( Continued from Page 28) Walking Horse. We saw many horses and riders, both professionals and amateurs, that could get along well in competition anywhere in the country, including Tennessee.
Following a pattern that has been established by the State, the officials of this show held pre-show inspections of all horses prior to each class. Hoi ' ses were led to a practice ring, checked by a vet and then booted. It took tine veterinarians a while to catch on to the routine of“ what they were looking for.” One vet, trying to do his job according to the rule book, eliminated a couple of two-yearolds which, in our opinion, were in excellent shape for competition. As a result the other trainers decided not to show and only one horse was in the class. The situation was handled well by management and everything finally worked out with no hard feelings. There were only a few horses that were not permitted to show and, all things considered, the pre-show check worked out well.
In our opinion the pre-show check routine may be a good idea provided that the people doing the checking are oriented to the show horse world and especially the Tennessee Walking Horse.
As we made our way through the barn area each day we. could not help but be impressed with the pride that these West Coast Walking Horse lovers take in their stock, their tack and everything that has to do with their horse activity. This is a good sign and we cannot see anything but growth for the breed in this part of the country. x^nother highlight of the three-day show was a cocktail party and exhibitors’ buffet held Friday afternoon in the beautiful club house atop the grandstand of the race track. We tried to get them to open the Pari-mutuel windows so we could bet on the Big Stake, but for some reason they insisted that this wouldn’ t work.
Speaking of betting... we would be willing to bet that the breed on the West Coast is on the verge of great expansion. As a pleasure horse, a utility mount and a show horse, the Tennessee Walking Horse is serving the West Coast well. It’ s just a hunch, but don’ t be too surprised if we see a strong delegation from the far west at the National Celebration in the fall. There is a lot of talk out here about the prospects and we think they may just have some horses that would do well.
WEST COAST
Centour Stables
Big things are happening in Ontario, California, and trainers Owen Daniel and Mercedes Murphy are doing a fine job with the horses at Centaur Stables. One of the
feature attractions is the NEW BLACK ANGEL, a sixyear-old black mare that is doing a lot of winning for
Sally Ford. Sally, who rides out of Centaur Stables, is the daughter of Dr. T. F. Ford, who takes pride in their string of horses. They show their horses under the benner of“ Ford’ s Walkers” and are doing quite well, Sally
won 13 ribbons with her horse last year in Park Pleasure classes and this year has graduated to Juvenile and Amateur competition.
Other horses at Centaur Stables that are owned by the Fords are SFIADOW’ S KING, a fine stallion by GO BOY’ S SHADOW and out of a GO BOY mare, now standing at stud at Centaur; HIGH NOTE E, a fouryear-old chestnut stallion that they purchased at Harlinsdale Farms and showed for the first time at Pomona; MACK K’ S MINISTER, a fine pleasure horse; and ROBIN’ S EASTER, an eight-year-old MIDNIGHT SUN mare, in addition to 18 other horses.
Centaur Stables has many other fine horses and wc will have a report on them later.
Blue Dude Stables
Gladys and Sam Dilles of Calabasas, California, are getting into the Walking Horse business right. Gladys, who had show dogs for many years, decided to get into this business several years ago. She has slowly been outlining a program that included a new stable,( see photo) and a string of fine horses. They got started right by going to Tennessee to get five yearlings and by breeding some fine mares to the best cross offered on the West Coast. At present they have COTTON QUEEN’ S GO GIRL, a four-year-old chestnut mare; SUN’ S DUSTY
ROSE, a four-year-old mare by SUN DUST; and two MERRY GO BOY brood mares. One of their mares is
in foal to STATELY AGAIN and another just had a fine black stud colt by MIDNIGHT GLORY B. They also have two yearling colts by DOUGH BOY and one yearling filly by WONDER BOY.
With the caliber of stock they have and the fine new stable, we should be hearing a lot about the BLUE DUDE STABLES.
Belhaven Stables
We had a long talk with Mrs. Leon Durham at Pomona and she gave us the story on Belhaven Stables in Chino, California. Trainer Red Henson, who is working out of a new stable owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hobson, has a string of good stock working. Red has only been at Belhaven for two months and already they can see some progress.
The Durhams have five horses in training including STATELY BRANTLEY BOY, a five-year-old black stud that they are standing. He is also a fine Amateur and Stake horse. Kris Durham, a twenty-year-old premed student, rides him as well as SUN’ S MISS ROBIN. MIDNIGHT DOLLY B, a five-year-old black mare and GO BOY’ S STORM TROOPER are also in training. Darlene Durham, sixteen years old, is now working with
MY GOLDEN SUN, an eight-year-old gelding.
Ford’ s Walkers also have several horses in training here, including 3 O’ CLOCK SFIADOW, a three-year-old
mare; SUN’ S WALKING GEANIE, a two-year-old sorrel filly; SUN’ S PROMENADER, a two-year-old bay
stallion; SHADOW’ S GIRL FRIDAY, a black weanling filly; and STAR OF SAN ISIDRO, a six-year-old black mare.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobson are proud of DAWN OF THUNDER, a two-year-old sorrel filly; STATELY’ S
LITTLE MAN, a black yearling stud; and MERRY DARE, a fine red roan filly. They hope to see some of their stock going strong soon.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Myers of Pauma Valley have an orchid roan two-year-old filly named SCARLET O’ HARA. They have great plans for her also.
Evergreen Ranch
One of the most well-established Walking Horse Stables on the West Coast is the Evergreen Ranch of Dr. and Mrs. Carl Bishop. Their trainer Bob Campbell
32 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse