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