OUT OF THE NORTH By Arlene Eklund
16611 Gaynelle Road Tinley Park , Illinois ( 312 ) 532-3555
We would like to welcome to the VOICE staff of Contributing Editors a young lady who will report on the Walking Horse activity in Illinois , Indiana and Wisconsin . Miss Arlene Eklund is a Freshman in Pre-Med at Loyola University in Chicago and comes to our staff with several years of experience in this field . She has owned and shown Walking Horses for two years and her horse , ALLEN DIC TATOR , now retired , was the former Wisconsin State Champion . Arlene will be as active as possible , considering that she is in school , and will appreciate any information from her section of the country that our many readers in that area may wish her to report on . She plans to personally visit as many stables and shows as possible during the season . We feel that Arlene Eklund will be a valuable asset to the VOICE and we welcome her to the staff .
Whoever said " that went out with the horse and buggy ” had better take a good look around him . The popularity of the horse , especially the Tennessee Walking Horse is increasing day by day . This horse of the south has taken over the Northern States , and enthusiasts from Illinois , Indiana , and Wisconsin are rushing to have their mares bred to champion studs . More of the small , one day shows now have an open class , while many of the larger ones include ladies ,’ amateur , mare , junior , stallion and gelding , and stake events . Leading exhibitors from the South and West are entering their top Walkers in the Northern shows , and competition is becoming almost as brisk as the Celebration .
The recent Chicago International Horse Show ( November 27- December 5 ) was the scene of five of the most hard-fought Walking horse classes that I had ever seen . Some of the South ’ s top horses that passed through the entry gates were : TRIPLE THREAT , HILL ’ S PERFECTION , GO BOY ’ S ROYAL HEIR , SHADOW ’ S DANCER , SUN DUST PRIDE , LADY GODIVA , MERRY MOTION MAKER , DARK MAGIC , SUPREME COMMAND ER , DIXIE DAWN , and MID NIGHT MERRY KAY .
While at the International , I had the opportunity to talk with exhibitors from my area and was surprised to learn of the new enthusiasm that has swept the Mid- West . Jim Altman of the Walkon Stables , Oak Forest , Illinois , is training a beautiful chestnut stud , THE BOMBADIER ’ S SON , owned by Paul J . Laninga of Chicago . This horse has a lot of head and leg motion with no flying hocks , and will be one of the top contenders in the Northern Illinois show circuit in the next season . Mr . Altman commented on the need for more Walking Horse classes in the North , and I wholeheartedly agree .
One of Illinois ’ leading exhibitors of Walking Horses is Dr . N . A . Thompson , owner of Lucane Stables , Eldorado . His wonderful RAY ’ S MAC K took the hearts of the audience and the judges again this year , placing fourth in the amateur , and fifth in the stallion and gelding class under the Doctor . Trainer Leonard Willis rode him to fifth in . the highly contended Championship Stake . This six year-old chestnut stud has always done extremely well in both large and small shows , and I don ’ t think that he ’ s going to stop now . Dr . Thompson also has a little black mare named LUCANE ’ S LEADING LADY , who has been doing very well , taking home a fourth in the mare class at Chicago .
Mrs . Robert Schleicher and her young daughter , Cheryl , are continuing to win or place near the top in every class they enter . This talented team from Gary , Indiana , showed at the Celebration last year , where Mrs . Schleicher on CONFEDERATE RAIDER placed seventh in the owner-amateur , lady riders on mare or gelding class , and then went on to win the owner - amateur gelding class . Cheryl , on MARK OF GLORY , placed seventh in the juvenile 12 years and under event , and ninth in the Juvenile Championship Stake .
Mr . and Mrs . L . J . Houston and their son Lenny of Tinley Park , Illinois , have a truly promising two year old stud , HOUSTON ’ S TROU BLE . He is pure black with no white markings and a lot of genuine motion . Trained by Bill Cummings of Beecher , Illinois , he placed first in the junior class at the Wisconsin National Horse Show last June , and I don ’ t think that it will be his last win .
I would greatly appreciate any news or views from readers in my area . Because I am a college student , much of my column depends upon your help . Please forward any news to my home address or call ( 312 ) 532-3555 , and I will contact you personally .
WISER-MARTIN WEDDING OF INTEREST TO HORSE WORLD
A wedding of wide interest to Tennessee Walking Horse people took place at the First Christian Church in Shelbyville , Tenn ., on Sunday , December 27 , when Miss Judith Katherine Wiser became the bride of Joseph Daniel Martin of Florence , Ky .
Miss Wiser is widely known as Judy Wiser , who rode her own SHADOW ’ S JET to the 1961 World ’ s Walking Pony Championship in the Celebration , and the daughter of Mrs . Winston Wiser and the late championship Trainer Winston Wiser of Shelbyville . Mr . Martin is the son of Mr . and Mrs . Joseph Daniel Martin of Gallatin , Tenn ., and is currently managertrainer of Fray Escue Stables , Covington , Ky .
FEBRUARY , 1965 9