WISCONSIN WALKS
The following letter from Mrs . LEO A . BAUM , who has volunteered to send us information regarding Walking Horse activities in Wisconsin , is an excellent example of the many fine people from coast to coast who are actively interested in helping promote and expand the Walking Horse business .
" Ours must be a typical Walking Horse story : I dreamed all my life of owning a horse , rode as often as possible ( I grew up in Glencoe , Illinois ), and then used to say to my husband , " I ’ ll be in a rocking chair before I ever own a horse of my own .” Then , a few summers ago , the whole family ( Jim , 14 , Jeff , 12 , and Karen , 9 ) became interested in riding , and we all rode together . This resulted in our buying our first horse and , you guessed it , he was part Walker . We all loved Colonel so that soon we were looking for another . This one we decided would be a purebred , as we enjoyed " those gaits ” so much . We looked at some , one we liked : so fine it could be shown , we were told . We had never thought of showing before . One thing led to another , and we were told , " Don ’ t buy a show horse until at least LOOKING in Tennessee .”
We made our first trip to the " Walking Horse Capital of the World ” and bought Sir John Pryor , a big gray Sir MauGray gelding . Next trip down to pick him up , to our great surprise we bought another , a three-year-old bay stallion , Little Society Boy . We left him down there for training , as he had practically none . He is with the Green-Hugh Stables and , as everyone thinks oftheirown , he " really can walk .” He nods his head off , and we ’ ve never seen a rear end on any horse like his . BUDDY HUGH is doing a fine job of training him .
To continue our story , we had been looking for a farm , and found a beautiful one in a picturesque setting , 200 acres high overlooking the Rock River near Oconomow ' oc . We moved here last June , and named it River Tree Farm . Soon there followed a black pleasure horse and a walking pony . We had fun showing Sir John all through the Wisconsin and part of the Illinois circuit , and tied a few times .
At the Chicago International , Buddy Hugh brought us our first brood mare , an excellent Merry Boy mare with Wilson Allen on the dam ’ s side . We had a good time riding her . In January another pleasure horse , the beginningof March a Shetland pony , and then we just returned from Shelby ville having bought another brood mare , a former " showgirl ,” GoBoy ’ s Dream . She is due to have a Midnight Sun foal in a few days , so you can imagine how excited we are . We left her down there , as she will be rebred .
Our " horse family ” has really grown by leaps and bounds ! Now we are looking at another show horse for our children to show this year , as each one of us is as eager and interested as the other . Now for some other Wisconsin information and news : We mentioned T . F . Van Keuren Walking Horse Stable . " TOD ” is located in Beloit , Wisconsin , the only 100 % Walking Horse trainer in these parts . He does a fine job , and , has a lot of wonderful people in his barn family . MARVIN SHIELDS of Beloit has a black three-year-old filly , Shadow ’ s Mardelle , that won the WHA and NIHA junior championships last year . RAY NELSON of Decatur , Illinois has a good going six-yearold gelding , Shep ’ s Surprise King , that wins consistently . Ray is one of the nicest competitors anyone would want to meet . There are many others in Tod ’ s stable - more on them in the future .
Mrs . PAUL WOLFF of Oconomowoc has a two-year-old with Green-Hugh , a fine Gunsmoke colt that is really coming along . Mrs . Wolff ( JEAN to her friends ) has been in the Walking Horse world for a long time , and there is no stauncher supporter . She has had many a good show walker in the last quite-a-few years !
Other " old-timers ” in Wisconsin Walkers are Mr . and Mrs . WALLY PIEPER , who are great enthusiasts . They have Waldor Farms , also near Oconomowoc , with brood mares , a Shadow stallion , colts , pleasure geldings and a good-looking junior colt in training with MARV ORTMANN of Blue Top Farm .
Wally has been working like a beaver in starting the Walking Horse Association . Our first meeting is March 19 , a dinner meeting at the Monticello Club , so more on that next month when our plans will be formed . However , the response was terrific , between forty and fifty coming .
A sad loss to the Wisconsin horse people was the passing of Mrs . JANE KRANICK , mother of POLLY Kranick . Polly is the gal who did so well and won so many blues last year on her black Beau K ’ s Midnight Sun . Our deepest sympathy to Mr . Kranick and Polly . ( Continuedon page42 )
( Continued from page 34 )
dust colt with Neil that is coming along fine . Mr . Jeffcoat has a black Midnight Sun mare that they are mighty proud of . In the Juvenile classes , the Jeffcoat Stables will have COOKIE DUTCHER riding Playboy , a three-year-old roan gelding . More on the Jeffcoat Stables later .
GLL FARMS
Word comes from MARY S . LAID- LAW , Secretary of the GLL Farms , that their operation is going quite well . Carbon Copy has a full book as well as a pasture-full of mares from all over the country . Trainer RUS SELL PATE has gotten off to a good start this year and has already won some good ribbons . In the Hartsell , Alabama show he tied the blue in three outstanding classes : Riptide , a highly rated two-year-old chestnut stud , won his class , as did Special ’ s Angel , owned by Miss MARION RUSSELL of Piggott , Arkansas , in the Walking Mare Class . Russell also won the Stud and Gelding Class on Go Boy ’ s River Road for Mr . and Mrs . J . C . RANSBURG , Portagesville , Missouri .
We also learned that Mr . GLL himself exhibited Carbon Copy at the Hartsell Show and did himself quite proud . " Ah yes ! My kingdom for a horse !”
We are sorry to learn of the recent death of Sir Henry ’ s Echo . This outstanding Tennessee Walking Pony was beloved by all who had seen him throughout his show ring career and who had followed his record both before and after his victory at the Celebration in 1962 . Since then he has been owned by Dr . and Mrs . CHITWOOD of LaFayette , Tennessee , and was shown extensively last year by young CHUCK Chitwood . We regret the passing of this " little trooper ” of the Tennessee Walking Horse world .
BUYING . . . SELLING . . . SHOW ING ! REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO PROMOTE , YOU CAN DO IT BETTER FOR LESS IN THE “ VOICE ” THAN IN ANY OTHER HORSE MAGA ZINE .
40 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse