REMEMBER BACK WHEN ( Coni .) ( Continued from Page 13 )
“ I guess they learned how to walk going up and down hills ,” said Mr . Dement , “ and maybe that ’ s why Middle Tennessee has the best of them . The Hals walk better going uphill , the Allens better going downhill . The nodding of the head that is characteristic of the walking horse is due , I suppose , to the foot motions and the limberness in the back .”
Common Characteristics In Various Strains
A curious thing about it is that here in Middle Tennessee various strains have been developed which have definite characteristics in common . Some have come directly down from trotters , others from pacers , others from saddle horses - — and through many cross breedings . But all have this walking talent and all are splendid utility animals . Colors vary in the different strains . The Hal strain — in which , among others , Joe Steel of Shelbyville and Jamie Orr and Dan Ingram of Mooresville specialize — runs to bay in color ; the Brooks strain , like the Allens , is marked by white feet and faces ; the Gray Johns are , of course , gray . And so it goes . Other strains are the Stonewall , the Wilkes and the Denmark .
Mr . Dickinson is going in strong for the walking horse registration plan . He has as many as fifteen horses , representing a considerable proportion of the foundation stock . “ The association idea interests me ,” he said , “ When you have pedigreed stock , you have something . Recently I sold a colt to go to the Philippine Islands . I couldn ’ t have sold it if it had not been registered .”
The idea is not really new , although the association ’ s recorded history will be considered as having started at that Lewisburg meeting on April 27 . The Lewisburg group and the Nashville walking horse enthusiasts had been talking about the organization for years .
Mr . Dickinson has long been interested in Arabian horses . He plans experiments with Arabians , cross breeding them with others with the hope of further advancing the walking horse type . Many of the walking horses have Arabian blood , others are touched with the Morgan strain . There is no disposition on the part of the association ’ s rule makers to penalize intelligent experiment . They are frankly disposed to encourage cross breeding with the purpose to improve the stock . The results , say the interested breeders , are not to be predicted now , but all are agreed that though the Tennessee Walking Horse is an admirable creature now , their hope is to advance it through the years . There will be no haphazard cross breeding . It will be regulated under the rules of the association . The motive of this serious body of men is to establish a strain — the Tennessee Walking Horse strain .
The association ’ s rules for cross breeding provide that an animal that can “ walk ” may be used to cross back on registered blood . This rule is good for five breeding years . Any proved stallion with five proved walking horses to his credit can be accepted for registration ; any proved mare with two proved walking horses to her credit may be accepted .
Horse shows in Tennessee are growing more and more popular . There was one at Nolensville not long ago with 3,000 spectators . Chapel Hill had one with 5,000 present . Much of the attraction is in the plantation or walking horse classes . This popularity must be deserved , for until the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ’ Association was organized , less than three months ago , there was no well ordered movement to call attention to the magnetism of the Walking Horse . But now , with the Association organized , with a permament assistant secretary , Miss Jane Wallace , and with permanent headquarters at Lewisburg , there is reason to suppose that interest will be increased in the further development of Middle Tennessee ’ s type of utility horse . Nothing , however , will stimulate the development of a superstrain of walking horses so well as a widespread interest in the purpose of the association on the part of the farmers of Middle Tennessee . If the members of the association can carry their aims forward , there will be a new day in the horse business in Middle Tennessee — with buyers coming to this section from all parts of the world .
It is with great pride that we note that much of the proposed future of the breed , as described at the time this article was written , has come true . It is also with much pride that we can say not only that the Tennessee Walking Horse is still the “ World ’ s Greatest Pleasure Horse ” but that it is also the “ Nation ’ s Most Exciting Show Horse ”. If we can progress as much in the next thirty years as we have in the past thirty , the noble Tennessee Walking Horse will remain an asset to the Equine World .
JOE WEBB STABLES ( Conid .) would be able to put on exhibitions at any time . Believe me ... he is still a great horse !
Dr . Porter Rogers Jr ., put on an exhibition of his amateur horse and gave those in attendance some idea of what to expect in the amateur ranks from the new Joe Webb Stables . Both Dr . Rogers and his horse showed plenty of experience and time in the saddle .
Next on the program was probably what most people came to see . . . CARBON COPY in action . This horse has been described as having the most outstanding “ fast ” running walk that the breed has ever known and his exhibition that day says this is true . From one end of the bam to the other , on he went to the delight of the crowd . Mr . George Lee Lenox , new owner of CARBON COPY , was on hand to witness this last exhibition of Joe Webb and his World Champion and viewed with pride the accomplishments of his horse .
Not to be outdone however , was ROGER ’ S PERFECTION , who was called upon again to put on a duet with Joe Webb that showed the keen intellegence of the big black stallion . Joe and PERFECTION have been friends for a long time and the great horse will respond to the commands of his trainer in a way that is a delight to see . “ Come here PERFECTION ” . . . “ Whoa ” . . . Back up PERFEC TION ” . . . “ whoa ” . . . these and
( Continued on Page 28 )
JANUARY , 1965
27