1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 November Voice | Page 24

held together by a dull, nondescript
bay hide. His mane and tail looked
moth eaten, and, from his general
appearance they judged him to be
as old as Methuselah. Not to men­
tion the small detail that he seem­
ed to have only three usable legs!
Also, it became apparent imme­
diately that while he didn’t look
like much of a horse, he ate like
one. But, they saw also how much
this “find” meant to Jerry, so they
agreed that if he could find enough
lawns to mow and irrigate dur­
ing the summer to keep the horse
for the 3 months before school, and
earn $7 a month during the school
year to help keep him, they’d pro­
vide the rest, including the first
veterinary bill, which seemed to be
the first order of business. For two
long months it was nothing but
feed, water, rest, and walking
around the corral for the little bay
horse. For two long months it was
lawn mowing, and baby sitting,
and box carrying at a grocery
store for Jerry. And then came the
big day when the vet said, “Jerry
I think you can get on his back
now. Take it easy. Just let him
walk for a few minutes. Then each
day make it a little longer.” Jerry
needed no second invitation. But.
before he took that first ride
around the little corral, he turned
to the vet and said, “Doctor, he’s
sure Thankful!” And that’s when,
where, and how the little bay
horse got his name.
By next spring (which was this
spring) THANKFUL had plumped
out, had a nice shiny rich bay coat,
and was acquiring a very present­
able mane and tail. He was not an
old horse after all, so Jerry should
have years of enjoyment ahead
with him. But, best of all, when
Jerry finally took him out of the
little corral, and took him down
to the long beach at the seashore
to strengthen the once gimpy leg,
THANKFUL walked faster and
faster and faster until it seemed to
Jerry he would walk right into the
corner of the horizon. Jerry had
never seen a Tennessee Walker be­
fore, but he had read about them,
and the nod and the speed made
him sure he had a Walker, and
finally one day this was confirmed
24
by one who knew.
Where he came from no one
knows. But, one thing is certain,
he arrived at the right place.
You and I may study pedigrees,
and admire this one or that one.
But to this boy, THANKFUL,
with or without a pedigree, is the
most beautiful, wonderful, abso­
lutely perfect horse that ever
walked on the face of this earth.
And, when you see the horse come
at a canter across the little pasture
where Jerry now keeps him, the
moment he catches a glimpse of
that brick colored head of hair,
you sense, as we did, when we
made the trip over to see THANK­
FUL, that that feeling of admira­
tion is mutual.
To a casual passerby, THANK­
FUL, even today when he is sleek,
and plump, and sound, would pre­
sent no picture of startling equine
pulchritude.
But there is something about the
combination of this boy and this
horse that makes a tear come to
the eye. The horse is like many we
see, and the boy might be a boy
across the street in your neighbor­
hood. But, when Jerry is on
THANKKUL’S back, and the little
horse gets in motion, and the boy
sits so straight and very very
proud, somehow the little horse
seems bigger, and as much a pic­
ture horse as that in any fairy tale,
and the brick-topped, freckle-faced
kid is suddenly as handsome as
any Prince Charmin. And you real­
ize that within the year, a starv­
ing, crippled horse was salvaged,
and a boy became a man.
*
$=
*
A Happy Thanksgiving to you
and your Walkers, which, I’m sure,
are high on your list of blessings
too!
HORSES FOR SALE
PLEASURE HORSES, BROOD MARES & COLTS
Mares in foal to Midnight Sun, Sun’s Delight,
Midnight Beau and Ebony Masterpiece. Colts
by Midnight Sun.
FACTORY BUILT, 2 HORSE TRAILER
Special bargain in this like-new demonstrator
HOLLY TREE FARM
FRED PHILLIPS
217 East Holland, Sbetbyvlll©, Tennessee
Business 6B4-7778
Residence 684-5485
On September 26th, at the Flint
Ridge Saddle Club, Decatur had
its first annual horse show. The lo­
cation was on the side of a moun­
tain and parking was hazardous for
trucks and cars but the people were
enthusiastic and there was a sub­
stantial crowd for a late fall show
Though the show failed to attract
many professional trainers it made
up the lack with amateurs and
pleasure riders. Clifford Dean from
Lakeside Farms, Guntersville, took
the Walking Horse stake on GO
BOY’S MILLIONAIRE.
Bud Dunn took the 2 year old
and 3 year old class blue ribbons
with SUNDUST PRECISION and
JET’S COMMANDER. The Walk­
ing Stallion class was won by Sam
Hall and MISTER SUNDUST with
JUDY’S SON ridden by Jack Lit-
trell 2nd. James K. Taylor riding
MOONGLOW JR. took the blue
ribbon in the Men’s Amateur class
and MISTER PIDDLEY and Sam
Hall were 2nd place.
The Sheffield Lions Horse Show
on Oct. 3rd was held in the ball
park and was a good show for all.
Bud Dunn made a clean sweep
with SUN DUST PRECISION as
2 year old winner. JET’S COM­
MANDER, taking the 3 year old
class and SUN DUST PERFEC­
TION the Walking Horse Cham­
pionship. If you wonder why Bud
Dunn’s name appears in show re­
sults so often it was best explained
by Bob Jennings. Bud was compli­
mented by this Master of Cere­
monies after the last class, as be­
ing a trainer who goes to all shows
big or small. Always takes his
VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse