1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 October Voice | Page 17

NORTHWEST CORNER Coni.
of enjoyment, and spend more than
we’d save running around “look­
as her sire, and bred to MERRY ing”. And, when I speak of “look­
GO BOY, or vice versa. If she has ing” I always remember one in­
a colt at her side, by any good reg­ stance when I was really “put in
istered Tennessee Walking Horse my place”. I had just watched a
stallion, that would be o.k. I don’t beautiful horse work, and I really
want her to be over 10 years old. wanted him, but I remarked, upon
I’d like her to be well trained, hearing the price, “My goodness!
sound, and gentle. I could pay up I could buy the finest mink coat
to $300, but $250 is what I had in for that!” The trainer, a fine horse­
mind. I want to find one within man and a gentleman, very quietly
a reasonably short distance. When and matter-of-factly answered: “No
we started our phone conversation, doubt you could, but if you WANT
I told him I had given the letter a a mink coat, you’re looking in the
great deal of consideration, in fact, wrong place. If you WANT a good
I’d like to find that mare for my­ horse, he’s worth the money!”
self. And, if I’m real lucky, some
Bargains do come along. Some
day I may, in Heaven! (A few one must sell hurriedly for one
weeks later he purchased a well reason or another, and prices are
bred 11 year old pleasure mare, cut in half or even lower. But, as
sound, and gentle. A week or so a general rule, don’t count the
after that he bought a nice year­ pennies too closely in buying a
ling filly with good bloodlines.)
horse. The most expensive horse
Again and again comes the in­ I’ve ever owned was a $100 “bar­
quiry, “How much should I expect gain”. Let it be clearly understood,
to pay for a Walking Horse?” Of he was NOT a Walker. But, he was
course, in answering this question a very good looking young gelding,
it is necessary to ask quite a few broke to ride, gentle, quiet, nice
questions first concerning the ex­ to wo rk around. The first day we
perience, desires, age, of the pros­ had him he threw Lloyd, and
pective owner. Does he want a Lloyd had ridden some pretty
horse strictly for cross-country rough broncs too. But, Lloyd
riding, or does he want a Stake hadn’t suspected this horse was
horse? Is he in a hurry to get what barn balky, so, when the horse
he wants, or can he wait a year or suddenly flipped ends with abso­
two? Does he want one completely lutely no warning, Lloyd continued
trained, or halter broke? Stallion? away from the barn while the
horse came trotting blithely back
Mare? or Gelding?
I usually sum up our experiences to the barn, mission accomplished.
by telling the inquirer: “Lloyd and The next day I sallied forth on a
I usually pay twice as much as a brand new show saddle, as flat as
horse is worth when we buy one, they came. After I felt I had the
and sell a horse for half what he’s barn problem under control, I let
worth when we sell one.” On the the horse out a little.
When I regained consciousness in
surface, that sounds like a mighty
foolish way of doing things, and the hospital, spectators told me he
I’ll admit we’d like to discover a had apparently shied at some
way of reversing the procedure, blackbirds on a fence, jumped side­
but really, we have no complaints. ways about 15 feet, and then
For somewhere in between we have bucked about 5 or 6 good hard ones
years of enjoyment which we before he subsided. But the first
wouldn’t take twice of what we good buck, catching me off-balance
paid for them. When we find a was enough to send me flying head
horse that is exactly right for our first to the ground, where I skidded
purpose, we might just as well pay along on my face for a couple of
that “little bit extra” rather than yards (breaking my nose) and then
look around for another year or did a backward flip-flop (breaking
two on the long chance we may my back). The medical and hospital
find another we like just as well expenses would have paid for a
at a cheaper price. In the mean­ mighty good horse. The pain, suf­
time, we may miss out on a year fering, enforced inactivity, are hard
(Continued from Page 7)
OCTOBER, 1964
to measure in dollars and cents, as
is the fact that the accident left me
with a fear of riding any strange
horse that remains to some extent
to this day. Up to that time, I loved
to ride them all, with never a hint
of apprehension. Discretion is a
good thing, to be sure, but, actual
fear of something one loves so
much is something else again.
(Luckily it disappears as soon as
I know my horse, for which I’m
thankful!) But, the point is, our
“bargain” turned out to be most
costly. That’s learning the hard
way!
Now we ride Walkers. We don’t
expect them to be given away with
popcorn. Years of careful planning
and intelligent breeding has gone
into the making of this wonderful
horse. Right now the demand is
great, and growing greater. It costs
money to produce any good horse.
Stud fees, or maintenance of a stal­
lion, proper feeding, barn mainte­
nance, veterinary and farrier fees,
loss of horses thru illness or in­
jury — all add up. Then, when you
get into the training program, an­
other expense is added. But, one
thing is certain. Dollar for dollar,
you’ll look a long, long time before
you’ll find another spot to put
your money that will return you as
much pleasure as that put into your
Tennessee Walking Horse — if it’s
a HORSE you want! That too,
we’ve learned from first hand ex­
perience. THE EASY WAY—RID­
ING WALKERS.
(Continued on Page 27)
OAK RIDGE FARM
AT STUD
BLACK ANGEL’S
SHADOW
By World's Champion
GO BOY’S SHADOW
Out of World's
Champion BLACK ANGEL
Several yearling show prospects
by this stud now available.
HARDY R. PARKER
Box 124
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N. C.
Phone ALpine 6-2395
17