part of the United States and
is a happy young man to be back
including several blues.
The entire family enjoy attend­ in sunny Florida. As the new pro­
ing the shows, including four-year- fessional trainer and manager of
old Chris and eleven-year-old the Tampa Yacht Club Stables, he
Keith, III. They have 4 brood is concentrating on teaching chil­
mares and pleasure horses at dren — for the most part, saddle
home and all enjoy riding. Keith seat equitation. His prowess as a
recently purchased PRIDE OF teacher is so well known that some
DECATUR, a four-year-old black children are making the trek from
stallion, from John Price Stables. St. Petersburg to Tampa to avail
This horse has a good show record themselves of the opportunity to
and Keith plans to show him next learn horsemanship from this po­
pular instructor.
year.
TE»S(£^*£l(INCH0
ME
YOUR ROVING
REPORTER
By Charles Goldswig
Among other saddle horses in
training, Roy will soon have a top
walking horse, LITTLE MYS­
TERY, under his direction. Mr.
William Maclnness, owner of this
champion mare and president of
the Tampa Yacht Club Stables, is
having LITTLE MYSTERY
brought down from Tennessee and
is looking forward to showing her
in the amateur classes in the
Florida Circuits.
Orange Slate Circuit
No trip to Tampa would be com­
plete without a visit with Mrs.
Virginia Robinson; and, as usual, I
thoroughly enjoyed my gab fest
at her home. It is impossible to
find enough superlatives to de­
scribe her. She is a most gracious
and personable woman. To know
her is to love her, and to love her
means that you will work for her
— will work for her RIGHT NOW.
In addition to her usual house­
hold duties, this truly remarkable
lady handles all the details of the
Tampa Horse Show, which she has
been doing for the past 18 years.
She takes everything in stride and
has a smooth operation because of
her terrific background with
horsemen. She can handle a groom,
truck driver, trainer, exhibitor —
in fact, she has a way of handling
everything and everybody.
Unlike others with long exper­
ience behind them who become a
bit gruff or short in their remarks,
this lovely lady bubbles over with
enthusiasm. Each year the Tampa
Horse Shows grow bigger and bet­
ter under her direction. In addi­
tion to being the secretary of the
Tampa Horse Show, she is also
the secretary - treasurer of the
Orange State Circuit. It is a re­
warding experience to meet with
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