NEW YORK HORSE CAPTURES ' HORSE OF THE YEAR’ AWARD IN WALKING HORSE CATEGORY
New York has been and still is the home of many of the champions from the world of sports. And now another champion is making his home there. GO BOVS REBEL O, leading horse of the Leeswood Stable in Oaks Corners, New York, has been awarded the Horse of the tear Award by the American Horse Shows Association.
Trainer David Welsh and Mr. and Mrs. Cebem Lee have teamed up to bring this latest award to the Empire State. The Lee’ s own the Stable and David is the man who was in the irons for REBEL’ S impressive triumphs throughout the year of 1966. This is a significant accomplishment for this dedicated team and required a lot of hard work and financial sacrifice.
When you glance back at REBEL’ S record for the past year, it is easy to see why he captured this prized award. REBEL won seven championship stakes in horse shows all over the Eastern half of the country plus six blue ribbons in stud and gelding classes at these same shows. This represents an important criterion for a champion. REBEL was shown all over the country and he did not pick his shows. To be a true champion, one needs to challenge the other top horses and let the best horse win. REBEL certainly did this in 1966.
The reserve winner in the Horse of the Year competition was SOCIETY SOUVENIR. This horse is an amateur mount and was shown during 1966 by Mrs. Lee.
The one-two placing in the awards is significant in that it points out both the professional and amateur phases of the Leeswood Stable operation. To have a top professional winner and a top amateur winner in the same stable argues strongly for the balance and emphasis placed on each phase. Mrs. Lee is to be congratulated for her“ time in the saddle” in working very hard for this reserve award.
David Welsh and GO BOY’ S REBEL O can be justly proud of this award. REBEL was shown in the leading shows in the upper Eastern section of the country in addition to making a show in Tennessee and one at the Kentucky State Celebration. Not many horses are shown
as often or as in many different parts of the country as this big sorrel stallion.
This success is even more noteworthy since the Leeswood Stable did not exist five years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were totally unfamiliar with the Tennessee Walking Horse at that time and David Welsh was hard at work at '? Beaumont Stables in Broadway, Virginia.
However, Mr. and Mrs. Lee were introduced to the Tennessee Walking Horse at a horse show in Phoenix,
Arizona. After several trips to Virginia investigating this breed, they bought their first Tennessee Walking Horse over the phone. Shortly thereafter Mrs. Lee purchased a horse to show herself and spent the entire year of 1963 traveling to shows whenever possible. The first was not all roses as they captured only one ribbon, and that was for fifth place.
On one of their many trips to Virginia, the Lee’ s were introduced to David Welsh. David was offered the job with the responsibility of setting up the operation on a professional basis. Since that time a lot of hard work and cooperation have been required to reach this level of success.
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BIG MOMENT— Mrs. Cebern Lee is pictured receiving the“ Horse of the Year.” award for the Walking Horse division at the annual AHSA convention. GO BOY’ S REBEL O amassed sufficient points to merit this distinction.
David suggested the purchase of REBEL after going to work for the Lee’ s and it appears this has been one of his most important moves. It is vital for a new stable to have a“ name” horse, from both the quality and publicity standpoint. REBEL has certainly filled this need for the Leeswood Stable.
The Horse of the Year Award is given annually to the horse compiling the most points by winning classes in American Horse Shows Association sanctioned shows. Thus it places emphasis on both winning and showing frequently._____________________________________ ____
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The highlight of the four day convention for Walking Horse enthusiasts was the presentation of the“ Horse of the Year” award at the awards banquet on Friday January 13. Receiving the award for Leeswood Stables, Oaks Corners, N. Y. for their outstanding age stallion GO BOY’ S REBEL O, was Mrs. Cebern Lee. Reserve in the annual awards competition was SOCIETY SOUVENIR, an outstanding Amateur horse that was ridden during the 1966 season by Mrs. Lee. This was a very impressive one-two victory for Mr. and Mrs. Lee and their trainer David Welsh.( See complete story in adjacent article).
What about 1967 and our affiliation with the American Horse Show Association? We will have to agree with President Hart in saying that we made some very important progress in 1966 but there is still room for improvement this season. We all want this breed to grow in numbers, activity and acceptance and it is only by mutual cooperation and understanding that we can work out our problems to the benefit of this great breed. Congratulations to the ALISA for a wonderful convention. We hope to see you again next year with even better reports
0 progress for the nations greatest show horse.. • 1 ennessee Walking Horse.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse