1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 June Voice | Page 38

WASHINGTON STATE
OPEN HORSE SHOW
AND JUDGING SCHOOL
HUGE SUCCESS
"LARGEST IN AMERICA"
Early this spring, the invitation
went out, “You all come!” to the
Washington State Open Horse
Show and Light Horse Judging
School to be held in Yakima,
Washington May 29, 30, 31, for the
first time. And, you all did! To the
tune of 820 entries, which made
the show the “largest and most
complete horse show and judging
school in America,” according to
Dr. M. E. Ensminger, founder of
the show 14 years ago at the Wash­
ington State College Hilltop Sta­
bles. (Now Washington State Uni­
versity.)
Last year, after show entries hit
a record of 750, Washington State
University decided the event was
too big for the crowded campus
facilities. The show was looking
for a new home, and Yakima was
looking for a horse show. In De­
cember, the Yakima Chamber of
Commerce captured the show, and
James Fletcher was named chair­
man, and Gene Stark, manager —
both former students of Dr. Ens­
minger. It was hoped the entries
would at least equal last years, but,
in came 820! The judging school
drew over 300 students, that is,
“registered” students. There were
hundreds of “spectator students.”
More than 250 FFA and 4-H stu­
dents were enrolled. In addition
over 50 were enrolled in the adult
division and 15 in apprentice
judges division.
Yes, Dr. Ensminger really start­
ed something here! It was quite a
sight — those beautiful horses, the
earnest students, young and old,
in the picturesque setting of the
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Fairgrounds. The whole town took
an interest in the show, and that
interest and participation gained
momentum from day to day. Hun­
dreds of people worked on the
show, and, happily, each began to
feel that no matter how small a
part he had to play, “This is our
show.” Merchants showed “wel­
come” placards. People who had
never attended a horse show be­
gan to wonder what all the fuss
was about, and, as a result, the
grandstand was filled and over­
flowing at every performance. One
big ring was utilized for the main
performances. Halter classes often
had 3 or 4 rings going simultan­
eously. The show was well bal­
anced, with English and Western
classes, gaited horses, cow cut­
ting, chariot races, jumping, pony
hitches (6 horses), and registered
Tennessee Walker, Arabians, Mor­
gans, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses,
Appaloosas, Welsh and Shetlands.
Classes for the judging school
started Thursday, May 28th, with
a briefing session. Four WSU pro­
fessors gave judging school stu­
dents an idea of what judges would
be looking for in the Friday and
Saturday halter classe s. The school
included instruction in selecting
and judging Tennessee Walking
Horses, American Saddlebred, Ara­
bians, Morgans, Appaloosas, Quar­
ter Horses, Shetland ponies, and
Welsh ponies. Fortunately there
were excellent specimens of all
breeds. The school continued all
day Friday, from 8 o’clock in the
morning and from 8 a.m. until
noon on Saturday. At the close of
the judging school, the students’
grades or points for all classes were
totaled and high point students
were honored at the 5 p.m. show
buffet at the Chinook Tower Ho­
tel.
The Horse Show served as a
model exhibition in conjunction
with the judging school. After stu­
dents saw what to look for in the
various breeds, how to show at
halter, and how to groom and care
for a horse, they were able to see
the animals actually performing,
and apply their knowledge in ob­
servation. Here again we were
most fortunate in drawing top show
animals.
Mr. Norris K. Carnes who has
judged shows throughout the Uni­
ted States and Canada for thirty
years (American Royal ’63) judged
the Tennessee Walkers in both
school and performance classes. As
he placed the horses in the school
halter classes, he carefully ex­
plained his reasons. And, he didn’t
“pull his punches.” Then the stu­
dents were given the privilege of
asking questions. And they can
really come up with some ques­
tions. In judging the Walkers, Mr.
Carnes emphasized the character­
istics of conformation that contri­
bute to the Walking Horses’ unique
gait, and the importance of
strength, where needed to keep him
going sound and true. He called
special attention to the forward
placement of the hock, strength in
the hock itself, and below the hock,
and the allowance of some slope
to the croup. He liked fineness
combined with strength. He men­
tioned meeting Dr. Porter Rogers
in the hotel lobby shortly after the
American Royal. They started dis­
cussing ROGERS PERFECTION
and just what made him such a
great champion. Dr. Rogers invited
Mr. Carnes out to the stable where
he had the opportunity of viewing
the great horse, now in retirement,
in his flat walk. He observed here
the tremendous hock, wide and
deep, and the strength below the
hock. Mr. Carnes observed dur­
ing one of the classes: “If he’s a
good horse for the purpose for
which he’s bred, I like him.” To
which I add a hearty “Amen.”
As to performance classes, as
any Tennessee Walking Horse en­
thusiast would have predicted, the
Walkers stole the show! To quote
from the Yakima Republic, “A
crowd pleaser Friday night, the
Tennessee Walkers will be back
in the ring tonight as they work
for a $125 prize and large trophy.
The Walkers brought cheers last
night as they walked faster and
(Continued on Page 40)
VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse