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too good to pass up ” and had finally consented to sell their stallion .
PERFECTION is out of MERRY WALKER , a mare with excellent depth in her breeding , and is by MID NIGHT MACK K . a proven sire of top Tennessee Walking Horses . An ironic sidelight to this story is the fact that Mr . Gribble is also part owner of MIDNIGHT MACK K . who was purchased from Vic Thompson only two years ago . It appears that the Gribble-Thompson team do well in business together .
Foaled May 6 . 1955 on the Porter Rodgers Farm in Searcv , Arkansas , RODGERS PERFECTION has had few people astride him besides Joe Webb , long - time trainer for Dr . Rodgers . He came on strong as a Celebration contender as a four-year-old and was one of the most popular victors in modern years . Since winning the roses he has been standing at stud in Searcy for a stud fee of $ 500 . which was the highest stud fee in the Walking Horse business for vears . He currently will stand for $ 200 .
RODGERS PERFECTION has done exceptionally well as a breeding horse . He is the sire of the 1964 World Grand Champion PERFECTION ’ S CARBON COPY and also THE ENTERTAINER , the 1966 World Champion Three-Year-Old . Both of these champions were trained bv Joe Webb and the ENTERTAINER appears to be taking steady aim at Junior honors for 1967 . With quantity as well as qualitv now available it is almost assured ' that RODGERS PERFECTION will make still further marks on the record books .
Our congratulations to Dr . and Mrs . Porter Rodgers . Sr . and Dr . and Mrs . Porter Rodgers , Jr ., on the sale of this fine stallion . He has made a substantial contribution to the Walking Horse business for which they are largely responsible .
The Vic Thompson Stallion barn is located across the highway from his training stable and affords some of the finest facilities in Middle Tennessee . With over a hundred acres of prime pasture land and a modern stud barn from which to work , the addition of RODGERS PERFEC TION should generate a lot of interest as the feature
attraction here .
An item of interest is the fact that the new stable mate of RODGERS PERFECTION , for breeding purposes , is none other than GO BOY ’ S INVASION . This excellent chestnut stallion defeated PERFECTION in the Junior Class in 1958 with George Witt up . In the big stake the following year , the trend was changed as PERFECTION with Joe Webb up tied the blue and GO BOY ’ S IN VASION was reserve . ( That same year Vic Thompson tied third on MR . SENSATION .) Now ' they are together again , but . this time they are working as a team to better the breed . Vic has also owned boh the sire and the dam of RODGERS PERFECTION , rounding out his personal involvement with this stallion .
Another note of interest is the arrival of STATELY ’ S INKY ANGEL at the Vic Thompson Stables . INKY is a fine black Junior Mare that is owned by Mr . and Mrs . Stanley Reames of Clovis , California . This top mare recently won the Junior Class at the California Walking Horse Celebration and was considered by many observers to . be “ Celebration ” stock in this part of the country . Mrs . Pat Reames made the trip from California and INKY is now in training with Mack Motes doing the rid-
46 ing Could this be another “ top ” horse for the Vic Thomp . son String ? She is a good one !______________
“ WALK ON , MINNESOTA !”
By Miss Carlene Holt Woodlane Farm R . R . 5 , Stillwater , Minn .
Recently I received a most interesting letter from a real Walking Horse enthusiast , Dr . Ray E . Lemley 0f Rapid Citv , South Dakota . Dr . Lemley is the proud owner of some 50 registered Walkers which he raises on his huge working cattle ranch . Last year he purchased a SUN DUST stallion and expects a fine crop of foals in 1967 . It sounds as though he certainly has some well-bred Walker stock and quite a selection of ages and colors . I ’ d like to quote directly one paragraph of his letter which is in particular very interesting .
“ I do not train my colts for show purposes , only for ranch work and find they will do anything that any other kind of horse will do , usually better , besides they are Walkers and cover the country without tiring on this rather large cattle ranch . They take to roping and cutting very well and are plenty speedy and quick to learn . They are always gentle and easy to handle and train . . .”
This goes to prove again that the Walking Horse can be a “ working ” horse , too , besides being an excellent pleasure mount — and certainly an exciting show horse ! Hope I can visit Dr . Lemley ’ s ranch some time . He reports that he has some young stock for sale and a good selection available . Anyone in his area interested in Walkers would do well to contact Dr . Lemley .
Here and there :
It ’ s that time of year again to announce the arrival of new foals . Mr . and Mrs . Brad Johnson of Sauk Rapids . Minnesota , phoned to report their good MERRY BOY bred mare presented them with a fine new stud colt . The Johnsons are planning a trip down south soon and are shopping around for a real sharp yearling filly .
The Donald Swisher family of Stillwater is very happy with the fine filly foal which arrived a couple of weeks ago . Their good bay roan marc MERRY MISS G . presented them with a very flashy black roan filly well marked with white .
Here at Woodlane Farm of Stillwater we are very proud indeed of our newest arrival . Our broodmare HONEY LADY had a very dainty chestnut filly marked with a star and one hind sock . We ’ re especially pleased with her as she is the first Minnesota-born foal sired by our stallion purchased last year , MACK K ’ S MAMBO .
Understand that Alice Kenyon of Eau Claire , Wisconsin is also the happy owner of a fine new filly . The ne w ariival is a coal-black filly out of her double MERK^ mare and sired by MIDNITE PLEASURE , JR ., the good stud owned by Eyre Walking Horse Stables of Grundy Center , Iowa .
of the good red roan show gelding GO SHADOW BC purchased from the Rainwood Stables of Omaha . V ook forward to seeing Helen and her new horse in t a mg Horse classes at our area shows this season . vn „! eV ° kceP ending in news and informal LZl • P , 3nd , assistanee is the only way to keep t ) e in ormatlve and interesting . Thank you .
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse