1966-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1966 September Voice RS | Page 4

1960 World’s Grand Champion Now at Home in Macon, Georgia
“Why HANDSHAKER?” . . . This was the first
question asked of Mr. William A. Fickling and Mr.
Frank M. Talbot when the first proposed the purchase
of a “top horse” to stand in Georgia. When one ponders
the reasons for selecting a particular breeding stallion-,
it becomes obvious that several major factors have to be
taken into consideration. A stallion only has about three
or four “factors” that make him attractive as a breeding
sire. These are: (1) His showring record, (2) His pedi­
gree (3) His conformation and natural ability and (4)
His get. When promoting a stallion, these are the
factors that an owner talks about and these are the fac­
tors that a potential breeder looks for. It is rare indeed
when we find all of these outstanding characteristics in
on animal, but such is the case with MACK K’S HAND­
SHAKER. It was as simple as that! When challenged
with the prospect of locating a “top stallion” with these
same features . . . especially one that could be purchased
for a reasonable price, it would be an almost impossible
task to find one to beat this horse.
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HANDSHAKER was the first, but not the only
choice, of these two men. They did a lot of research re­
garding popular blood lines, breeding potential, records
of top stallions, potency of top stallions, percentage of
mares in foal, and questioned a lot of major breeders
the state of Georgia and the tri-state area from which
they propose to draw the maximum business for their
stallion. They wanted the facts regarding the popularity
of a given sire and the “reasons why” he was popular.
Location, ownership, management, stud fees and pasture
charges, were considerations of note. All of these factors
wer taken into consideration before they decided to buy
a horse of the caliber of MACK K’S HANDSHAKER.
Regarding the primary reasons for considering the
establishment of a major breeding farm in the middle of
Georgia, Mr. Fickling pointed out that he had been active
in the breeding and raising of white faced beef cattle for
several years and had decided to sell out and get into the
Walking Horse business at the same level. After purchas­
ing a small, but choice band of select brood mares he out­
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse