TEM £ S3 £ E WALKING h ' 42IRSE JANUARY ti
By Betty Bledsoe 9144 Macon Rd ., Cordova , Tenn .
The VOICE takes pleasure in introducing a new contributing editor and a new feature column as a part of our campaign to cover the Walking Horse World for ALL of our readers .
Mrs . W . Steve ( Betty ) Bledsoe , noted horsewoman and teacher of equitation , has consented to cover the Mid- South , centering in Memphis , Tennessee , and to report each month on activities in that area . Each reader living within a radius of one hundred and fifty miles of Memphis can assist Mrs . Bledsoe and the VOICE very much by sending to her news of general interest to lovers of Walking Horses .
A very talented and versatile person , Mrs . Bledsoe combines a life-long love of horses and knowledge of them with a rare ability to write well . Having ridden Walking Horses since childhood , she has been teaching the art of riding for nine years and now maintains six instructors to assist her with the work of “ squaring up the riders .” An instructor in the Shelby County H-H Horsemanship Program , a director of her local saddle club , a general chairman of the Cordova horse show and a judge of juvenile and equitation classes and an experienced journalist , Mrs . Bledsoe is a splendid addition to the growing staff of the VOICE . We very much appreciate her enthusiastic willingness to join with us in making this magazine a more effective VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse . — The Editors .
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SHELBY STABLES
Not too many years ago , the Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse in Shelby County , Tennessee , was as one crying in the wilderness : nobody heard and nobody cared . There have always been horse people in this county , but not
WILL THE MID SOUTH please park in
Walking Horse people . Then the good folk of Middle Tennessee began a “ telling ” job and the great Walking Horse himself did a “ selling ” job . Now we simply cannot build barns fast enough to house them .
Merry Acres Stables in Cordova , Tennessee , owned by Dr . Steve Bledsoe , has all the creature comforts for both the four-legged and the two-legged variety . The Bledsoes ’ s interest in horses dates back to 1956 when they opened a riding camp for children . Since then , some 2000 young Memphians have learned to ride at Merry Acres . The opening of a Walking Horse Stable , last May , was a long-time dream come true . With a generous blending of amateur enthusiasm and the able training of Neil Robinson , they “ walked ” into the show season to garner 83 ties , culminating in the stable ’ s Cinderalla trip to the Celebration , where they joined the “ Parade of Champions ” with Neil up on SUN ’ S JOE DIA MOND , owned by Mr . and Mrs . Roy Hamilton of Memphis . Elaine Douzanis , a young equestrienne from Memphis , rode her gelding , CHANCE ’ S GYPSY SON , to the West Tennessee Walking Horse Championship ; and Lynn Bledsoe tied 17 times on LYNN ’ S MERRY CHANCE in the Mid-South Circuit . These two juveniles are setting their sights for an even better performance in 1964 . The Merry Acres ’ junior stallion , KING RICH ARD , and a fine pair of two-yearolds , M . A . S . ROMEO and JULIET are ready to go — with publication of the first show date .
Another of the new stables in Shelby County is located at the George Lee Lenox Farms , 9735 Holmes Road , Collierville , Tennessee . Mr . Lenox has announced his official “ Barn Opening ” for Friday , February 7 . All Tennessee Walking Horse lovers are cordially invited to enjoy Mr . Lenox ’ s hospitality and a barbecue supper in the evening . While you are on the premises , trainer Russell Pate will be happy to show you their fine Junior stallion , MACK K ’ S RE FLECTION , as well as their promising two-year-olds , EBONY ’ S BLACK LADY and G . L . L . POLA RIS . Mr . Lenox makes one request of those planning to attend his barbecue . Drop him a card showing how many in your party may be expected .
The Alex Robinson Stables , Highway 72 , also in Collierville , is operating for the third year . With trainer Phil Goodwin at the reins , the Robinson Stable is bursting at the seams with two-year-olds destined for praise in the coming season . Crown prince of the stable is GO BOY ’ S CHATTERBOX , a twoyear-old stallion owned by Dr . W . B . Cleveland of Cleveland , Ohio . Mr . Johnny Coop wood of Memphis expects great things of his sorrell colt , and Alex will send his fine black SHADOW filly into the twoyear-old competition . One of the best-known and best-loved amateur riders in the field today , Alex will take to the Mid-South show arenas astride his SUNDUST ’ S WILD FIRE , in the amateur classes .
John and Marie Jeffcoat of Cordova have been on a two-year buying spree of good broodmares and have bred some to the top stallions in the country as well as their own MIDNIGHT SOUTHERNAIRE , MAU GRAY ’ S CRITERION , and a son of GIOVANNI . Their current hopeful is the filly , SUN ’ S STRUT TING GAL , a full sister to SUN ’ S STRUT ALONG . Last August the Jeffcoat Farm had foaled its way into the training business , so now trainer “ Hot ” Fleming is working the better progeny of forty-seven mares , as well as the already successful ROAN EAGLE and JEFF- COAT ’ S MISS SISSY .
The Shelby Stables
Wish the Walker ’ s family , everywhere , a prosperous ’ 64
The latch is always off on our collective stable door .
Come visit us when ’ ere you can and see if you agree
Our horses are as great as our hospitality !