You can see why, though, for not only do the Howells have real good horses but they also have 3 lovely ladies, Peggy, Mary, and Linda Howell, who serve as riders, trainers, and grooms.
Mary, the oldest of the sisters, has made many terrific shows on her 4 year old blue roan stallion by the name of MIDNIGHT ROAN.
Peggy seems to enjoy running away with the blue ribbons in the mare class on her 4 year old mare, SETTING SUN’ S SUNBEAM.
Linda, although usually on a 3 gaited horse, especially likes showing a beautiful little black juvenile horse.
J. S. Howell, the father of these young ladies and the owner of Halacre Farms, trains and shows JUNE’ S MERRY BOY, a beautiful big bay stallion who continually insists on winning stake classes. MERRY BOY is owned by Jim Howell of Englewood.
Now it is“ whoa time” until next month.
Send your stable news to me and if, by chance you see me at the Celebration stop by and say“ howdy.”
PROBLEMS OF PLEASURE CLASSES by Richard N. Leamon Sacramento, California
The“ show” Tennessee Walking Horse has established it’ s requirments and exhibitors are sure of what is expected of them when they enter the ring. The biggest problem in showing pleasure horses, however, lies in the fact that there are three distinct types and three distinct ways which they should be shown and judged. Usually two or more of these types are shown together and it is nearly impossible to judge them fairly.
Until I moved to Sacramento, California two years ago, I had never seen or participated in a pleasure class. What seemed to me to be an elementary class, I later learned is quite complex. The three types of pleasure horse classifications have been developed in California in an effort to be as fair as possible to most owners. They are: Show-park, Plantation, and Western.
Show-park means a very good pleasure horse. Possibly it is a veteran show horse or a well bred and thoroughly trained pleasure horse. He is shown without artificial appliances but his good conformation and training make him pleasing to watch.
The Plantation type usually belongs to riders who like to trail ride. It is usually amateur trained and in most cases has very little animation.
Western refers mainly to tack, although many like to use the regulation bridle and bit. Horses are usually ridden with one hand holding the reins and other forms of western equitation.
In southern California, the Showpark type is allowed to have long hoofs, use bands and carry heavy shoes. A couple of exhibitors in Stockton would rather have the horses plain shod cut but be allowed to use boots when showing. In Sacramento all types of pleasure horses are shod plain with a light pad permitted. In the Sacramento region, pleasure horses have a very good circuit of shows. They fill the classes well and show the public a different aspect of the breed other than the show horse. The Sacramento association was organized in late 1962. In 1963 they started putting on“ Playdays.” These were mainly engineered by Mrs. Helen Porter. Because of her enthusiasm and interest, she was able to generate a tremendous amount of interest from the local people.
When the playdays first started, most riders had no experience and the horses showed little training. The playdays provided a means for everyone to learn and give green horses experience before going to shows where they would be before the public. By the fifth and last playday of the year, some riders had progressed to an outstanding degree. They had learned to groom their horses and themselves, learned show ring manners, decorum and showmanship. Because of the interest stimulated last year, the show schedule has been so busy that there has been no time for a playday yet this year. The club is now strong enough so it can travel almost as a body to outlying towns and cities and win new friends to the breed. Recently many of the members went to Concord, California for a show where Walking Horse classes were being offered for the first time. One of the members, Dr. Harrington, assisted the announcer and described the traits and history of the breed.
Still, the Sacramento people have not solved all of the problems. Show-park and Plantation types show together most of the time in Walking Horse English pleasure classes. The Plantation type has little chance. However, if the class were to be divided, the classes would be too small.
Another problem lies in judges and judging. More often than not, the Walking Horse is shown before Quarterhorse, Jumper and American Saddlebred judges. There seems to be an instinctive tendency to judge pleasure horses as if they were“ sportmodel” show horses. A pleasure horse is supposed to be judged for true trail qualities and easy handling. Excessive speed is supposed to be penalized. In general, the judges seem to be aware of the rules because they ask the show horses to remove a boot and ask the pleasure horses to back a few steps. In actual practice, though, the horse with a little more action and lick will win. Some of the Plantation horses that can cover twenty or thirty miles in a day’ s ride don’ t get a chance to warm up before the class is over. People will show only so long to support the breed. Each type deserves a fair chance.
Pleasure classes are starting out new in many areas and may run into the same problems as confronted the Sacramentans. Practice shows, such as playdays, are a proven way to stimulate interest and learn showing skills. All pleasure horses become“ show” horses when they enter an organized class in any show. The gallery will either be impressed or unmoved by such exhibitions. The better each horse and rider is prepared for the class, the better image our breed will enjoy. It is our chance to uphold the claim of having the“ World’ s Greatest Pleasure Horse.”
52 VOICE of Tiie Tennessee Walking Horse