Well , its over — The Third Annual Junior Welfare Charity Horse Show , and as Chairman I am about ready to collapse . Being Chairman of a Horse Show is not an easy job , but it ’ s fun . We feel our show was a real success . The largest crowds ever to attend a horse show in Tuscaloosa sweltered through 100 ° weather to watch some of the finest horses they had ever seen . I can ’ t tell you about every class but the Walking Horse Championship Stake was as thrilling as any I have ever seen . Herschel Talley riding DUKE ’ S HANDY MAN , owned by Mr . C . S . Lawson , Bessemer , Alabama , put on a superb show . HANDY MAN was in rare form and every time he passed , a cheer rose from the spectators . Herschel took home for Mr . Lawson our beautiful Walking Horse Championship Challenge Trophy that was given last year by Mr . Ben Green and Mr . Hamner Cobb in honor of Mr . Aaron Christian . This trophy was presented by Knute Christian , who also served us well as paddocks master . Our panel of judges , Mr . J . H . Noblin , Mr . James K . Taylor and Mr Charles Smith did an excellent job and I certainly appreciate Mr . Noblin filling in at the last minute for Mr . Carl Edwards , who was suddenly taken ill .
While working on our Horse Show here in Tuscaloosa , I took a little time off and made a flying trip to Camp Hill , Alabama for the Camp Hill Horse Show . It was a pleasant experience and many fine horses were there . I ran into Mr . and Mrs . J . W . Renfroe of Troy ,
BAMA BY-LINE
By Elizabeth Brannon 51 The Downs , Tuscaloosa , Alabama
Alabama and had a long interesting talk . These are the kind of people we need more of in the Walking Horse World , they are Amateurs , have been showing walking horses for about 17 years and have some really fine stock . Mrs . Renfroe said they usually buy colts , raise and train them and start them off in the show ring as two year olds . At present Mr . Renfroe is showing a two year old sorrel with a light mane and tail called MACK K ’ S BOOME RANG . This horse has already won seven blue ribbons and won the two year old class at Camp Hill . His Junior Horse is a sorrel Stallion SUN ’ S FIREBIRD . This outstanding three year old won the blue ribbon at Attalla and Guntersville earlier this year . Mrs . Renfroe also takes her share of ribbons riding MACK K ’ S CASTRO . She was very pleased over a Walking Pony her son , Gene , age 13 , is showing this year named POWER PACK . The Renfroe ’ s have completed a new barn and are looking forward to spending many more years of pleasure with their walking horses .
I hope all of you will plan to attend the Pick-A-Winner Sale that is being held in Huntsville , Alabama , by Mr . James K . Taylor at the Taylor Farm on Friday , July 17 , 10:30 a . m . I will probably be doing some gadding around this coming month , but if I don ’ t run into you why don ’ t you send me your news .
Results of the Junior Welfare Charity Horse Show Walking Horse division appears elsewhere .
HORSE BUSINESS ( Cont ' d .) say , that “ the best advertising cannot sell a poor product for long .” In other words , you cannot promote a mediocre horse into becoming a world ’ s champion . It is a proven fact however , that the horses that are promoted the most are the horses that everyone is talking about and THIS , in my estimation is the major reason for advertising a good horse . It has been said that “ If they don ’ t know you when you hit the gate . . . chances are it ’ s way too late !” Perhaps this is true !
Other phases of the horse business offer a more tangible product or service and therefore a more definite idea of what can be expected in return for advertising investment . The trainer wants customers , the stable with a stallion wants mares to breed and the man with horses to sell wants prospects .
Here again , the basics of “ hardsell advertising ” apply . The best approach is to advertise consistently . In my estimation , it is better to have several ads spread out during the year than to have one big spread once a year . Of course the key to all your advertising or promotion on horses , stables etc ., is to put your message in that media , which reaches the most of your market for the least amount of money .
At this point I would like to mention what we in the business call collaterial advertising ( or promotional material other than magazine advertising .) If you are a professional trainer , a stable owner or operate any type of horse business that can benefit by increased awareness within the Walking Horse World , there are several other types of advertising that can be used effectively to create more traffic and more business for you . Some of our trainers have figured this out for themselves and have made good use of these in the past .
For instance : Pictures of show horses and stallions to be used as handouts at shows , auctions etc .; Calendars with your stable name and a picture on it ; Pens , pencils and other novelty advertising pieces that can be given to visitors
40 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse