WEST COAST WALKING HORSE NEWS
A monthly report of breed activities on the West Coast with news about the horse activities of individuals , associations and horse shows .
All Editorial and Advertising material for this section should be sent to : Mrs . Connie Keefer , West Coast Editor .
WEST COAST ‘ WALKS ON ’
By Connie Keefer 2749 S . Native Ave . Rowland Heights , Calif .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE — We are pleased to announce the addition of Mrs . Constance Keefer to the Editorial Staff of the VOICE Publishing Company . Her primary duties will be to report on Walking Horse activities on the West Coast and to work with the various breed organizations from that part of the country in getting news of their activities to the VOICE . Mrs . Keefer , known as “ Connie ” to her many friends , will officially represent the VOICE on the West Coast . She will have an office at 2749 S . Native Avenue , Rowland Heights , Calif . 91745 .' Phone 964-7664 .
Connie Keefer is a native Californian . She was born in Huntington Park and was raised in the southern part of the state . She received ’ her education in the schools of California and her popularity brought her many honors including being selected Homecoming Queen . Her interest in horses goes back to her childhood , and she got her first horse when she graduated from high school . Connie has a natural heritage in the Walking Horse business . Her father , Mr . James R . Osment , a native Tennessean , is a first cousin to Mr . H . L . ( Hubert ) Worrell , who is famous for his Solitude Stock Farm in Goodlettsvillc , Tennessee . Since visiting this farm in her youth Connie decided that one day she would have a Tennessee Walking Horse .
For the past seven years Connie has been working in a security office doing clerical work . She recently decided to give up this job and pursue other interests including Tennessee Walking Horses . She purchased her first registered Walking Horse last year and has been an avid follower of West Coast show horse activity ever since . She . now has her horse in training and is looking forward to joining in the ever-increasing activity of the Tennessee Walking Horse on the West Coast .
We feel that this is a major step for the VOICE and also for West Coast enthusiasts of this great breed . Connie will strive to serve the best interests of everyone from both the Southern and the Northern parts of the coast as well as those from other states in the far West . We hope that everyone will take full advantage of her association with us and that we can all work together to further the breed as the “ West Coast Walks On .”
After several months of preparation , the 5th Annual California Walking Horse Celebration and Horse Show started on schedule Friday night , May 19 and continued through Sunday , May 21 , with almost perfect weather ( with the exception of a LITTLE smog ). The evening started with an impressive presentation of the flag by Sally Ford on her beautiful Walking Horse Mare , THE
NEW BLACK ANGEL . Next we heard the official hornblower , Harold Collinson , call the first class into the ring , and the show was under way . During the show we had
the pleasure of listening to organ music by Mrs . Virgil Green . The attendance was good and the classes were filled with top quality stock , even though several horses had to be scratched due to a virus which hit many of
the stables . There were 28 Walking Horse classes and over 100 entries . The judge , Charles A . Bobo , of Tennessee , who I understand is considered by many to be the Dean of Walking Horse Judges , did a great job tying the classes . This show was for the benefit of the Crippled Children ’ s Society of Los Angeles County , and each day a demonstration was given by a handicapped child
and a woman , who showed their skill at riding Walking Horses . The crowd was most appreciative and certainly was with them all the way .
Listing the blue ribbon winners of the performance classes , we find that Jim Babb on STATELY ’ S SPITFIRE
owned by Landers Walking Horse Stables walked off with the blue in the Show Mares class , and Iola Robinson took the first blue in the Pleasure Mares class on her horse , PRINCESS ROBIN . Jim Babb , again , won first place in the Show Stallion and Gelding class on SHADOW ’ S WONDER BOY owned by Landers Walking Horse Stables , and Katherine Evans won the blue in the Pleasure Stallion & Gelding class on GOLDEN BOY ’ S KING owned by John P . Evans . The Show Amateur to Ride class was won by R . M . “ Bob ” Edmonds on SUN BEAM ’ S PRODUCER owned by the Blue Ridge Ranch . Jean McBurney carried off the honors on MY LITTLE MARGIE in the Show Ladies to Ride class . Mercedes Murphy took the Show Two-Year-Old class on SHAD OW ’ S PAT for Centaur Stables . Competition was keen in the Show Novice class and Bill Oakford rode STATELY AGAIN to the blue for Mrs . Carolyn Hawley . Our Junior riders put on a very good show and in the Pleasure Junior to Ride class Darlene Durham received the first award on PEG ’ S SONNY owned by Treated Pole Builders , Inc ., and Sally Ford on the NEW BLACK ANGEL walked off with the blue for Ford ’ s Walkers in the Show Junior Equitation class . INKY ANGEL with Glenn Miller up for Melody Circle Farms won the Show Junior Horse Four-Ycar-Old and Under class . Michael Werner placed
JUNE , 1967 27