PROFESSIONALS on PARADE >
by SHARON TERRY
ROBINSON FAMILY— Mrs. Carol Robinson, four year old daughter Beth and Nell as they pose for a family portrait.
A young trainer devoted to his horses.. NEIL ROBINSON
Neil Robinson, full time trainer for the Jeffcots Stables in Cordova. Tennessee, was born in Walking Horse country, As a youth in Humboldt, he developed an early interest in horses and his interest never waned. It eventually passed from casual interest to a professional career. It has thus far been rewarding for him.
Neil’ s career as a trainer began around the age of 15 when he started working for Dr. H. G. Barker of Humboldt. His first activities consisted of breaking colts and working a few horses in his free time— after school, on Saturdays, and during the summer.
At the ago of 17 with a lot of experience in the saddle, Neil tied third in the Walking Pony Class at the Celebration. The pony was a black stallion named, DARK DAWN, owned at that time by Dr. Barker and later sold and taken to California.
The outstanding mare, GO BOY’ S HURRICANE, now owned. by Mr. Fred Fowler, was broken by Neil for Dr. Barker. Neil showed this fine horse very successfully as a two-year-old and three-year-old. She was later sold to. Mrs. Florence Bishop in California.
In 1961 Neil and Miss Carol Grey Barker were married. Carol is a great horse lover( many will remember her showing out of her father’ s stable in Humboldt) and she is a big help to Neil at the shows. It is only natural that their four year old daughter, Beth, shares their love and understanding of horses. Beth is already active in the horse world. She owns her own pony, named BUCK, and she says she wants to trade him for a pony that will have a colt. She is dreaming of the day when she will have a horse that can do the flat walk, running walk, and canter. With Neil as her coach, that time should not be far away.
Success opened its doors to Neil in 1963. He was training for ' Merry Acres Stables in Cordova at the time and his pride and joy was SUN’ S JOE DIAMOND, bay two-year-old gelding owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hamilton of Memphis. Neil and SUN’ S JOE DIAMOND climaxed a victorious show season at the Celebration where DIAMOND was rightfully crowned World’ s Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding.
In October of 1964 Neil went to work at the Jcffcoat Stables, also in Cordova, where he is presently located. There he took over the operation of Jeffcoat Stables as well as working outside horses. During the summer of 1965 Neil did very well with TEMPTATION’ S TAMMY, an aged marc owned by Nick Douzanis of Memphis.
The summer of 1966 was an outstanding season for Neil. SUN’ S STRADIVARIUS, the Jeffcoats’ black twoyear-old stallion, took many blues all over the Mid-South. Under Neil’ s capable hands he will be ready to meet many lop opponents as a three-year-old this season. MIDNIGHT MONA LISA also won her share of blues as a two-yearold and three-year-old and she keeps right on improving. These two young horses serve as a sample of Neil’ s dedicated hard work and the results prove his ability.
SORREL SHADOW, also owned by the Jeffcoats, is not to be forgotten. Fie is an aged stallion who holds his own in any show ring.
Neil has a right to be excited about the 1967 show season for he has a top string of horses. Along with last year’ s horses, this 26 year old professional is working a fine looking GO BOY colt the Jeffcoats bought from Stanley McNabb through the Murray Farm Sale. Neil wasn’ t satisfied until he had this futurity colt, named GO BOY’ S RENDEZVOUS. He is really an eye catcher— a big, loose, bay colt and is really a top prospect. Neil is working several other two-year olds, including two by EBONY MASTERPIECE. Other top show horses as well as his outside horses round out his show string for 1967.
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20 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse