WEST COAST BARNSTORMING By Connie Keefer
BARBARA WORTH STABLES
The Barbara Worth Stables with Bill Oakford heading the Walking Horse Division is located in Simi , California . After making a couple of wrong turns , I finally arrived at this active stable to find Bill training GO BOY ’ S QUEEN R , a pretty chestnut mare . I had the pleasure of watching S . J . ( Sam ) Molay of Santa Barbara riding his fast moving bay gelding , MR . SUCCESSOR , also his daughter , Nancy Molay on BLUE BLAZES , who was the 1966 High Point Junior Champion rider of California . The Molays have had horses in training with Bill Oakford for a few years and both Nancy and her horse BLUE BLAZES , who is a five-year-old roan gelding , were high point winners for 1966 . I was impressed with the facilities and the activity that was taking place at this busy stable . It was very informative and educational to watch Bill , who is one of our top trainers , instruct his students while visiting his stables .
BLUE RIDGE RANCH
Mr . and Mrs . Edmonds and Bob of the Blue Ridge Ranch , at Clovis , California are very proud of their mare , SUNBEAM ’ S PRODUCER . This mare has captured the blue in each class that she has entered , since the efficient Glenn Miller has taken over as their trainer , and is heading for the top West Coast Championship honors in the Amateur , Mare and Stake classes . The Edmonds have several other outstanding horses in training , as well as ten outside horses , including their newest arrival CAPTAIN KIDD , a four-year-old stallion by GO BOY ’ S CAPTAIN , who is owned by Mr . and Mrs . Stapp of Seattle , Washington . This keeps trainers Glenn Miller and Red Henson very busy .
CAROUSEL STABLES
Carousel Stables is located in Whittier , California in a rural southern setting . Paul Hughes is the well known manager-trainer of this progressive stable . One of his top horses is a six-year-old black mare , CANDY KAY , who tied as High-Point Mare Champion of the West Coast in 1966 .
STATELY ’ S SUNLIGHT , a six-year-old bay stallion who is owned by Mr . and Mrs . Robert C . Slee of Rowland Heights , has been in training with Paul for approximately two months and is responding well . Their daughter Terry , one of our outstanding junior riders , will be riding this horse as well as others for Carousel Stables .
I watched Paul work a bold walking two-year-old stallion named SOCIETY CYCLONE , owned by Allied Roofers , who promises to be a threat in the Two-Year- Old classes . Mr . and Mrs . C . Muriello of Downey recently purchased GO BOY ’ S STORM , a three-year-old roan gelding , for their grandson Rick , who hopes to show him at the Cow Palace this fall .
Paul is working hard on these horses and many others in order to continue to present top competition in all Walking Horse classes .
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CENTAUR STABLES
Trainers Owen Daniels and Mercedes Murphy in Ontario are working long hours this summer to keep their horses in top form for the coming shows . The stable has several promising young horses , and one outstanding eyecatcher that I saw was KING ’ S LI ’ L ABNER , a threeyear-old chestnut colt by SHADOW ’ S KING who took first in the Three and Over Stallion halter class and tied Reserve Champion Stallion at the 1967 California Celebration . This horse is owned by Dr . and Mrs . C . J . Carter of Rolling Hills Estates .
I watched Sally Ford working the spirited SHADOW ’ S KING , a seven-year-old chestnut stallion by GO BOY ’ S SHADOW , owned by Ford ’ s Walkers of Ontario , also Sarah Emerson on her pretty black mare , STAR ’ S BLACK amcrt nwnprf hv Dr . and Mrs . F . C . Emerson of Cla * ^
mont .
This stable has several top juvenile riders that have been taught by Owen and Mercedes , known by many to be two of the best equitation teachers on the West Coast .
Trainer Owen Daniels ’ horses reflect his belief of the well known saying , “ If they ’ re not nodding , they ’ re not
walking .”
COURTESY STABLES
While in the Valley I stopped by the Courtesy Stables to find one of the nicest barn lay-outs that I have ever seen . It was evident that a great deal of thought and planning went into the barn and grounds , and definitely when visiting the West Coast one should make it a point to see this stable .
They have been inactive the first part of this year , but with the new trainer , Dick Harris , things are looking upward for Mr . McClure , and they should start showing by the Futurity or Cow Palace .
I am sorry to announce that GO BOY ’ S WONDER BOY , one of Mr . McClure ’ s favorites , died in May of this year . I am looking forward to a future visit , when I can watch his top quality horses being worked .
WALKER ’ S TENNESSEE WALKERS
I was pleased to receive a letter from Bea Walker , an acquaintance that I made while at the Sacramento show in June . The Walkers have a breeding ranch with a 300 acre pasture area and presently have 22 head of nice Walking Horses .
Bea was very pleased to make a purchase from Richard and Sue Leamon of a brood mare , MACK K ’ S MID NIGHT JANE . JANE is by MIDNIGHT MACK K and out of the World Champion Three-Year-Old Mare , MID NIGHT JANE , by MIDNIGHT SUN .
Bea recently sold a two-year-old mare , BLUE ’ S BAR FLY by BLUE MIDNIGHT , to Mr . and Mrs . Slee of Rowland Heights , with Paul Hughes of Carousel Stables acting as the agent .
John P . Evans Clothiers — Bud Franklin
Bud Franklin , well-known West Coast trainer , has established a public stables for the training of Walking Horses . Located at the Los Angeles County Fair Grounds in Pomona , the stables are well-equipped with fine stalls . inside working areas , warm-up ring and a show ring . At
present , Bud is working horses belonging to John , Barbaia , Mary and Kathy ' Evans , who exhibit under the banner of
the JOHN P . EVANS CLOTHIERS . Bud is proud that at the lecent 5th Annual California Walking Horse Celebration he entered the Evans ’ horses nine times and won nine ribbons . There were two blues , two seconds , two thirds , two fourths and a fifth . Bud will welcome additional owners desiring training for Walkers .
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse