( Continued from page 17)
She also shows her mothers pleasure horse, Mack’ s Perfecto, and does a very nice job. Dixie Defender has been in training at Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Town and Country Stables and has done very well, taking the Open and Amateur classes at Kal- Val.
The Sonoma Farms, Battle Creek, had a bit of bad luck at the first show. One of their new three-vear-old mares was badly injured at the Kal- Vad show and could not be shown. MEL NORMAN had great hopes of coming out the victor in his class but took his " bitter pill” like a showman and said, " Maybe next, time.”
The VICTOR BUCKNELLS willbe showing soon. Their horses have not been brought back from Mississippi as yet. Vic has a nice little stallion he has lots of hope for and Margaret’ s pleasure gelding, Lanier, has been said to be doing very’ well.
Dr. JOHN SACKETT should be right in the show ring again this summer, enjoying every ' minute of it. Here is a young dentist that should be given a blue ribbon by his profession. A harder-working, more conscientious young man would be difficult to find. He is one of the few doctors today’ who will make Saturday or evening appointments, and he certainly should be complimented on his dedication to his profession. His horses are a great joy and means of relaxation to him. He seems to be having more fun than most exhibitors, with his Palomino stallion Golden Cadillac. He has several nice new ' colts this spring at his stable, Whispering Pines.
Speaking of colts, it is always fun to stop at the Valley Dale Horse Farm, which we pass frequently as we go to town, to see the new arrivals. Valiev Dale is owned and run by Mrs. HARRIET HAYNER. So far they have two new arrivals, both by Harriet’ s stallion Go Boy’ s Sentinel. One out of Gay Ambler called Go Boy’ s Sir Echo is a darling little bay ' with blaze and hind stocking and coronet. The other, out of Precious Moonbeam and called Go Boy’ s Sundowner, is jet black with a star.
Plans for the " Little Celebration” Horse Show July 10 and 11 are well under way with many’ added features. All Walking Horse Club members are working with the Show Chairman, Mrs. WILLIAM DINZIK, and will be glad to give anyinfonnation to exhibitors requesting it.
BAG WHEN
With the Second Annual Tennessee Walking Horse STALLION DIRECTORY behind us, perhaps it is appropo that we turn a head to the other partner in the past, present and future of the breed— the matronly DAM. As has been stated before, the question of exactly what percentage of a given colt is SIRE and what part is DAM, will probably never be decided to the satisfaction of all. However, it is generally conceded that the DAM does play an important part and is too significant to be overlooked. With this in mind we would like to return to a time in the past, two decades ago, and ponder the reflections of a noted Walking Horse enthusiast who was concerned with the rapid removal of top brood mares from Tennessee.
The following article is taken from the June 6, 1941 issue of the Nashville Banner and was written by Gilbert M. Orr.
WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT? LO! THE DAWN COMETH... The popularity of and demand for the Tennessee Walking Horse within the past five years has been unprecedented in equine history.
This breed is destined for a greater popularity, and for a greater demand— not only because this horse is“ gentle, intelligent and easy to ride,” but because it is the ideal pleasure mount for inexperienced and timid riders and because it can be handled by a woman or child as readily as by a man.
Being a native Tennessean and having spent our two score and a few more years in the central basin of the Volunteer State where these horses originated and from whence they have recently gone to all parts of the nation, we are interested in the future of the breed. Tennessee Walking Horses are as indigenous to Middle Tennessee as are the rolling hills, the bluegrass meadows and the myriad species of trees round about us.
Therefore, we voice this conviction of alarm about a“ natural resource” of Tennessee:
A nation is no greater than its mothers. A breed of horses is no greater than its dams. Have all the proven sires of a particular breed given you and you will never produce great get without properblooded dams.
What of Tennessee Walking Horse brood mares? Where are they today? Whither are they going at the present time?
During the past sixty days we have seen no less than thirty leave Tennessee. That’ s one every two days. Rapid depletion that only time can mend. And will the breeders allow the all-healing hand of time to build again? We doubt it.
Thirty good brood mares are gone to scattered parts of the country. There they will be bred, in many instances to off-brand stallions, not from preference of new owners, but because proven sires of walking bloodlines can’ t be found at stud there. The get won’ t be true-to-the breed walkers. A break-down, pure and simple.
These mares, had they“ stayed at home,” could have produced thirty foals hext spring. The next year and the next they could have repeated, and this is true of the next. That would have mounted up to almost a hundred colts, colts
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20 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse