YOUR ROVING REPORTER
By Charles Goldswig
Jusl " Roving "— a snapshot of Charlie on WRIGHT’ S HEIR- Charlie was up when they won the St. Petersburg Stake Class.
Walking Horses have recently " come alive” in the St. Petersburg area. According to HENRY BOSWELL, President of the Florida Walking Horse Association, there seems to be more interest than ever before. When queried as to the reason for this, Mr. Boswell gives credit to LESLIE THOMAS, popular Walking Horse trainer who came down from Ohio on a look-see basis and liked Florida and the people so much that he decided to make St. Petersburg his home.
With a full-time trainer available, Boswell Farms will build a new barn at 7576- 78th Avenue North, St. Petersburg( Pinellas Park). July 4 is the tentative date set for an opening to which the public and all horse enthusiasts will be invited. This new barn will be 120 x 40 feet, ivith fourteen box stalls, tack room, lounge, and hot walker. In addition, there will be a Celebration-size ring.
Facilities will be available under the direction of Mr. Leslie Thomas for breaking colts, training and showing horses, boarding, and riding instruction.
A welcome newcomer to the Walking Horse fraternity in Tampa is Mr. MARVIN ESSRIG, President of Tampa Bay Bank, who is the proud owner of a new Walking Horse.
JOHN HOLT of Baltimore, as he bade me goodbye, said he would bring some Walking Horses down next winter and have them in training at Boswell Farms. I
I leave Florida after a most rewarding winter vacation and, to the best of my knowledge, have answered all your inquiries. However, if I have overlooked any, please be good enough to write me again, Route 1, Clayton, Ohio.
Horse Show Judge’ s Confession:
" SOMETIMES I’ D LIKE TO FLIP A COIN” The horses are called before the announcer’ s stand, and all eyes are turned to one figure- the Judge.
At that point, admits CARL MOSSLER, " Sometimes I wish I were alone and could flip a coin to pick the winner.”
And after that final decision, says RUSS WALTHER, " 1 may get some questions-not often, but mostly from the parents.”
This is the life of the horse show judge. Mossier, Walther, and TOM HEIL were the decision-makers at the St. Petersburg Horse Show at the Skybrook Riding Academy.
" Sometimes you could place ten horses between the winner and the second-place finisher” said Mossier, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado who calls shows in various parts of the nation. " But then they can be so close I’ d like to flip a coin.”
Heil, from Tarpon Springs, revealed one solution to the problem- in case of an equitation( rider’ s skill) event: " If I feel it’ s a tie, I’ ll have the riders switch horses to see if they can do as well on either one. This is done once in awhile.” That’ s called the " horse factor.” And Mossier agreed, saying, " Equitation events are supposed to be judged on the rider’ s skill, but a good horse will make the rider look a lot better.”
So we’ ve covered the " coin factor,” the " parent factor,” and the " horse factor,” and the rider’ s skill brings forth the cheating factor. " The riders should make everything look easy. That’ s what we are looking for” said Walther, a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia and a resident of Winter Haven, Florida. " If a person has to use his feet or whip, he should try not to let us see it.” " Like an artist, we are always looking for the perfect picture- the right blend of rider and horse” said Mossier, who has judged shows for 30 years. " I have seen them come close, but no one was perfect.” Walther agreed. He then confessed, " I try to keep up with all the riders, but occasionally my back will be turned when a horse starts to buck, and the crowd will wonder why I rated the rider andhorse so high.” That’ s called the " blind side factor”- the most exasperating factor in the life of the horse show judge.
The foregoing conversations took place at the time of the St. Petersburg horse show. The following week in Tampa I queried PAUL RANDOLPH of Clearwater, Florida as to his reaction to the present-day methods of appointing judges. " Well, Charlie,” said Mr. Randolph, " I may never see it but some day horse shows will be governed by a commissioner like they have in baseball and football, and this should make for a better situation.”
FRANK ROPER of Winter Garden, Florida added, " Brother Goldswig, I would like to see horse shows announced without the naming of judges in advance. Real sportsmen should be willing to show before any judge.”
Henry Boswell of Pinellas Park, Florida, President of the Walking Horse Association of Florida asked why it wasn’ t possible to find men other than professional trainers to judge.
30 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse