1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 February Voice | Page 6

FEBRUARY, 1964
TEWffifEE WALKING H0RSE
GLL STABLES
GRAND OPENING (Conid.)
The GLL Farms, located just out­
side Memphis, is a beautiful 175
acre spread that is well spotted
with trees and rolling hills. As you
enter the grounds through a brick
gateway and travel up the pea-
gravel drive, a feeling of welcome
is apparent. On the right, as you
proceed to the stable, is the new
Lenox home, a beautiful structure
featuring light green-gray stained
oak and brick finish which seems
to fit the surroundings perfectly.
The stable, from all outward ap­
pearance, is similar to many others
familiar to the Horse Business.
Once inside, however, it is obvious
that this is a structure that was
well planned from start to finish.
Architect designed, the new GLL
Stables features all of the neces­
sities required of show horse train­
ing and many extras that make it
a real show place. It is 240 feet
long and has a 50 foot wide riding
hall. There are 32 stalls, 12 by 12.
Hardwood flooring is used
throughout the interior of the barn
and both inside and outside the
stalls. The tack room, wash room,
automatic walker and office are
located on the south side of the
stable. Highlight of the many ex­
tra added attractions of the GLL
Stable is a furnished guest room
complete with twin beds, dresser,
private bath and a private window
looking into an adjoining stall. It
is obvious from the appointments,
both in the guest room and the of­
fice, that the expert touch of an
interior decorator has been used.
Mr. and Mrs. Lenox, the former
Betty Hammond of El Durado,
Arkansas, whom George met in
college, and the three children,
Nancy, 15 years: Martha, 12 years;
and Lee, 6 years, are relative new­
comers to the Walking Horse do­
main. The Lenox children possess
their fathers ability to express
themselves and their mothers calm
manner. Mrs. Lenox, amid-the con­
fusion of playing hostess to some
600 guests, was obviously enjoying
every minute. Their first show
horse, now named GLL s GO GET­
TER, was purchased through Joe
Urquhart in May 1963, and was
ridden by Mr. Lenox during the
1963 season.
Highlight of his first years show
ring activity was winning the blue
in the Amateur Class in the Holly
Grove Horse Show in Holly Grove,
Arkansas. The Lenox family moved
to their new home in June of last
year and started plans for their
current operation. Ground was
broken for the new stable in July
and after much deliberation to find
just the right man for the job he
had in mind, Mr. Lenox hired Rus­
sell Pate in November. Speaking
of Mr. Pate, George Lenox says
that “here is a young man of the
highest reputation, both as an in­
dividual and a trainer. I have the
utmost respect for his ability as a
trainer and believe that given the
stock with which to prove him­
self, he will reach the top in the
Walking Horse World.” Russell
Pate, twenty eight years old, has
many years experience working
with Walking Horses. He is a quali­
fied judge and is in much demand
in that respect. In discussing his
personal background Russell stated
that both he and his brother,
Dickie, have been working around
horses since they were kids. Their
delight, as youngsters, was to hang
around the old Winston Wiser Sta­
ble and help with the horses. Here
they developed an interest that
led both these men into profes­
sional horse training as a career.
At present, there are twenty
four horses being worked at the
GLL Stables, fifteen of which are
outside horses in training at $100
per month. It is said that this is
the first stable in West Tennessee
to charge this rate for training
Walking Horses. Tops in this fine
line of up-and-coming stock is the
much talked about EBONY’S
BLACK LADY, a two year old
black filly by World’s Grand
ChamDion EBONY MASTER­
PIECE. Here is a fancy colt with
the same natural way of going for
which her sire is famous. This colt
won the admiration of the crowd
during the grand opening with her
speed and action. She will be a
contendor for top honors in 1964.
The big horse of the barn is MACK
K’S REFLECTION, a top horse
with no mean reputation in his
own right. The big chestnut stal­
lion will definately make a name
for himself at GLL Farms.
With regards to his reasons for
entering the Walking Horse busi­
ness, Mr. Lenox says that he is in
it for two reasons; pleasure and
profit. Unlike his other livestock
interests, Aberdeen Angus, Hamp­
shire and Yorkshires, in which he
has been active for four or five
years, the Tennessee Walking
Horse business represents a Lenox
family project in which all mem­
bers can participate. The children
are just the right age to be the
most fun out of their horses and
under the capable guidance of
trainer Russell Pate, they should
be ready for juvenile classes some­
time this season.
When asked his opinion regard­
ing the future of the breed, Mr.
Lenox stated that “it appears the
Tennessee Walking Horse is an
ever growing phase of the horse
business, at least in West Ten­
nessee.” He was clear to point out
that he feels the most important
• part of the business at this time is
the host of amateur riders, both
young and old, that look to horses
for recreation, fun and relaxation.
He believes that it is the amateurs
that make the business flourish
and suggests that whenever possi­
ble more emphasis should be put
on amateur classes. He feels that
classes should be split between
ladies and men. and also between
mares, studs and geldings. This, in
his opinion, would give many good
amateur riders a chance to show
more than one horse at a given
show and would increase the num­
ber of horses entered.
Is the GLL Farms Stables ready
to compete? By show time they
should be hard on the way to top
honors. Mr. Pate,, in discussing the
potential of their horses, says that
we all know there are two ways to
get a winner . . . “buy one ready
made or make your own and we
will try to develop the best of
both.” One thing is for sure! When
the GLL Farms truck, a spanking
new custom-built six horse van
with red and chrome trim, pulls