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The VOICE takes pleasure in introducing a new feature column , which will appear monthly , as a part of our continuing effort to provide the best possible coverage of the Walking Horse World . In this column you will read " news and views " from the training stables where show horses are made ready for competition in the show rings .
This column will be a cooperative effort of the editorial staff . Correspondence for this feature should be directed to the Editor . This month ’ s report has been prepared by Fred E . Friend .
One of the young trainers who has really proved that he knows how to make horses is Neal Branscum , who trains at the Arnold Farms , east of Winchester , Tennessee , on Highway 64 . Neal is the man who started SUN ’ S DELIGHT and showed him to the Junior Reserve Championship in 1962 . This one fact alone is enough to recommend him as an expert in his chosen profession . But we must recall that he also did a great job with SOCIETY PLAYBOY and several other prominent winners in the show rings .
Now working a dozen horses , Neal is especially proud of two full , younger brothers to SUN ’ S DELIGHT . Both are black and beautiful and truly natural Walking Horses . JOHNNY MIDNIGHT , now 4 years old , made some good shows last season and won his share of ribbons ; but he is just now coming into his own . Three-yearold MIDNIGHT IMP really looks like his famous older brother , except for difference in color . He is beginning to go like him , too . Mr . A . S . Dean , of Murfreesboro , Tennessee , is proud of them and is especially interested in them because they are the last colts out of his great broodmare , WILoUiN SNIP ’ S CHANCE , who died last year . Any trainer would be happy to have one of these colts . It is the good fortune of Neal Branscum to
Also showing a lot of promise is a five-year-old black stallion with a blaze , BOUNTY HUNTER , by SUN ’ S JET PARADE . He has never been shown , as Neal has brought him along slowly for Mr . Troy G . Arnold , owner of the farm . For . Mr . Glenn Tatman , of Portland , Indiana , Neal is ready to begin showing a beautiful black colt by RODGER ’ S PERFECTION and out of a full sister to TALK OF THE TOWN . Also eye-cathing is a black two-year-old filly by MID NIGHT SUN out of a mare by MERRY GO BOY . She is just starting to work but has the motion and the looks to make a good one . She is owned by Mr . Bill Ellison , of Gainesville , Georgia .
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Over at Vic Thompson ' s Stables , 8 miles north of Shelbyville , on Highway 41-A , things are really moving along despite Vic ’ s trouble with a leg and foot injured some years ago . ( All Vic ’ s friends will join in wishing him a rapid recovery .) There are so many good horses in this barn that we can report on only a few of them this month .
BLACK SOUTHERNAIRE , sixyear-old black stallion owned by Mrs . Will C . Terry , of Cleveland , Mississipi , has never looked better . Ready for both amateur and open classes is the popular Champion SHADOW ’ S RED WARRIOR , owned and shown by Deedy Decker , Omaha , Nebraska ; this horses ’ s latest victories came in the stud class and the amateur stake at Fort Worth in January . Vic also reports that UNTOUCHABLE , owned bv O . D . “ Peck ” Carlton , of Albany , Georgia , is as great as ever . MID BLUE , owned by Olin Holt , Kokomo , Indiana , is ready for the season and will win his share of the ribbons . A really ton . black . Junior mare is JET ’ S MISS AMERICA , owned by Mrs . Florence Bishop , of Midway City , California ; she has a real back end and all the motion you like to see .
Mr . and Mrs . Emmett Darby 0f Oklahoma City , recently bought GREAT COMMANDER , a black three-year-old gelding , which is showing great potential . In his first show he tied third in the Junior Stake at Forth Worth . You will be hearing more about this horse . Also a good Junior horse is SENSATION IN BLUE , by MERRY GO BOY out of a mare by MIDNIGHT MACK K . W . T . Ellinson , Gainesville , Georgia , owns this young stallion , who has already made quite a record . A SUN DUST colt , a sorrell with a flax mane and tail , is showing real stride and motion and will be heard from when the show season really gets under way . He is owned by Luther McIntosh , Greenville , Kentucky .
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The Bailey-Montgomery Stables , West of Shelbyville on the Lewisburg Highway , is readying some good horses for competition in 1964 . SUN DUST QUEEN will again be shown by Cathy Bailey , of Jackson , Mississippi . SHADOW ’ S PLAYBOY , a four-yera-old stallion , who looks like his famous sire and who has his way of going , is ready for the gates to open . There are also some top-bred young horses in the barn , including two two-year-old fillies by GO BOY ’ S SHADOW . The plentiful crop of good yearlings by both SHADOW and PIDDLEY indicates that this famous barn will continue to supply its share of real show horses . H . C . Bailey and Jack Montgomery have a fine operation going .
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Joe Webb reports from the Porter Rodgers Stables in Searcy , Arkansas , that they have a great string of horses ready for the 1964 season . Heading the list is the many times champion , PERFEC TION ’ S CARBON COPY , a real contender for the World ’ s Grand Championship in 1964 . Joe says , “ I don ’ t see how he could be working any better .” The many observers who rate this beautiful black , four-year-old stallion one of the truly great show horses of the breed will be eager to see his first shows as an aged horse .
28 VOICE OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE