Well, its over— The Third Annual Junior Welfare Charity Horse Show, and as Chairman I am about ready to collapse. Being Chairman of a Horse Show is not an easy job, but it’ s fun. We feel our show was a real success. The largest crowds ever to attend a horse show in Tuscaloosa sweltered through 100 ° weather to watch some of the finest horses they had ever seen. I can’ t tell you about every class but the Walking Horse Championship Stake was as thrilling as any I have ever seen. Herschel Talley riding DUKE’ S HANDY MAN, owned by Mr. C. S. Lawson, Bessemer, Alabama, put on a superb show. HANDY MAN was in rare form and every time he passed, a cheer rose from the spectators. Herschel took home for Mr. Lawson our beautiful Walking Horse Championship Challenge Trophy that was given last year by Mr. Ben Green and Mr. Hamner Cobb in honor of Mr. Aaron Christian. This trophy was presented by Knute Christian, who also served us well as paddocks master. Our panel of judges, Mr. J. H. Noblin, Mr. James K. Taylor and Mr Charles Smith did an excellent job and I certainly appreciate Mr. Noblin filling in at the last minute for Mr. Carl Edwards, who was suddenly taken ill.
While working on our Horse Show here in Tuscaloosa, I took a little time off and made a flying trip to Camp Hill, Alabama for the Camp Hill Horse Show. It was a pleasant experience and many fine horses were there. I ran into Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Renfroe of Troy,
BAMA BY-LINE
By Elizabeth Brannon 51 The Downs, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Alabama and had a long interesting talk. These are the kind of people we need more of in the Walking Horse World, they are Amateurs, have been showing walking horses for about 17 years and have some really fine stock. Mrs. Renfroe said they usually buy colts, raise and train them and start them off in the show ring as two year olds. At present Mr. Renfroe is showing a two year old sorrel with a light mane and tail called MACK K’ S BOOME RANG. This horse has already won seven blue ribbons and won the two year old class at Camp Hill. His Junior Horse is a sorrel Stallion SUN’ S FIREBIRD. This outstanding three year old won the blue ribbon at Attalla and Guntersville earlier this year. Mrs. Renfroe also takes her share of ribbons riding MACK K’ S CASTRO. She was very pleased over a Walking Pony her son, Gene, age 13, is showing this year named POWER PACK. The Renfroe’ s have completed a new barn and are looking forward to spending many more years of pleasure with their walking horses.
I hope all of you will plan to attend the Pick-A-Winner Sale that is being held in Huntsville, Alabama, by Mr. James K. Taylor at the Taylor Farm on Friday, July 17, 10:30 a. m. I will probably be doing some gadding around this coming month, but if I don’ t run into you why don’ t you send me your news.
Results of the Junior Welfare Charity Horse Show Walking Horse division appears elsewhere.
HORSE BUSINESS( Cont ' d.) say, that“ the best advertising cannot sell a poor product for long.” In other words, you cannot promote a mediocre horse into becoming a world’ s champion. It is a proven fact however, that the horses that are promoted the most are the horses that everyone is talking about and THIS, in my estimation is the major reason for advertising a good horse. It has been said that“ If they don’ t know you when you hit the gate... chances are it’ s way too late!” Perhaps this is true!
Other phases of the horse business offer a more tangible product or service and therefore a more definite idea of what can be expected in return for advertising investment. The trainer wants customers, the stable with a stallion wants mares to breed and the man with horses to sell wants prospects.
Here again, the basics of“ hardsell advertising” apply. The best approach is to advertise consistently. In my estimation, it is better to have several ads spread out during the year than to have one big spread once a year. Of course the key to all your advertising or promotion on horses, stables etc., is to put your message in that media, which reaches the most of your market for the least amount of money.
At this point I would like to mention what we in the business call collaterial advertising( or promotional material other than magazine advertising.) If you are a professional trainer, a stable owner or operate any type of horse business that can benefit by increased awareness within the Walking Horse World, there are several other types of advertising that can be used effectively to create more traffic and more business for you. Some of our trainers have figured this out for themselves and have made good use of these in the past.
For instance: Pictures of show horses and stallions to be used as handouts at shows, auctions etc.; Calendars with your stable name and a picture on it; Pens, pencils and other novelty advertising pieces that can be given to visitors
40 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse