1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 March Voice | Page 10

world in the group and we could spot these without any trouble, for they were hitting a free and easy, long-striding flat walk over the roughest ground, nodding their heads every step of the way. We even found some young stock that had been taken out of training just for this ride. It appeared that both horses and riders were having the time of their lives “doing what comes naturally.” ’ Most interesting to us was the number of people who “just hap­ pened to have their horse’s papers with them” and would be “glad for you to look them over.” Some of the typical pleasure horses had some fine looking papers, which proves that if they are bred right and can walk, there is a ready market for the pleasure Tennessee Walking Horse. Another most interesting item that caught our attention was the type of riding gear that was being used on Walking Horses. We saw rigs that varied from the expen­ sive modern show bridle to a rope halter used on a twelve-year-old ex-show mare. Was she ever bridle wise? We also saw saddles ranging from fancy SIMCO Western Sad­ dles to the old worn out British Trooper Saddles. Whatever the rig, most riders with Tennessee Walk­ ing Horses were thoroughly enjoy­ ing themselves. Talking horses with the people in the gallery, we could hear proud mention of names like MIDNIGHT SUN, GO BOY, WILSON’S AL­ LEN, SUN DUST and other promi­ nent sires in the Tennesee Walking Horse World. These people know their horses as well as their dogs— and justifiably so, because without a good horse, the prospective suc­ cess of the hunt would be consider­ able lessened. Significant was the fact that many of these sportsmen, who were from all parts of the na­ tion, were keenly aware of the in­ creasing reputation of the Tennes­ see Walking Horse as a pleasure and utility horse. Interesting scenes involving horses were evident all along the route. We were particularly inter­ ested in a little lady, obviously sixty years young, who was dress­ ed as chic as a model. She ap- 10 TAKING A BREAK . . . Along about mid-morning, Dorothy Moore and Mrs. John O’Neal, Jr. of Knoxville, take a welcome break with Gunbey Jordan of Columbus, Georgia. OUT FRONT . . . J. It. Lamar and E. C. Laslie of Tuskeegee, Alabama are pictured out front of the gallery at one rest point. STAND UP THAR HOSS . . . W. I. “Red” Bowman of Mont­ gomery, Alabama, takes time out to pose his horse for the camera. Here is the “Plantation” Walking Horse at his best. FIELD TRIAL PROFESSIONALS . . . Dr. H. I. Nesheim of Mexico, Missouri, one of the Judges for the 1964 contest and Henry P. Davis, Gun Dog Editor of “Sports Afield” magazine. BEAUTIFUL PAIR . . . Mary V. Cade of Atlanta, Georgia is pictured up on a beautiful black Walking Horse tna responded perfectly to his riders de­ mands. VOICE OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE