PROUD OWNERS- Mr. Bill Tickling holds the reins on MACK K’ S HAND SHAKER as Mr. Frank Talbot looks on. These two owners are well known in Walking Horse circles both for their connection with this popular stud and their other interests in colts and show horses.
1960 WORLD GRAND CHAMPION— MACK K’ S HANDSHAKER with Doug Wolaver in the saddle receiving the applause of the crowd and the trophies and honors from the governor after winning the title. HANDSHAKER was a popular champion and this popularity carried over into his breeding career. background of our foundation sire. It is here that we lead up to our principal subject.... MACK K’ S HANDSHAKER.
Now a thirteen-year-old, MACK K’ S HANDSHAKER is coming into his prime as a proven producer of top colts. He is by MIDNIGHT MACK K and out of a fine mare named DEEP PURPLE. On both the top and the bottom of his pedigree we find horses of note that no doubt influence the production of this 1960 World Champion today. As an individual, HAND SHAKER has many outstanding attributes. His most
famous trait obviously is a throwback to the old Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds that lie buried
deep in his background, namely, '' stamina.” As a show horse, HANDSHAKER was best known for his great ability to perform until the last workout. To our knowledge he never quit or gave out under saddle and w-as always primed, ready for another round if it was called for in the showring. He also has size and ability to match his determination, which makes a hard combination to beat.
A brief history of MACK K’ S HANDSHAKER indicates that his rise to fame paralleled that of his rider and trainer. He was broken to ride by Douglas Wolaver, now of Cornersville, Tennessee, and it was young Wolaver, yet in his teens, who rode HANDSHAKER to the top. When they won the World Championship in 1960, Wolaver was only twenty and his horse was only a four-year-old. From this time on, the names of both members of this team have remained at the top
Wolaver as a trainer and HANDSHAKER as a breeding stallion and producer of top colts.
As a sire, HANDSHAKER hit the limelight in 1966 as SHAKER’ S SHOCKER was acclaimed winner of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration with Betty Sain in the saddle. SHOCKER showed lots of size and natural ability, and proved to be immensely popular that year. Recent events have also indicated that there is more to a HANDSHAKER colt than a lot of people thought. Right after the Celebration this year a three-year-old stallion named HAND SHAKER’ S DELIGHT, which tied third in the Three-
Year-Old Championship with Douglas Wolaver in the saddle, was sold for a figure reported to be $ 65,000. On the heels of this event, the name of HANDSHAK ER came to the top again as MR. FREE WHEEL, an outstanding Junior stallion owned and ridden by Jimmy Ellis of Orrville, Alabama, won an impressive victory in the Junior Championship at the Montgomery Horse Show. He is by MACK K’ S HANDSHAKER and is considered by many to be a genuine threat in 1969. They have been offered a lot of money for MR. FREE WHEEL and to date are holding out for a six-figure amount, which indicates that a HANDSHAKER colt can indeed hit the big time.
Also coming to the forefront this season were SHAK ER’ S GO BOY, a fine three-year-old stud horse shown by Wink Groover and owned by William Swan; and
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CLASSIC STUD PHOTO— This beautiful stud pose of MACK K ' S HAND SHAKER Illustrates HANDSHAKER’ S beauty and conformation. This photograph was taken by Les Nelson of Shelbyvllle, Tennessee.
8 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse