1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 May Voice | Page 28

It is with exceptional pride that we introduce this new feature article of the VOICE. “Remember Back When” is presented to recall to memory the events of the past and bring to mind the background and heritage of our beloved Tennessee Walking Horse. For our basic material we will draw from many sources — old newspaper articles, magazine stories and in some instances from the personal files of in­ dividuals. We will try- in every case to be factual, admitting however, that some of our sources are worn yellow with age. We believe that the pre­ sentation of “what used to be” will make us ever more aware of the true significance of the breed and will serve to show us all what tremendous ad­ vances have been made and will again bring to mind the pioneers of the Ten­ nessee Walking Horse and the sacri­ fices they made to develop and pro­ mote a breed in which they had faith and confidence. Friday Morning, May 25, 1939. Daleline Lewisburg, Tennessee. The Nashville Tennessean was filled with news of the impending danger abroad. The Un-American Activities Committee was work­ ing overtime to investigate every­ one remotely connected with the activities in Europe. From York, Nebraska, came an article enti­ tled “Rainmaker Paged,” having to do with the peculiar powers of 67 year old Lillie Stroats of Oxford. Mississippi, who reputedly had saved the Florida Citrus crops by sitting at the edge of a lake in Frostproof, Florida, and provok­ ing rain. Another story reported on the good condition of the Nash­ ville Pension Fund and still an­ other articles commented on the "large influx of tourists” as a result of Tennessee’s exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. In our minds however, all these world shaking events were over-shadowed by the following article. Do you “remem­ ber back when” . . . 28 "THIRTEEN STATES REPRESENTED AMONG BUYERS AT WALKING HORSE SALE; PRICES AVERAGE S417.00 Over 3,000 people attended the largest Tennessee Walking Horse sale ever held yesterday at Lewis­ burg. The long sales tent at the Murray Farm was packed with buyers and sightseers from far cornel's of the United States for the second annual sale conducted by J. J. Murray. The history made by the sale last May was set aside for new records yesterday. The total of $28,335 for 68 head, an average of just under $417, eclipsed the 1938 average when about 60 head aver­ aged under $370. Thirteen states were represented among the buyers and many of the high-priced animals left their native Tennessee. Top price of the day, $2,450, was made by the first horse sold, SIR MacALVANNI, champion Walk­ ing Stallion of the Tennessee State Fair, 1936 and 1938, and a distin­ guished sire. This 7-year-old black beauty, consigned by Clyde West­ brook, Cleveland, Miss., was bought by Tom Brown of Columbia who owns the stallion’s famous sire, GIOVANNI. Second Highest Second highest price, $1,500, was paid by W. M. Duncan, Inverness, Miss., for SILVER MOON, a pink­ skinned white mare consigned by W. P. Brown, Drew, Miss. Her mate in color, WHITE CLOUD, brought $1,000 from Rabun Jones, well-known fancier of Hollandale, Miss. Mr. Jones’ consignment, the 9 - year - old gelding, HARVEST MOON, winner of over 200 blue ribbons and probably the best known horse in the sale, went to Mrs. R. A. Stranahan of Toledo, Ohio, for $1,075. Fifteen horses sold for $500 or more. Only six brought less than $200. No lot lacked for bids, but the buyers were after top-notch walking horses and knew good ones when they appeared. From Rhode Island to Texas came the bids. Robert E. Arm­ strong of Providence was a good buyer. Four Texas gentlemen, E. L. Torrence of Waco, B. B. Foster and L. H. Spellings of Marshall, and H. H. Wilkinson of Ft. Worth took home some good ones. Mississippi was as usual a heavy buyer. Rabun Jones of Hollandale took away 2 good ones, while J. B. Wilson of Corinth, W. M. Duncan of Inver­ ness, and Z. D. Maddox of West Point enriched their stables from this sale. Good Buyers One of the largest buyers in point of numbers was Frank Rambo of Fayetteville, who bought five head. Dr. G. G. Garrett of Shreveport, took three good ones. The crowd was eager, good na- tured, and enthusiastic. Most of them were here long before the sale started promptly on the stroke of 11 a.m. and remained until the last horse was sold at 5:30 p.m. Many of the animals were ap­ plauded when the bids began to climb. With the exception of a few yearlings, every animal was ridden at the running walk gait up and down the narrow elliptical tan- bark covered track down the cen­ ter of the tent. Although the noise of the sound system and the waving of the as­ sistant auctioneers’ arms in their faces was not the daily habit of these horses, they behaved as if it would take more than that to ruf­ fle their well-bred composure. The crowd was a vivid human interest scene. All kinds were here and most of them shed their coats under the heat of the tent. A prea­ cher bought a horse and resold him on the grounds at a profit. Just VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse