1966-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1966 February Voice | Page 8

TENNESSEE
WALKERS
IN TEXAS
Mrs. Edith Puckett
Route 4, Box 110
Tyler, Texas
When many East Texans think of Tennessee Walk­
ing Horses they just naturally think of OTIS CLARK
of Tyler. Mr. Clark has been in the Walking Horse
business longer than anyone I know in this area. It
all started back in 1947 when he traded a five-gaited
stud for a Walking Mare named Blaze Glory, bred
her to Midnight Rambler (once owned by VIC THOMP­
SON), by Miller’s Wilson Allen, and she had a black
filly that Mr. Clark called Jenny Lynn. A couple of
years later he bought Vitality, another black filly.
Then a few years later Mr. Clark decided to get out
of the horse business and sold his three mares. But
he didn’t forget them — I suppose every horse he
saw grazing in a pasture reminded him of the three
fine mares he once owned.
Jenny Lynn and Vitality were sold or traded seve­
ral times in the following years and, in fact, Jenny
Lynn was the first registered Walking Horse I ever
owned. Jenny had three colts while we owned her
and I thought every one finer than the one before.
Mr. Clark was about the first visitor we had after
Jenny Lynn had her (and our) first colt, and it wasn’t
too long before he began to talk about how he would
like to buy her. A couple of years more went by, in
which time he bought Vitality back, and then we sold
Jenny Lynn to Mr. Clark. He was so proud to have
his beautiful black mares again and we were just
about as happy for him.
Mr. Clark probably will never sell either of these
two mares now because they have turned out to be
excellent brood mares. Jenny Lynn has had five colts
so far, some of them outstanding. Tel-Star by Bessie’s
H’s Merry Boy, her 1963 colt now owned by Mr. JIM
BRENT of Longview, Texas, won the two-year-old
class at the Garland Show in 1965 (judged by RICH­
ARD MARY). Alamo Rambler, a mare that we still
own, is another of Jenny’s colts. But Mr. Clark and
I both think that Jenny Lynn’s latest colt, Clarks Red
Raider by Merry Boy’s Scooter by Merry Boy, a beau­
6
tiful bright-eyed bay, is going to be the best she’s
ever had. This one is special. Watch for him in the
1966 shows.
Vitality, Mr. Clark’s other black mare, is by Harris’
Wilson Allen out of Vital Lady. She is the proud ma­
ma of Vitality’s Beau, a big good-looking black roan
two-year-old that Mr. Clark will be showing this year
also.
Mr. Clark goes to his farm every morning from his
home in town in order to feed and water his horses,
which might not be so impressive if it were not for
the fact that he opens his business, the Fair Found­
ation Barber Shop, at 7:00 AM. And, of course, he
goes back to the farm every evening the year 'round.
He rides just about every day because he does all
of his own training, and has the satisfaction of know­
ing that he alone is responsible for what his horses
accomplish.
At present he has two other good mares, both bred
to Go Boy’s Shine, a grandson of Merry Go Boy.
Lately his four-year-old blue roan stallion, That’s
My Merry Boy by Merry Boy’s Scooter, has been do­
ing well in local shows.
When asked his plans for the future he told me he
intended to sell the two mares that are now bred to
Go Boy’s Shine, and one of his two-year-olds — after
all, he does wonders with his horses, but he can only
ride one horse in a class!
The folks in deep East Texas feel that Mr. Otis
Clark deserves a lot of credit for his pioneering in­
terest in Tennessee Walking Horses.
OFFICIAL CELEBRATION MOVIES RELEASED
Mr. BOB THOMAS, Public Relations Director of
the Celebration, Incorporated, Shelbyville, Tennessee,
recently announced the release of the Official 1965
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration films.
The films were made by official photographers repre­
senting the Celebration and cover the various activi­
ties in and around the "big ring” during the week of
the show.
In describing the movies, Mr. Thomas related that
they are in full color and are excellent reproduction,
taking full advantage of the new lighting system that
was installed last year. The movies are 16 MM, silent,
and are approximately 400 feet long, running for
about twenty minutes.
The usual procedure for releasing the films for pub­
lic viewing will be followed. There will be no charge
for the use of the films as they are a "public service”
of the Celebration, Incorporated*- to promote the an­
nual event. Those interested in obtaining the films
for dub or horse association meetings or for other
purposes should contact Mr. Bob Thomas, P. O. Box
728, Celebration, Incorporated, Shelbyville, Tennes­
see. Considering that the films are scarce, it was
pointed out that a waiting period may be incurred
after getting on the schedule for the films. They will
do everything possible to release the movies to as
many groups and individuals as time will permit.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse