afternoon the Three-Year-Old Class was completely eliminated as none of the original seventeen entries made the check. A meeting of the show committee followed this event and, after considerable discussion, they decided to " follow the rules as interpreted by the Steward and the Vet’’( with which we agreed). A certain amount of concern was registered with regard to the physical handling of the horses’ feet by the Vet. According to one interpretation, the individual inspecting the horses must determine " from eye level” whether or not a horse qualifies to be shown. We understand that a ruling on this interpretation is to come from the A. H. S. A. soon.
This is the show that originated the " pre-show inspection” and it appears that, like Dr. Frankenstein, they have created a monster that has finally turned on its makers. There is no way that individuals who are unconcerned or inexperienced in the training, showing and handling of Tennessee Walking Horses can effectively " inspect” our horses as outlined by the A. H. S. A. They invariably do not understand exactly what abuses they are looking for and, by and large, end up sending a lot of horses that are in excellent shape back to the barn. We believe that from the incidents at Pomona this year we will get some clarification on these issues next year.
Now... back to the " good times.” As w ' e have said before, there are a lot of truly top horses on the West Coast. They are well bred and have a lot of natural ability. In the past few’ years wTe have seen a marked improvement in the manner in which these horses are shewn and the trainers on the West Coast are becoming more insistent that they have a knowledgeable Walking Horse judge. We do not envy their position in having to show one week in front of a Gaited Horse Judge and the next week in front of a Walking Horse Judge. They naturally try to have their horses doing whatever is necessary in order to win, and many times I am sure the horse is pretty confused as to what is expected of him. At any rate, most of our trainers are doing excellently, which was very obvious at the California Celebration.
One of the big surprises of the 1969 show was the emergence of a new young trainer, Lonnie Whitworth, who won the Stallion & Gelding Class and the Championship Stake on SOCIETY’ S SHOWBOY, a fine black stallion with plenty of lick and motion. Riding for Mrs.
Just rolling along...
MR. FREE WHEEL
JIMMY ELLIS up R. F. ELLIS Orrville, Alabama
An aged stallion by HANDSHAKER that is tops!!
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only 25 miles from CELEBRATION GROUNDS
MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
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44 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse