JIM was high point pleasure horse in Oregon last year, and is well started toward a repeat this year. Little 13 year old Carol Warren showed her SOCIETY GLAMOUR( by SOCIETY MAN) to take second. Carol takes care of her horse herself and really enjoys riding, sometimes going out cross country, or jumping, or swimming the Willamette river, as well as showing in the ring. PIPERS’ RED RE BEL owned by Bill Newman and shown by Mark Newman was 3rd, THE SUN’ S BAY GEM, owned and ridden by Jinx Blaine was 4th, and the lady responsible for the class, Amelia Jesinghaus, rode HAMMER’ S GAY LADY for the 5th ribbon. The few minutes these horses had in the ring left the audience shouting for“ More! More!”
Mrs. Lew“ Mitzi” Williams rode their stallion, GO BOYS’ SUN, for exhibition while a history of the Tennessee Walking Horse was read over the loud speaker system. SUN is a beautiful animal, never defeated in breeding classes, and reserve Pacific Coast Amateur Champion the last time he was shown( 1961) before his retirement from competition. Mitzi is as beautiful as she is charming, so the Grants Pass audience saw a worthy representative perform for about ten minutes, demonstrating the gaits and qualities that make the Walking Horse outstanding. When GO BOYS’ SUN is stripped, Mitzi’ s little miniature poodle“ Foo-Foo” leaps on his back and gets his‘ ride’ around. He places himself anywhere on the back from withers to tail and this great show stallion, son of MERRY GO BOY out of a MIDNIGHT SUN mare, is as quiet and gentle as a mother with a newborn baby.
Mr. and Mrs. Lew Williams have a beautiful home near Eugene, Oregon, located on 130 acres of a former country club and golf course. Their big stable contains 58 box stalls, all filled with quality Walkers. Recently they added a 15 stall ' honeymoon suite’ overlooking the picturesque Willamette river, for visiting brood mares. This spring they sold 14 mares and a stallion, but have 18 brood mares left. This is the home of MR. TER RIFIC by GO BOY, INSTANT TROUBLE by BUCK TROUBLE, BIG JOHN by MIDNIGHT MAC K and MERRY BOY mare, as well as GO BOYS’ SUN.
The main barn houses a large show ring, as well as spectator room, automatic walker, and roomy stalls. The park-like acreage is divided into many separate pastures. Near the house, within view of the living room and indoor swimming pool is a good sized outdoor ring. In a nearby corral is old MERRY NELL BAILEY, a 24 year old MERRY BOY mare, blind, but perfectly happy in this place she knows so well, with her spry little filly at her side. She lost a colt in February, then, much to every one’ s surprise carried this little one full time to April 24th— a GO BOYS SUN baby. Chances of twins are 1 in 10,000, so you figure the odds on an event of this type.
Two other old-timers, owned by Mrs. Eggerman, were here for breeding. Both are WILSON’ S AL LEN mares, one a full sister to MIDNIGHT SUN. Not many of these left today, but, even now these old ladies are“ somebody special,” and show it.
The Mitzi-Lew Stable is under the management of genial Mr. Chester Gillespie, a trainer right from Walking Horse country, who has collected his share of ribbons at the Celebration as well as on the Pacific Coast. Activities at the ranch have kept him busy this spring, and the tragedy of the death of GOLDEN SUNDUST, the twice world’ s champion gelding purchased at the Celebration last September, has left Mitzi without the horse she planned to show this season. SUNDUST never made it to his new home. He became ill en route to Oregon, and it was necessary to leave him at the Veterinary College at Davis, California. About Christmas time reports became encouraging, and it was hoped he was finally responding to treatment. But, had a relapse, and the show ring lost a beautiful contender. Mitzi, Lew, and Chester are very active in promoting interest, primarily among pleasure riders and amateurs, in the Tennessee Walking Horse. Lew has served as President, and is now serving as Director of the Tennessee Walking Horse Association of Oregon. Mitzi is secretarytreasurer this year. They are offering a beautiful trophy for the state hi-point pleasure Walking Horse. Mitzi has shown her willingness to help fill Walking classes even to the point of riding for someone else. Lew, a Walking Horse man, converted from quarter horses, enjoys riding at home, or with friends, but prefers to stay out of the show ring himself.. They are most generous with their hospitality, and the Mitzi-Lew Ranch has been the setting of many happy social gatherings as well as business meetings of the Oregon Tennessee Walking Horse people.
Whenever mention is made of the“ Tennessee Walking Horse Exhibitor’ s Ass’ n of Oregon” you know you’ re hearing of“ enthusiasts of the super variety!” President this year is Bob Blaine of Portland, Oregon. Bill Newman of Portland is Vice President. Mrs. Bob‘‘ Jinx” Blaine is Publicity Secretary and the official news sheet, Walker Talker is her very special baby. This monthly news letter is chuck full of news of interest to Oregonian Tennessee Walking Horse owners. Such an endeavor does a great deal to unify the owners and exhibitors from all parts of the state, into one active organization, and, tho the time Jinx must put into the task is awe inspiring, it is a labor of love that brings worthwhile results. Furthermore, Walker Talker often gives THE VOICE favorable mention, which is appreciated!
Another similar sheet is Walker Talk published by Mrs. Dan Bafus, Colfax, Washington. Dan and Elaine announced in the last issue that they have contacted Mr. Nat E. Goodwin II of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and he has offered to come to their Merry Mount Stables, Pullman, Washington to train Tennessee Walking Horses for 40 days( last of May thru June). They were taking reservations from out-
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