6 ■July, 1963
CALIFORNIA WALKING
( Continued from Page 5) erly. If you are really new at the game, you may have a tendency to spoil the colt to the point that it will be twice as hard to break to ride when he is ready. If you know absolutely nothing about the breaking and training of a Walker then you would have to place the colt in a trainers hands to be assured of the proper training. Then, too, you will have to be schooled. Take into consideration these three things, cost, time, and knowledge. If you can afford a trainer and all the necessities that come with raising a colt, then by all means do it if that is what you really want, BUT, if you cannot truly say yes and be able to do right by the colt, then I would say " No.” Buy a good, settled horse and learn from him, or her. If you still feel you would like to raise at least one colt, then purchase a good mare and either have her bred to a good stallion OR buy a good saddle mare that will foal the following year. This will give you about a year to learn, and you can become more prepared for the coming arrival.
Q— 1 have been reading your article about the pleasure horse and also note that you have a show horse. While we are not contemplating exhibiting at the present time, we may show in the future. We are wondering whether we should buy a horse that is a pleasure horse now and one we could convert into a show horse later, or would it be better to buy a horse already trained for show work and use him as a pleasure horse until we definitely decide to show?
A— If you are merely contemplating showing, then do not buy a trained show horse. It takes a long time to bring the horse back down to a pleasure level, and as a rule, the horse cannot be turned back into a show horse, or at least one that would be in the money. Then, too, take into consideration the age of the trained show horse and the possibility that it may he anywhere from two years on before you were really ready to show. This time lapse would do the show horse no good whatsoever. Your best bet would be to buy a good pleasure horse. Only possibly one that could be turned into a show horse, if you feel that it would be soon that you were ready for the leap. Remember that it is far easier to take a pleasure horse and do the converting than it is the other way around. My true answer would be this, remember the time element and the age of the horse you buy. It would probably be much belter for you to buy the pleasure horse now— and then when you are actually ready to show, buy a show horse. It may be, that by the time you are ready to exhibit, either horse may be " loo old " to put in the ring.
1 hope that I have helped a few of you by answering these questions publicly. If I have not, then let me know and perhaps I can help you personally. from time to time 1 will devote mysell to answering( or trying, at least) questions that I think will benefit everyone concerned in the Walking Horse world.
VISIT INDIANA ' S NEWEST WALKING HORSE STABLE
ARNOLD HABIG STABLES P. O. Box 173 Jasper, Indiana Sales Boarding Training Finished Horses & Prospects For Sale
AT STUD GOLD SHADOW 571544
Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Habig, Owners
Harold Hayes, Manager-Trainer
Phones Stables: 1119-K Night: 1270-K
Americus, Ga., Group Forms New Saddle Club
George and Judith Ethridge, 602 Valley Drive, Americus, Ga., tell about a new Americus Saddle Club organized last fall with a beautiful arena prepared by the County Commission. Judith is club secretary. The group sponsored a horse show on June 2.
Their gelding, Ace’ s Buck( called Diamond) placed second in the amateur class at a first showing on May 4 and the Etheridges were highly gratified.
HORSE LOVERS
Would you like a bit that was designed for the Tennessee Walking Horse?
IT IS NOW AVAILABLE! It has a floating mouth-piece, rotates 360 degrees to protect your horse ' s tongue and roof of his mouth, made of rustproof, strong material, 10’ A inch cheeks, 5 inch mouth-piece, beautifully polished and is truly a show horse bit.
Price $ 15.00 With Special Curb and Hook $ 17.50
Postage prepaid when cash accompanies order, or can be shipped C. O. D. Manufactured and sold by
Old English Leather Shop
Located at 194 Decatur St., S. E., Atlanta 3, Ga. Phone number: MUrray 84361
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