By Betty Bledsoe 9144 Macon Ra ., Cordova , Tenn .
In this part of the country , we divide our time between passive activities in the winter and active ones in the summer . As a long , long winter draws to a close , we reflect on the reading , writing , and watching that has filled our days since autumn . We read past issues of the VOICE and the many textbooks we use in teaching horsemanship , we write horse stories and articles and letters to our “ horsey ” friends , we watch the show bloom develop under long and patient training of the colts . And now we know what our winter was all about . The plans of men are made and the books are laid to rest , the early morning activity at the stables increases in tempo , the young potential riders stand starry-eyed at the paddock , the trainers , the teachers , the handlers feel a quickening of the heartbeat as Spring unfolds its promise — and we look to the coming summer .
Though experience tells us that for those of us who are professionals in this business , the hours will be long and the miles on the highways many , such is the nature of our business that we are but a shade less awestruck than our novices . And all because among God ’ s creatures two have developed a rapport that defies description , only in the ken of those blessed with this association lies the invisible tie that binds mankind to the horse .
As though reflections were the order of the day . we received one last extension on our sedentary
WILL THE MID SOUTH
please park in
season by having some long overdue knee-surgery resulting from , you guessed it , a riding accident some years ago . Being crutchbound has some compensations we have found , leaving long days to fill with telephone chats .
We caught up on the Idlehour Stable news from Covington this week via a nice Southern Bell visit with Ann Mohon . Ann ’ s new chestnut gelding has a name that should delight the young set . Seems that he had a little trouble in the mane department and was promptly dubbed GO BOY ’ S BEATLE . Knowing Ann , this Beatle could create excitement second only to the ones from Liverpool . And then , of course , the personable Mrs . Mohon will also show her bay mare , SUNDUST ’ S CHRIST MAS BELLE .
Idlehour ’ s trainer , Pap Crutcher , will be a power to contend with in the two-year-old classes with Mr . Porter Norman ’ s chestnut filly , SHADOW ’ S PRIMROSE . The stable stallion , LITTLE MERRY BOY , is creating quite a stir with his beautiful colts , some of which are bound to be making news for this son of MERRY BOY in coming years . It is always a delight in the Mid-South Circle when one of its own makes a splash in new territory . A case in point is SUN ’ S
BLUE SHADOW , Mid-South Amateur Champion , recently sold by the Mohons to A . W . Krosche of San Antonio , Texas . He was a real sensation in early April at the San Antonio Show .
We haven ’ t had the opportunity of visiting the stable of young Ted Beare of Rutherford , but we hear that Ted has some mighty fine young horses , so we ’ re looking forward to a jaunt in that direction very soon .
The annual Strawberry Festival in early May at Humboldt , Tennessee , has for years been the “ unofficial opener ” for the local TWH exhibitors . In the stable vernacular , this is the show where “ everybody goes to see what everybody else has got .”
Now along comes Capt . Bob Wood of Navy Millington , with their Lazy Anchor Ranch show slated for April 25 . If our expectations are correct , and the usual Navy excellence prevails , this could well become an early “ must '' for anxious stables who can ’ t wait to prove they ’ ve got the greatest in the Mid-South . Our own family ’ s juvenile eqestrienne , whose memory for names is often better than her parent ’ s , reminded us of the young lady whose style and competence caught our fancy at the Celebration . She was Capt . Wood ’ s daughter , Wendy Lynn and we will look forward to seeing her again .
In the interim white time , nature , and a bit of therapy combine to make us ambulatory once more , we point a plea in the direction of our Mid-South readers . Please park in long enough to drop us a line about your horses . If they are Tennessee Walking Horses , they ’ ve just got to be great .
IS YOUR STALLION LISTED IN THE “ VOICE ” STALLION DI RECTORY ? MANY OF THOSE THAT ARE HAVE A FULL BOOK RIGHT NOW . DOES YOUR STAL LION ?
HORSES FOR SALE
PLEASURE HORSES , BROOD MARES & COLTS Mares in foal to Midnight Sun , Sun s Delight , Midnight Beau and Ebony Masterpiece . Colts
by Midnight Sun .
FACTORY BUILT , 2 HORSE TRAILER Special bargain in this like-new demonstrator
HOLLY TREE FARM FRED M . PHILLIPS 217 East Holland , Shelbyville , Tennessee
Business 684-7778 Residence 684-5485
36 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse