WALK ON, MINNESOTA! by Miss Carlene Holt Stillwater, Minnesota
There have been quite a few changes in our area since my last article— new trainers, new horses,
new owners, etcetera.
Hedgerest Farm— Hastings, Minnesota
Trainer, FRANK DALKE has moved here to Hedgerest Farm. This beautiful farm, owned by Mrs. E. C. HOFFMAN, occupies a lovely site overlooking the
Mississippi River in Hastings. They have some excellent facilities, including two stables of box stalls,
a newly-completed outdoor working ring, and a large indoor riding arena. Hedgerest has been well-known for its fine Saddlebred Horses. Not only is one stable filled with finished and started show horses, but there’ s some sharp-looking, well-bred young stock in
the pasture.
Frank is working several Walkers. Miss DEBRA LARSON of St. Paul, Minnesota has her bold black four-year-old gelding Midnight C Big John here in training. I understand that John is really stepping along right now, and I’ ll just bet that he still gets his reward of several carrots from Debbie after each good ride. There’ s also a chestnut Walker gelding here owned by Mr. LARRY BROWN of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Hedgerest owns the good Walker gelding Go Boy’ s Destiny, purchased last fall at the Celebration sale. He’ s a sleek black horse with a white star— and he can walk! Miss SHARON LEE HOFFMAN showed him to win first place at the Winter Fair in Canada recently. This was the first time she has ever shown a Walking Horse and they certainly did well together. Hedgerest also has a four-year-old red roan Walker mare recently purchased from Canada.
Blue Gate Farm, Inc.— Stillwater, Minnesota
LOREN( LONNIE) TEMPLETON from Des Moines, Iowa, is the new full-time trainer here. He came up in March and arrived just in time to get a real taste of Minnesota weather. Just after he got here we had that terrible storm that dropped 12” of new snow on the Twin City area. All that white stuff is melted now and Lonnie is busy working the Blue Gate horses outside whenever the weather permits— or inside the stable in the indoor riding area. All their horses are looking fat and sassy and seem ready for the coming show season.
They are standing two Walker stallions for the 1966 season: Glory’ s Fireball B- a 16-hand, liver chestnut, Reserve Champion, Open Walker Class for Tri- State 1965; and Rodger’ s Fire Ball- a beautiful black four-year-old stud, sired by Rodger’ s Mem \ fin Rnu
We recently saw Lonnie working their three-yej old bay roan filly Midnight Merry Allis. She’ s m as pretty and fine a filly as you’ ll ever see- a:
70 is going along just shaking her head and smooth butter! Dr. DOROTHY MUIRHEAD of Blue Gat^
to show this filly and we’ re looking forward to ing them together in the ring this coming Se ^ Allis is certainly a flashy filly, of a different ^ that will stand out in any crowd. ^
WAYNE and SUZANNE NELSON, Managers offti Gate, have recently moved into their new home her6 This is a beautiful split-entry home, and they’ ve Us
the farm colors of blue and gold throughout the \ terior decoration. Even the double garage door is ^
Valley High Farm— Lake Elmo, Minnesota
This farm owned by Dr. and Mrs. DEAN YARiak boasts several Saddlebreds and also some well-bred Walking Horses. For several years they have had the Walker stallion Parader’ s Pride and some good broodmares... including the liver chestnut mare Dona’ s Sensation sired by Old Wilson’ s Ace. They have a coming two-year-old chestnut stud colt from this mare sired by World’ s Grand Champion B. Major Wilson. He’ s a real typey colt and developing into a likely prospect.
The Yarians are quite excited and thrilled with the newest foal from Dona’ s Sensation. This leggy little sorrel filly, with matching hind socks and a star, is sired by Midnite Pleasure, Jr., a double Midnight Sun bred stud owned by the Eyre Walking Stable of Grundy Center, Iowa. Though only a few days old, that little filly is right out there nodding her head and using those legs the right way. Can’ t blame the Yarians for being proud of her.
Woodlane Farm— Stillwater, Minnesota
There has been some activity around our place recently, too. Our pleasure Walker mare Southern Belle has gone to a new home in Waverly, Minnesota. Our sorrel show gelding, Powerhouse, also has a happy new owner. Miss GAIL MOHN of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has purchased him and he is being stabled at Blue Gate Farm. This is Gail’ s first Walking Horse and we know she’ ll enjoy the thrilling rides she’ ll be getting on him. Gail and Powerhouse will be in the show ring this coming season in our Tri-State area.
We’ re certainly proud of our newest Walker foal at Woodlane Farm. Our Midnight Secret mare, Secret s Painted Lady, presented us with a wonderful little filly. She’ s gray in color right now, but we believe she 11 shed out black later on. She has three full stockings, blaze, mixed tail— and can she walk! We re just as pleased as can be with this little gal, sired by Blue Gate Farm’ s black stallion Rodger’ s Fire Ball-
Recently we brought home anew show horse, Sunlight Sultan, from Missouri. He’ s a 16-hand, five-year-oH black gelding with three stockings and blaze. Hes boarded at Blue Gate for a little while until our weather gets more dependable. Although we’ ve had him only a short time, we’ re sure thrilled with him. Miss MARY VUCHETICH, her sister and father
rove from Brainerd, Minnesota, one very rainy recently. Mary owns a bright red sorrel pleasure walker mare named Somebody’ s Siren and her father nas a roan mare, Graham’ s Roan Daisy. They r? port that there aren’ t many Walking Horses up ir
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Hors *