1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 April Voice | Page 10

PROFESSIONALS an PARADE By Gloria L. Spencer In our estimation, the profes­ sional Walking Horse trainers of today are achieving new status and respect in the horse industry. With the increased interest in horses that can be observed across the nation, many horsemen are build­ ing better facilities for training and caring for the horses and the customers. As horses become bigger business, the trainers of to­ day find that they must possess both a talent for training horses and the ability to cope with the many problems that go hand in hand with any business. As busi­ nessmen and as individuals, many of our best trainers have done much over the past few years to improve the public impression of profes­ sional Walking Horse trainers. One of the outstanding person­ alities in the Walking Horse world, who has done much at the personal level to promote the Tennessee Walking Horse, is “Buddy” Black of Lewisburg, Tennessee. Buddy takes the horse business in a most ser­ ious way, for the horse business is not just a game for fun and en­ joyment — it is his career. He has in the last ten years trained and shown some exciting horses on the Southwest Circuit, in Texas, on the Deep South Circuit and in the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. Anyone meeting Buddy at the show will find him deeply en­ grossed in the business at hand, preparing his horses for the show; but away from the ring, he has a most congenial personality. 14 A family of Walking Horse lovers . . . Viola, four year old son Don and Buddy Black.They say that the Walking Horse business has been rewarding to them and their many friends in the professional end of the training business. “BUDDY” SLACK...the CONGENIAL Pi Fred Neal Black, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hillard Black of Mil- ton, Tennessee, was born April 16, 1929. He was given the nickname “Buddy” by a younger brother and has continued using this name. Being born and raised on a farm, Buddy’s late grandfather, William D. Black, gave him his first horse at the age of 13. He began his ca­ reer in the show ring that year, showing his first Walking Horse, BARKER’S ROAN ALLEN. Com­ ing from an area in the heart of Walking Horse Country, Buddy was very much influenced by such men as Sam Paschal, Ray Tenpen- ny and Donald Paschal. After serving two years in the army as a heavy equipment opera­ tor, Buddy joined the Murfrees­ boro Police Department, working from 4:00 p.m. until 12:00 p.m. This left his days free, and he spent most of that time with Sam and Donald Paschal at the City View Stables in Murfreesboro. After one year he decided to go into the busi­ ness full-time and joined Joe Ur- quhart in 1955. He has worked with various stables in the last ten years, including Vic Thompson’s Stables in Shelbyville, the Davis Brothers Stables in Calhoun, Georgia, Louis T. Bowles, Murfreesboro, L. A. Murrah, and is now located with Harold Wise at Murray Farm, Lewisburg, Tennessee. His seriousness with his work has proven that when one sets a high goal and works toward it, there can be great accomplish­ ments. He made and rode GO BOY’S BIG TALK to the Reserve Junior Championship at the Cele­ bration and rode GO BOY’S JET- AWAY to win the World’s Cham­ pion Gelding class in the big ring at Shelbyville. Some of the other horses that Buddy recalls as being outstand­ ing are: BUDDY’S BLACK BOY in the year 1957 and the year 1959 included MACK K’S SUN, SO­ CIETY MACK K„ and MACK K’S TRIXIE. SUN’S GLORY O., GOLD SUN, SUN OF DIXIE, GO BOY’S SUGAR BOOGER and MAN OF DISTINCTION were stars of 1956, with the outstanding winner in 1960, EASTER SENSATION. Last year Buddy showed to perfection such horses as DOLLY’S SECRET LADY, SECRET’S CARBON COPY and SUN DUST CHRIST­ MAS BELLE. VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse