1967-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1967 November Voice RS | Page 5

during this year. FLYING CLOUD was returned to
Ronnie shortly before the 1966 Montgomery show,
and was soon being worked to get ready for the
Florida Sunshine Circuit.
This pair made some excellent shows at the two
1967 Florida shows, tying reserve in the stake at
both. The reserve tie at Gainesville was the last time
Ronnie entered the show ring on FLYING CLOUD
and came out with anything less than a blue until
the stallion preliminary at this year’s Celebration,
where they tied a strong sixth. Ronnie brought his
horse back in the Grand Championship finale and
tied a popular sixth against the top horses in the
nation.
During this unbeaten stretch Ronnie won ten straight
blue ribbons with impressive wins at Pulaski, Hender­
son and Germantown. The horse was campaigned
hard and he never quit, doing all that was asked and
more. He made two outstanding shows at the Cele­
bration, and many observers of long standing began
to sit back and take notice of this three-gaited black
stud.
Ronnie and Mr. Eldridge decided that this horse
had the ability to go all the way, and with that in
mind they groomed him for a strong showing at the
Deep South Shows. His four blue ribbons in four at­
tempts indicate that they achieved their goal and
the first step in their drive to the top was an over­
whelming success.
FLYING CLOUD has earned some time off from
the rigors of training and showing, but this will not
last long. He is scheduled to go on the Florida Circuit
at the beginning of the year and will be promoted and
shown during the Spring, aiming at the Celebration
blue. Ronnie is not sure how many times he will show
his horse during 1968 getting him ready for the Big
Show, but he has already earned a reputation as one
of the "showingest” trainers in the business. Last
year Ronnie showed horses in 43 different shows, a
grueling and demanding schedule which will not likely
be repeated in 1968.
Ronnie Spears has an abundance of experience in
the horse business, although he is only 23 years old.
He has been at Circle R Stables in West Point, Mis­
sissippi for two and a half years. The stable is owned
by K. D. and Pete Robinson. Ronnie has about thirty
horses in training at present and is breaking a num­
ber of good-looking two-year-olds.
Ronnie was married last December and his lovely
new bride, Linda, can be found along the rail at the
various shows cheering for her favorite trainer. They
make their home in West Point when they are not
on the road showing horses.
FLYING CLOUD is not a real big horse but he has
the speed and gaits that are typical of a great horse.
His steady solid flat-foot walk is accented beautifully
by a driving flowing running walk that is thrilling to
see. He has a well-executed canter and his conforma­
tion is typical of his fine breeding. He is a tireless
worker and can go all night long. The more they work
the better he gets.
The road to the top of this great breed is a long
one, and no one realizes that more than Ronnie and
Mr. Eldridge. There are numerous factors that go
into making a champion and a thousand seemingly
uncontrollable variables. But all of this makes the
challenge worth accepting and victory more reward­
ing. The realization of what you are working for and
November, 1967
the efforts you extend in this regard are the factors
which enable you to go on when the going gets tough.
The old saying used by many people in athletic cir­
cles is very applicable to the horse business: "When
the going gets tough, the tough get going. ” With this
in mind, young Ronnie Spears and GO BOY’S FLY­
ING CLOUD are going after the big one in 1968.
MOBILE HORSE SHOW CONTINUES GROWTH
by Jay Hackmeyer
Opening performance of the Fourth Annual Mobile’s
Deep South Horse Show was an even 'more magnifi­
cent show as a beautiful and most elegant auditorium
opened its doors. It is well worth a trip to this Deep
South city just to see this fine facility, surpassed by
none!
The show this year welcomed a new sponsor, with
all profits going to the Julius T. Wright School for
Girls. The Mothers’ Committee, of which Mrs. Earle
A. Self is a member, worked untiringly along with the
girls at the school to put this show over, and they
deserve a big hand.
Every night the show opened with the colors posted
by Carlton Pitts riding GO BOY’S BLACK JACK
owned by Capt. and Mrs. E. A. Self, and he made a
most impressive opening ceremony. This year’s en­
tries increased by 100 over last year, a definite sign
of continuing growth of this relatively new show.
Horse Show Chairman Capt. Earle Self was ably
assisted by Vice-Chairman Raymond A. Corcoran.
President Tom P. Ollinger, Executive Vice President
Brevard Hand, Vice President John E. Waller, Vice
President and Secretary J. F. Hackmeyer and Treas­
urer H. B. Whaley kept things clicking and running
smoothly.
R. C. Hughes was the Walking Horse Judge. Mak­
ing his fourth trip as Steward was R. L. Moffett,
along with Emmett Guy as Master of Ceremonies
and Jimmy Richardson as Organist. H. Leon Sargent
made his first trip to Mobile and was greatly im­
pressed with the auditorium, as were the exhibitors
with his fine photography. Colorfully dressed, Emmett
Stone again did a marvelous job as Ringmaster.
The Mobile Show suffered a great loss in the un­
timely death of John Bowers, but Ruth Bowers picked
up the reins and, assisted ably by Harriet Bunn,
turned out the best show Mobile has ever had.
The Horse Show party was held at the Municipal
Auditorium on Friday night with the serving line
beautifully decorated in fall flower arrangements. Mrs.
Hugh Whaley entertained with a delightful party at
her home, and John, Joe and Charles Waller again
entertained the trainers at their barn with a part y
catered by Bayley’s Restaurant.
Spectators at this year’s show were given a rare
treat when Dr. and Mrs. B. S. Henry so graciously
consented to send GO BOY’S SUN DUST along with
Douglas Wolaver to be exhibited each night. It was
a thrilling sight to see this great horse in such a
spectacular setting and, as a token of appreciation,
Vice President J. F. Hackmeyer and Mrs. Raymond
A. Corcoran presented a silver coffee service to Doug
and SUN DUST.
Complete show results can be found -in the Horse
Show Results section of this issue.
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