1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 August Voice RS | Page 34

For a young man, barely in his early twenties, Tom­
my Wetzel undertook a large task when he accepted
the job as head trainer at the new Windy Hills Stables
early in 1967. Since that time he has done a fine job
with the horses stabled at this fine Elizabethton,
Tennessee facility. While he hasn’t made a lot of head­
lines, he has proved himself capable, reliable and
competent in his chosen profession as a Walking
Horse trainer. He has not been in too much of a hur­
ry to reach the "big time,” and has made every
effort to make sure that all his customers got what
they wanted out of their horse activity. He has tried
to remain in the mainstream of the Walking Horse
business and has been active as trainer, riding in­
structor and judge. He is well-liked by his colleagues
and a lot of people regard him as a genuine threat to
big-time honors in the near future. This is his story!
Upper East Tennessee is rapidly moving up in the
Walking Horse world, and one of the reasons is Tom­
my Wetzel. Born and raised in Elizabethton, he is
married to the former Peggy Jennings, also of Eliza­
bethton.
Tommy’s interest in horses was sparked with he
received a pony for Christmas, at the tender age of
seven. Although they lived in town, his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. George Wetzel, had enough land for a small
PROFESSIONALS
on PARADE
barn and riding ring. The pony, DICKIE, was cared
for all the rest of his natural life, but eventually he
died of old age. A friendly neighbor, knowing of Tom­
my’s sorrow at the loss of his pony, gave him a Pleas­
ure Walking mare. Tommy showed his mare in pleas­
ure classes throughout East Tennessee, and raised a
colt from this mare which he worked and "played”
with until it was a two-year-old, when it died. Tommy
continued to work and "play” with horses throughout
his boyhood and highschool years, and all the time he
was becoming a little more addicted to them
While Tommy was a student at Milligan College,
he worked horses on the side for the Smithdeals and
the Dr. Bowman family "for pay.” He showed WIL­
SON’S PENNY in the amateur classes, and later he
taught the Smithdeal children to ride. Carolyn Bow­
man, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hoyle Bowman, also
became interested and became one of his students,
showing LIVING COLOR in the Ladies’ and Juvenile
Classes.
After Tommy completed his college work at Milligan
College, the small barn of his father’s was bursting at
the seams, and he moved to Green Hill Stables at
Bluff City, where he worked with both Walking and
Gaited Horses. He remained there for six months and,
while Windy Hills was being built, he went to Robin-
TOMMY WETZEL...
He didn’t lose his cool
at Windy Hills!
"Professionals on Parade” is per­
haps the most sought-after feature
a the VOICE. We do not take it
Lightly, and offer it to those trainers
who deserve such coverage by their
deeds and merit. 'This article cannot
be purchased. It must be earned! It
is with great pride that we present
the story of a successful but relative­
ly unknown young trainer who is a
credit to your breed and to his pro­
fession . . . TOMMY WETZEL.
(ABOVE) — One of the truly classic Walking Horse stables, WINDY HILLS
is modern in every respect. (RIGHT) — Tommy and Peggy Wetzel are pic­
tured in the den with some of the ribbons and trophies that he has accumu­
lated for Windy Hills Stables in the past few years.
34
Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse