1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 July Voice | Page 24

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fJorthioeAt Corner
The show season is in full
swing, and, from all corners of
the Northwest come reports: “The
Walking Horse classes are well
filled.” This phenomenon didn’t
come about by accident. It came
about largely because a crowd of
hustling, bustling, enthusiastic ama­
teur owners in Washington, Ore­
gon, Idaho, and Montana were glad
to sacrifice time, effort, and money
to promote the breed. It came
about because some professional
trainers realize the importance of
keeping the amateur in the show
ring, and providing pleasure horse
riders with horses they can enjoy.
Amateur and pleasure horses are
selling here as fast as they come
along, and, with every satisfied
owner, the Tennessee Walking
Horse gains a new booster.
An amateur is one who rides or
drives for pleasure and for love of
the sport. So, when it comes right
down to it, most professionals are
the greatest “amateurs” of all. How
hard it must be to work a good
horse, get him in top form for a
show, and then put an owner on
him who will show him at less
than his best! How much easier
it is to say, “You want to win. Let
me show him.” And, unfortunately,
many trainers do just that. Then
two or three years later they won­
der what happened, when one fine
day, the once enthusiastic owner,
who had been so very gullible,
building new stables, filling every
stall, buying all the fancy and ex­
pensive accoutrements suggested,
suddenly announces, “I’m thru.
Sell everything.” And that trainer
is looking for another job, simply
because he failed to understand
that that owner wanted something
24
a beautiful ride on MR. EXECU­
TIVE Friday night to win the Open
By Aleiha Wiehl
Tennessee Walking Horse class.
She had to ride, as she had the
top competition of the Northwest
in that ring, with THE FLYING
more than first place ribbons and DOLLAR, and JOE’S LIL QUEEN,
big trophies; he wanted to feel that both winners at the Pacific Inter­
these horses were “his.” That feel­ national last fall, in there showing
ing doesn’t come merely with the with tremendous speed and per­
transfer of papers and signing of fect form! It was quite a class.
Competition couldn’t have been
checks. And, while that owner
might have had poor seat and much closer. The crowd was lit­
hands, there was nothing wrong erally screaming! They’d never
with his head, and it didn’t take seen anything like it!
But, after the show, back at
him forever to come to the conclu­
sion that he wasn’t getting what he MR. EXECUTIVE’S stall, Dal
had hoped to get from his stable. Hope informed Mrs. Eggerman,
The whole industry suffers when “You be sure to get your rest to­
night and tomorrow, ‘cause you’re
this sort of thing happens.
So, it’s a happy sight indeed to riding in the Stake too!” He was
see more and more trainers urging sincerely more pleased with the
owners into the ring, and seeing to fine showing she made that night
it that they show. Mr. Lee Butler, than if he had done it himself. And,
who trains Dr. and Mrs. Thomas after all, why not? He had the
McKay’s saddlebreds, and Mr. Dal double honor of having trained
Hope, who trains for Mrs. D. G. the horse AND the rider! (Dal did
Eggerman, have their owners in ride in the Stake, at Mrs. Egger-
there showing. Please note, not mans’ request, and placed first.
just “in the ring” — but SHOW­ And he had to ride to do it!) His
ING. At the Wenatchee show, Mrs. words still ring in my ears like
McKay placed first in the Open music, “He’s your horse, you ride
Five Gaited, Lee Butler was se­ him!” He is her horse, and she can
cond, and Dr. McKay was third. ride him. Double compliments to
In the Five Gaited Stake, Mrs. Mr. Dal Hope!
At the Wenatchee show, Mr.
McKay took the trophy, Dr. Mc­
Kay was third, and Lee’s horse Hope rode SECRET SUCCESS, the
threw a shoe and took the gate. mare Mrs. Eggerman purchased
Four weeks later, at the show in from Leonard Dunn at Sacra­
Yakima, all three were in there mento, to first place. She will be
showing the same horses again. shown primarily in mare stakes
But, this time, Mr. Butler captured as the season progresses. But, it
the Open and the Stake, with Mrs. is interesting to note that places
McKay right in there for second, 2, 3, and 4 were all amateurs. Miss
and Dr. McKay showing his horse Louise Eggleston rode Mrs. D, G.
every moment too. They were all Eggerman’s GO BOY’S MERRY
having one whale of a good time! GAIL to second, Christine Sch-
— Mr. Butler has had a long career lichting rode MACK K BIG RED
in the show ring. He has made to third, and Mrs. Terry Haas rode
some great show horses, has shown SQUAWMAN’S LANCER to
some great horses, and he has made fourth.
The Grants Pass, Oregon show
some not-so-great horses SHOW.
But, he has been with Dr. and Mrs. had a Walking Horse class for the
McKay for many years now, and first time this year.