1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 February Voice RS | Page 3

THE WINNER—This old photo from a 1956
issue of the Walking Horse Magazine show
GO BOY'S INVASION with George Witt up as he
was crowned World Champion Two Year Old
Walking Horse at the Celebration.
show horse he had amassed a follow­
ing comparable to any of today’s top
horses. The team of George Witt and
INVASION was considered almost
unbeatable in open competition.
Whenever the fancy bay stallion hit
the showring the crowd came to life.
They knew they were going to see a
horse show!
As the Celebration progressed that
year, the tension built up toward the
popular Aged Stallion Class. INVAS­
ION was in perfect shape and trainer
Witt had honed him to a razor-edge
for the big one. In two grueling con­
tests that bordered on tests of en­
durance, GO BOY’S INVASION was
tied Reserve in both the Stallion
Class and the big stake in 1959. In
the Junior Championship in 1958,
he had roundly defeated the horse
that won the 1959 stake.
Not to be denied, George Witt took
aim at the top Celebration honor for
the coming year and went through
the season undefeated. As the big
show rolled around, GO BOY’S IN­
VASION was again a favorite. He
was bigger and stronger as a five-
year-old but, as fate would have it,
he tripped on a bottle and pulled a
tendon in a workout just one day
prior to the Aged Stallion Class at
the Celebration in 1960.
He was not shown that year and
was retired to the George Witt Sta­
bles to stand at stud. For three years
he was one of the most popular
breeding stallions in the Deep South
area. Recognizing his potential as a
prime breeding horse, Vic Thompson
purchased GO BOY’S INVASION in
1964 and moved him to Stallion
Stables in Shelby ville, Tennessee. He
February, 1969
attracted much acclaim for several
years in Middle Tennessee and his
reputation both as a show horse and
as a producer prompted Dr. and Mrs.
James A. Johnson of High Point,
North Carolina to purchase him to
headline a major breeding program
for the Carolinas.
In January of 1968, GO BOY’S
INVASION was moved to North Car­
olina where he shortly became the
most sought-after stallion ever to
come to this part of the country.
While discussing the background
of GO BOY’S INVASION, we were
prompted to ask thequestion, "Is one
more ribbon really so important?”
Had GO BOY’S INVASION received
the nod that eventful night in Shel-
byville, Tennessee, he would still be
the same horse, not one hair would
have been different. He would still
possess the same natural ability, the
same bloom and beauty and the
same potential as a great breeding
horse. The only difference would have
been that he would be a five-time
world champion instead of a four-time
world champion. "Is one more rib­
bon really so important?”
Dr. and Mrs. James A. Johnson
don’t think so! To back up their be­
lief, they have invested in a major
breeding facility on their Shadow
Valley Farm in Hi gh Point, North
Carolina and are on the way toprov­
ing that "champions beget champ­
ions” even if they did miss one rib­
bon. They had a fine first season
last year and have made arrange­
ments for even more business this
season. Mr. Kenneth Lamb is their
stud manager and he comes well
recommended for his new job. They
have abundant pasture for brood
mares and have the facilities and
personnel to do the job. They are
very much aware of the fact that
"It is not how many mares you
breed — but how many colts you
get” that counts, and they intend
to do everything possible to see that
everyone has an opportunity to have
a colt by their 4-time World Champ­
ion ... GO BOY'S INVASION.
Since he was retired in 1960, GO
BOY’S INVASION has sired a host
of top colts that are now all over
the country. Names such as INVAS­
ION'S PERSUASION and INVAS­
ION OVER come to mind when we
think of his get. Make a note and
whenever you see the signature "In­
vasion” on the name of a horse, you
can bet that he is by GO BOY’S
INVASION.
PROUD DAY FOR JOHNSONS—Dr. James A. Johnson and Mrs. Billie Johnson are pictured
on the day that they purchased GO BOY’S INVASION from Mr. Vic Thompson of Shelbyville,
Tennessee.
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