( Continued from page 8 )
SHAKER ’ S BLACK DEVIL , a junior stallion of note that is shown by Boyd Hudgins and owned by Carlton Sands . We hear that there is quite an outstanding crop of young horses by HANDSHAKER now coming on , as well .
Until 1966 , HANDSHAKER was owned and managed by his original owners , Myron and Douglas Wolaver . In the fall of that year , however , he was purchased by William A . Fickling and Frank M . Talbot of Macon , Georgia . For the past two seasons the popular black stallion stood six months in Georgia and six months in Tennessee . A recent change in his breeding location indicated that he will remain in Georgia for the whole season in 1969 . Due to pressing business commitments of both Fickling and Talbot , it was agreed to move HANDSHAKER to Sandersville , Georgia , to stand the coming season at the Circle A Farms of Mr . and Mrs . Gene Adams .
Sandersville is located in central Georgia , 110 miles southeast of Atlanta . This puts HANDSHAKER in a prime location to serve mares from Tennessee , North Carolina , South Carolina , Alabama , and Florida , as well as Georgia . All indications are that there is a lot more interest in him this year due to the fact that he will stand the whole season in Sandersville . On a recent visit to the Circle A Farms we were surprised to see a well-known Middle Tennessee horseman leaving as we arrived . A brief discussion disclosed that he had brought two mares down to HANDSHAKER to be bred and he pointed out that the trip from Tennessee , while long , was pleasant and the roads were excellent . He indicated that a lot of Tennessee mares would be making the trip in the spring . . . proof that knowledgable horsemen will go where the top stallions are .
In discussing the coming season with Gene Adams and Roger Hand , the two men who will handle the breeding program this year , we learned that they are both firm believers in the importance of the mare in producing a good foal . " Our emphasis this year ,” said Mr . Adams , " is going to be on care of the mare . We are going to make every effort to give each mare back to her owner in better shape than we got her and to go to great lengths to get as many mares in foal as possible .” Mr . Hand added that they have over a thousand acres of excellent pasture and have fine facilities and personnel to care for top brood mares . Further discussion indicated that they were determined to get a higher percentage of " mares in foal ” this year than HANDSHAKER has ever gotten before . Indications are that they had rather breed fifty top mares and get 90 % in foal than to breed two hundred mares and get 40 % in foal . In their opinion this would be better for both their stallion and the mares , and should certainly increase the conception rate and probability of getting better colts .
According to his owners , the stud fee on HAND SHAKER for 1969 will be S300 with the same conditions a6 last year : $ 100 due at the time of service , and the balance due when the mare is pronounced in foal . Anyone interested in further information regarding the breeding program of this outstanding stallion should contact Mr . Gene Adams or Mr . Roger Hand , Sandersville , Georgia 31082 , phones 912 / 552-2292 or 552-2291 night . They will be delighted to work with you in your breeding , and assure you of personal attention and care of your finest mares . Let MACK K ’ S HANDSHAKER produce a winner for you in 1969 .
ON THE RAIL — Gene Adams and his wife Marilyn take time for this photo with one of the many fine horses on the grounds at Circle A Stables in Sandersville , Georgia . Gene will be handling the breeding activities of HAND SHAKER in 1969 .
GENE ADAMS ’ EXPERIENCE DEFINITE ASSET TO HANDSHAKER PROGRAM
In discussing their reasons for taking HANDSHAK ER to the Circle A Farms in Sandersville , Georgia , both William Fickling and Frank Talbot stated that they felt that Mr . Adams offered a great deal of experience and had excellent facilities for such an operation . They also pointed out that they thought Gene Adams was one of the most highly regarded men in the Walking Horse business . A brief look at the background of Mr . Adams lends credence to this thought .
Gene Adams was born in Tignall , Georgia , and remained there until last year , when he moved to Sandersville . He operated out of the same stable on the same farm in Tignall for twenty-two years . His experience with Tennessee Walking Horses dates back to 1928 when he recalls an old roan plantation horse that they had on the farm . He liked his way of going and finally found a mare named LADY LOUISE that could do the same gait . He recalls riding LOUISE twenty miles to a stud in Elbert County and noted that the owner , a Mr . Seymour , took him off a plow to breed the mare .
Some time after that Gene got serious about these so-called " walking horses ” and in 1941 he purchased his first registered horse from Dick Womack in Murfreesboro . She was a sorrel three-year-old by HALL ALLEN in foal to MURRAY ’ S FASHION ALLEN . She foaled a sorrel stud colt that sold for $ 350 at the Murray Farm Sale . Winston Wiser gave $ 2,000 for him and later sold him for a good profit and changed his name to MISSOURI ’ S CHANCE .
In 1948 Gene rode his first show horse . He had purchased a colt named COUNTRY GENTLEMAN from Mr . Walter Sams in Athens , Georgia , and started him . His first show was in Atlanta , Georgia , after which he embarked on a career that has carried him to almost every state in the union , either on business or as an exhibitor or a judge . In a career of almost twenty years , Gene Adams has bought , trained and sold some of the truly fine horses of the Walking Horse
90 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse