A WMA Stages Annual School and Show
AWHA BANQUET. The dignitaries of the American Walking Horse Association enjoy the banquet between sessions in their annual school and show. President E. Carl Hengen and his wife are pictured in the middle.
The American Walking Horse Association School and Show reached new heights this year with one of the finest presentations in its sixteen year history. The cool and damp weather took some of the lustre away from the show but everyone on hand would gladly go back for more of the same.
Dr. Robert Womack from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, did an outstanding job in his dual capacity as judge and instructor. At the annual dinner Dr. Womack delivered a stirring address that had the crowd calling for more.
This year’ s program got underway on Thursday night, May 4 at the Quentin Riding Club in Quentin, Pennsylvania. A reception and cocktail party was held and spectators and exhibitors at the annual clinic spent their time getting re-acquainted and discussing their early season show activity. The crowd left the party early in order to get some rest before the next day’ s activities.
Friday was devoted to instruction by Dr. Womack, H. Karl Yenser and Dick Coffman. Practically every phase in the care and showing of Tennessee Walking Horses was covered and the crowd responded to the educational presentation with many earnest questions and intelligent comments. Demonstrations were given in each of the various gaits and a very enlightening discussion of Equitation by Mr. Yenser was well received by all.
On Friday evening the President of the Association, Mr. E. Carl Hengen, held the annual reception followed by dinner and the address by Dr. Womack. Afterwards a
question and answer session w-as held with the various
44 professional trainers answering questions posed by the crowd. Music and dancing ended the night’ s activities on an entertaining note and left the participants ready for a night’ s rest before the big show the next day.
Dr. Womack’ s speech combined humor, history, and candid comment in enviable fashion. Topics of discussion included the“ big lick,” a comparison of horses in the north and south, some of the legentary names in the annals of the Tennessee Walking Horse, the humble beginnings of the breed, and what the future holds for the Walking Horse.
The horse show was scheduled to start early on Saturday but cold and rain caused a delay until around noon. Twenty-two classes were scheduled with twelve Walking Horse classes being featured.
The first class in the ring featured the junior horses. The winner in this fine class was Ernest Bugg on IKE’ S PLAYBOY. Ernie did a fine job exhibiting his horse on the muddy track in capturing the top spot. The reserve winner was SUN GLO’ S BIG BOY with Albert Davis doing the riding. Keeping the pressure on the top two horses and tying third was LITTLE JOE with Bill Sloat up.
In the mare class Jeff Brener and MIDNIGHT PER FECTION took the blue ribbon with a steady showing over some tough competition. The number two spot was awarded to MISS TREVA and Barbara Corbett while the third place tie went to SUN’ S SPRING QUEEN and Linda Hallman.
AWHA SCHOOL. Mr. E. Carl Hengen and Bob Womack answer questions from the crowd at a session of the school. A orough discussion of the Tennessee Walking Horse was presented.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse