by C. Bruce Spencer
While the Blue Proxy forces and the White Proxy forces are still battling for control of the Breeders ' Association and the trainers are arguing over who is going to win what class at Montgomery and you and I are worrying about what horses we want to buy or sell at the Murray Farm Sale, a group of well-meaning but misdirected individuals in Washington, D. C. is putting us all out of business. Sound drastic? Well, YOU better believe it is, because unless we take another look at our situation, we are all going to be " afoot”... as the saying goes.
The Tennessee Walking Horse had undergone many dramatic changes since this breed was established back in 1935. Since that time we have seen the development of a horse that is most unique. We have seen some tremendous improvements m the breed from the standpoint of beauty and performance. We have developed an animal that is most versatile; an animal that is suitable for pleasure, utility or show. And yet... yet we are currently confronted by movements both from within our own ran^ and from outside sources that would tend to destroy us all rather than let current trends continue.
The " current trends” to whic^ i refer are those dealing with our activities in ge * ierai and the manner in which we train our horses spe £ ^ca^y- The development of the " sore horse,” as it * s called, has been gradual and has slowly slipped into a drastic situation. It is vitally important at this time that we take
a good look at the situation and decide among ourselves exactly how critical our present predicament is, how it got that way and what WE can do about it.
Despite all the recent publicity regarding our horses
and the well-meaning activity of people on both sides of the issue. I do not believe that we have yet become aware of exactly what the real problem is. As most of you know, the NASHVILLE TENNES SEAN, a newspaper credited with providing considerable coverage of our horse activity since the advent of the breed, launched an all-out attack against the Tennessee Walking Horse industry during the 1969 Celebration. According to the reporter assigned to write these articles, they were looking for " facts, and not
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Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse