riding and hiking trails along the American River. Because sheriff’ s squad cars are ponderous and impossible to maneuver on narrow, sandy and sometimes muddy trails, the adult riders are mobilizing to take over patrol duties.
They will operate on a buddy system with the full support of Sheriff John Misterly, himself a horseman. Heading the local patrol is Donal Dean, chairman of the Sacramento Horsemens Association trail program and a member of the trail promotion committee of the California Horsemens Association.
Dean said he believes equestrian policemen can discourage trail violations by persuasion and good public relations. But they, like anyone else, also can make citizens arrests or call on the law.
Duties Are Outlined
One of their main duties will be to keep motorcycles off the trails. The noisy two wheelers tear into the ground and frighten stock. That is why the sheriff cannot use them, either. A recently enacted ordinance limits their use to a well defined area in the American River Parkway behind Mather Drive-In Theater off Folsom Boulevard.
Other tasks suggested by Misterly are to render first aid and watch for fires. By working in pairs, one horseman can ride for help while the other assists the injured or tries to control the fire.
The patrol group strongly backs efforts to complete the state trail system, a giant 3,000 mile loop to go up both sides of the state, through the Sierra Nevada and along the coast. About 1,000 miles are finished, 700 of them in Southern California.
Need For Proiection
He said his group feels a moral obligation to protect the trails for horsemen, hikers and fishermen.“ If we horsemen don’ t go out and protect our own trails, we don’ t know who will,” he said.
It might be noted here that several members are Walking Horse owners and are also charter members of the NCTWHA. I feel this is a very worthwhile undertaking and each and every one of these horsemen deserve congratulations and all of the support they can get.
" FROM EAST TENNESSEE "
By JUNE RIGGS P. O. Box 168 Athens, Tennessee
Here is a brief resume of our East Tennessee Walking Horse activities since the Celebration.
We went to the Franklin, North Carolina horse show in the latter part of September. It was a well organized show and a pleasure to take part in.
Wink Grover, of Etowah, Tennessee, showed up with a string of top stock. He won the 2 year old class on GO BOY’ S BIG BOY, owned by Burnette & Burke of Morristown, and rode his new horse GO BOY’ S CRIMSON TIDE to the blue ribbon in the Junior Class. MERRY MOTION MAKER owned by H. P. Shelly of Dallas, Texas, won the stake class outstandingly with Wink aboard. And, believe it or not, my mare COLO NEL’ S LOVE LADY, and I actually won the Amateur Class. Wink tied 2nd on SOUVEINOR’ S MELODY, a beautiful mare owned by Mr. Whisnant of Hickory, N. C. Ralph Hensley won this class on a beautiful little mare.
We spent a glorious weekend in Morristown with Mr. and Mrs. Carroll“ Goose” Altizer. Goose and Lewis Burke( owner of GO BOY’ S BIG BOY) took me to see their mares out in a pasture in Morristown. Goose has 3 white mares and Lewis has 3 sorrels. Kathy Altizer and I went over to Lewis’ barn to see STAR, Kathy’ s favorite horse.
Lewis had several other good horses in his barn including a good looking weanling. We also visited Paul Hairrell’ s barn which is full of real good weanlings and yearlings. I rode a 2 year old stud of Paul’ s. After a full and fun filled day we all headed back to Knoxville to the horse show. It was terribly hard to say good-bye to the Altizers and the sons, Ricky( 4) and Scotty( 2). During my stay I met a very nice girl named Barbara Burke. She helped to make my weekend even better.
MACK K’ S 22 has returned home to Robin wood Farms in Kingsport, Tennessee.“ 22” has been in training at Wink Groover Stables for several months.
Debby Pollard of Knoxville is attending Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens where she is a freshman.
JUNE’ S MOTION MAKER, owned by Frank Riggs of Athens, has decided to change her name to MONEY MOTION. So from now on let him be known and remembered( I hope) as MONEY MOTION. He is a bay, 2 year old stallion by MERRY MOTION MAKER and is in training at Wink Groover Stables.
SUNDUST OF MIDNIGHT previously owned by Owen Fullen, was sold during the Celebration and has moved to Meridian, Mississippi where he will be ridden in the Amateur classes by Mr. Jerome Ryan, owner of Ryan-Mc- Arthur Chevrolet Co., which owns SPUR’ S COMMANDER. He was previously trained and shown by Kenny Dickson of Evans Stables, Athens, Tennessee.
I’ ve been corresponding with a very interesting pre-vet student named Sharon Terry. Sharon is also a contributing editor of the VOICE and writes Bits“ n” Spurs. She is a freshman at Mississippi State University. Many of you have probably seen her at the Celebration for several years. She is a very good equistrian and a real nice person.
Peggy Howell of Halacres Farms is back at Tennessee Tech. Peggy is a sophomore this year and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S.
34 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse