TEI ( IMG H i 6JHSE
NOVEMBER
WALKING HORSE FEVER DESCENDS ON ALLENTOWN , PENNSYLVANIA WITH
OPENING OF NEW TRAINING
Last Christmas a Tennessee Walking Horse “ atomic bomb ” was dropped upon an Allentown , Pennsylvania , housewife , and it set off a tremendous chain reaction . So far it has brought about a 34-stall stable , plans for a Celebration-size track , a trainer , and a breeding program with a band of 20 to 30 mares . All this information was unfolded to us in an enthusiastic letter from C . Richard ( Dick ) Bell , a partner in the Bell Stevens Corporation , C enter Square Bldg ., Allentown . They are manufacturers ’ agents .
Dick ordered 100 copies of the VOICE Editor ’ s 20-page pamphlet , “ What On Earth Is A Tennessee Walking Horse ?” The Editor asked “ why ” and this is Dick ’ s explanation :
“ It all started Christmas morning of last year when my business partner , Richard Stevens , bought a small black stallion for his wife as a gift . A few days later I was at his farm . Though I had never been on a horse before , his offer to ride intrigued me . To my surprise this little animal carried me over their farm just as easily and smoothly as if I were cruising down the Pennsylvania Turnpike in my Cadillac . Well , I just had to have one of those magnificient animals , which I was told was a Tennessee Walking Horse .
“ The next two months were stories in themselves . I bought my wife a pleasure Walking Horse , my partner bought one , and I owned everything else ; such as five-gaited walking horses , walking quarter horses , but had nothing but Walking Nightmares . ( One of the reasons for buying your pamphlets was to give them to others so they won ’ t make the same mistakes .)
“ It was at this time I ' bought your book and subscribed to the VOICE to learn more about the breed . I had made up my mind not
AND BREEDING STABLE to buy anything but a registered horse . I heard there was a registered stallion nearby , but he proved to be so mixed-up that he couldn ’ t out-walk my Bassett Hound . I had his papers and searched through your book and found that I had a horse of good breeding ( the sire is MIDNIGHT SUN and dam is GOLD BOND ) and felt that if he were properly trained , I could have a nice horse .
“ A good friend of mine told me that 30 miles south of Allentown , a man by the name of Jim Lindsey was a Walking Horse stable man , and I sent my horse to him . Although not expecting too much , I was amazed to learn that I not only had a Walking Horse , but a potential great show horse .
“ Three weeks ago Jim Lindsay and I went to Tennessee , and I bought a beautiful three-year-old MIDNIGHT SUN colt ( 13 foundation horses are listed in his pedigree ) called SUN ’ S HIDDEN GOLD from Steve Hill . He is a beautiful golden sorrel with a white tail and mane and is a full brother to MIGHTY SUN .
HIDDEN GOLD can do three perfect gaits and has a big front end like MIGHTY SUN and the ability to sit down and walk and climb . I think you ’ ll hear a lot about him , and he is real Celebration material .
“ This is only a small portion of the story , for on December 1 , Dick Stevens , his two brothers ( Dave and Tim ) and myself are opening a new 34-stall show and training barn ( 204 by 44 ) exclusively for Tennessee Walking Horses . We are duplicating the Celebration ring and have over 150 acres of land now being developed into pastures for the 20 to 30 hand-picked brood mares with which we are undertaking a large breeding program . Jim Lindsey will be trainer , and we already have half our barn committed .
“ Several pages of advertising in the VOICE are contemplated when we announce the opening of our complete operation in early summer , and of course we would like to have you attend . I ’ m sure that you will agree , this is quite a story hat has been brought about in less than a year .”
YOUR HELP APPRECIATED
The dozens of people ready to assist in the production of the VOICE is gratifying . We need your help and sincerely appreciate the efforts of each of you volunteers .
As we gradually build a network of correspondents who will be covering the nation before long , we solicit each reader to send news in his area so that all events of general interest to the Walking Horse World can be included . ( Please understand that limited space and editorial judgment may sometimes force us to condense or omit some information ; however , we will use all the material possible .)
Please send to us news of horses bought , sold and traded , show horses moved from one training stable to another , show horses retired from competition , trainers who relocate , and any other information of this kind . Also we will be glad to receive the official results of Walking Horse Classes in every show and will report on as many of these as possible .
With the kind of cooperation you are willingly giving the VOICE OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE will grow “ bigger and better ,” Thank you .
CORRECTION , PLEASE
On the inside front cover of the October issue it was erroneously stated that Trainer Sammy Cecil rode SPUR ’ S JET FIRE to the North Carolina Amateur Championship . Of course professional trainers do not ride in Amateur Classes . The rider in this Championship event was Mr . C . E . Clement , the owner of the horse . Our apologizes — and , congratulations to Mr . Clement , of Hickory , North Carolina , upon his victory .