16 July , 1962
Worrell ' s Mare Purchase Started Solitude Farm
The growing world of the Tennessee Walking Horse numbers many fabulous figures — people of attainment in various spheres — but surely none have lives more unusual lhaL that ol the 70-year-old retired businessman who rode Son of Midnight on the cover page of this magazine for the month of April .
Astride this stallion was H . L . Worrell of Goodlettsville , Tenn ., whose entry into the Tennessee Walking Horse story defies fancy .
At age 70 Mr . Worrell is right nowspearheading a movement to raise SI , 500,000 and make possible a S3 million hospital for East Nashville . Last year he became head of a farflung cemetery development firm that operates in a dozen states .
Stallion Sired Ebony ' s Masterpiece
His stallion sire pictured on the April cover is father of Ebony ’ s Masterpiece — a stallion that at age five years has come out of " almost nowhere ” to become a prime favorite for the 1962 World ’ s Crown for the breed , as told in the March issue of this magazine .
Son of Midnight is the horse originally known as Skipper ' s Son of Midnight — when owned by B . A . Skipper , Jr . of Longview , Texas .
The Worrell Story ' in Tennessee Walking Horse History has been more seen than written . Seen by the millions of motorists who have sped along the mile of white fence where his 500-acre farm borders along U . S . Highway 31W . He took over this tract in 1948 and transformed if from an eroded hillside acreage into one of the most amazing Walking Horse farms in the world .
He calls it Solitude Stock Farm yet invites the entire world to his doorsteps . Thousands visit his place every year .
Hidden in Walking Horse History is one of its most unusual records — set at age 64 by Horseman Worrell . He personally won every major Walking Horse championship amateur class in the nation that year ( 1954 ) on his great gelding , Oklahoma Gypsy — then age 7 . This horse died several years ago in Little Rock at Trainer Wallace Brandon ’ s stables , This horse placed fifth in the 1952 National Celebration Stake and tenth in 1953 with professional riders . At one time in his early career the horse sold for a very small amount of money , we understand . Son of Midnight piled up an impressive record for two other owners before he was acquired by Worrell on Dec . 1 , 1952 .
The Son was foaled at the historic Harlinsdale Farm of H . H . Harlin at Franklin , his owmer being B . A . Skipper , Jr ., long prominent in the Walking Horse field , a show ' judge , and oilman . Son ’ s dam was Princess Allen , whose pedigree traces back to General Brooks — a great Walking Horses strain of 100 years ago .
Skipper rode Son of Midnight to w ' ide acclaim . His winnings at the Celebration included third in the 1948 tw ' o-year-old gelding-stallion class , and third in the Junior Championship Stake in 1949 . In 1950 the horse was owned by Raymond Rebsamen of Little Rock . He placed second in the 4-year-old stallion and fifth in the World ’ s Grand Championship Stake w ' ith professionals riding .
Shown By Dr . N . B . Hardeman At the 1952 Celebration Dr . N . B . Hardeman , a Church of Christ minister long prominent in Tennessee Walking Horse history , rode him to the Amateur Championship of the World a few ' months before Worrell acquired the stallion .
Solitude Stock Farm at about this time became one of the most dominant factors in the National Celebration at Shelbyville .
At the 1953 show ' three ribbons for higher places went to one mare — Pride of Stanley . This horse w ' as named by Worrell for the Stanley Products Co . He has spent many productive years in this nationwide sales organization — winning a reputation as one of the foremost sales directors in the nation . Although now ' retired , he still serves as a senior sales counselor .
Big Sweep At 1954 Celebration
The 1954 Celebration found Solitude Stock Farm sweeping four World ’ s championships , two by Worrell himself on Oklahoma Gypsy ; two by Trainer Wallace Brandon on Gypsy and a 3-year-old gelding , Son ’ s Gay Boy ; and three other second place ribbons . The winners of the red ribbons were Midnight Helen , . 3- year-old mare , Midnight Minister , 3- year-old stallion , and Son of Midnight ridden in the Grooms Class by James Brown . For an eighth-ribbon Brandon rode Gypsy to third in the aged gelding class .
Solitude Stock Farm — due to its unique location and its dedicated and detailed development — is recognized as one of the showplaces of Middle Tennessee . It is the symbol of the Tennessee Walking Horse in an area that is also w ' ell known for gaited horses , jumpers and Thoroughbreds .
Many visitors from the North and East pause at the sign , turn somewhat to the right , and find out " what is a Tennessee Walking Horse ?”
Taking care of the visitors nowadays , as we 11 as caring for the horses , are personable young Trainer-Manager Fred Brake and his assistant , Thomas Coley .
Owner Worrell is busy with that East Nashville Hospital project and no one who knows the magnitude of this individual will doubt his ability to complete the task .
Working Harder At 70
At age 70 he is working harder than ever he did at 50 with much more know-how than when he won sales renown at 30 and 40 . When the Voice Editor saw him he was the picture of health — ready to ride if need be .
The biggest miracle in the Worrell Story is how he happened to start riding and raising Walking Horese .
A friend says Worrell heard a youth talking about wanting to go to college . The young man ’ s major asset was a mare of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed . Worrell paid the youth § 1,000 for the mare to help him go to school .
The purchaser had no land on which to put the mare , and no time in which to train her , so she was boarded with a trainer .
When Worrell returned from one of his sales trips , his mother mentioned seeing a farm advertised for sale . Site suggested that he buy the acreage himself as a place to keep and train his mare .
This he did . . . and he fell in love with the mare . Fie decided to train her himself . That ’ s when the Tennessee Walking Horse industry won one of its most dedicated developers .
A Man ’ s Love For Horses
Solitude Stock Farm — with all of its magnificent development — came as the natural result of a man ’ s love for horses — one step at a time . That ’ s
( Continued on Pn ? e 17 )