( Continued from page 17 )
She also shows her mothers pleasure horse , Mack ’ s Perfecto , and does a very nice job . Dixie Defender has been in training at Fort Wayne , Indiana at the Town and Country Stables and has done very well , taking the Open and Amateur classes at Kal- Val .
The Sonoma Farms , Battle Creek , had a bit of bad luck at the first show . One of their new three-vear-old mares was badly injured at the Kal- Vad show and could not be shown . MEL NORMAN had great hopes of coming out the victor in his class but took his " bitter pill ” like a showman and said , " Maybe next , time .”
The VICTOR BUCKNELLS willbe showing soon . Their horses have not been brought back from Mississippi as yet . Vic has a nice little stallion he has lots of hope for and Margaret ’ s pleasure gelding , Lanier , has been said to be doing very ’ well .
Dr . JOHN SACKETT should be right in the show ring again this summer , enjoying every ' minute of it . Here is a young dentist that should be given a blue ribbon by his profession . A harder-working , more conscientious young man would be difficult to find . He is one of the few doctors today ’ who will make Saturday or evening appointments , and he certainly should be complimented on his dedication to his profession . His horses are a great joy and means of relaxation to him . He seems to be having more fun than most exhibitors , with his Palomino stallion Golden Cadillac . He has several nice new ' colts this spring at his stable , Whispering Pines .
Speaking of colts , it is always fun to stop at the Valley Dale Horse Farm , which we pass frequently as we go to town , to see the new arrivals . Valiev Dale is owned and run by Mrs . HARRIET HAYNER . So far they have two new arrivals , both by Harriet ’ s stallion Go Boy ’ s Sentinel . One out of Gay Ambler called Go Boy ’ s Sir Echo is a darling little bay ' with blaze and hind stocking and coronet . The other , out of Precious Moonbeam and called Go Boy ’ s Sundowner , is jet black with a star .
Plans for the " Little Celebration ” Horse Show July 10 and 11 are well under way with many ’ added features . All Walking Horse Club members are working with the Show Chairman , Mrs . WILLIAM DINZIK , and will be glad to give anyinfonnation to exhibitors requesting it .
BAG WHEN
With the Second Annual Tennessee Walking Horse STALLION DIRECTORY behind us , perhaps it is appropo that we turn a head to the other partner in the past , present and future of the breed — the matronly DAM . As has been stated before , the question of exactly what percentage of a given colt is SIRE and what part is DAM , will probably never be decided to the satisfaction of all . However , it is generally conceded that the DAM does play an important part and is too significant to be overlooked . With this in mind we would like to return to a time in the past , two decades ago , and ponder the reflections of a noted Walking Horse enthusiast who was concerned with the rapid removal of top brood mares from Tennessee .
The following article is taken from the June 6 , 1941 issue of the Nashville Banner and was written by Gilbert M . Orr .
WATCHMAN , WHAT OF THE NIGHT ? LO ! THE DAWN COMETH . . . The popularity of and demand for the Tennessee Walking Horse within the past five years has been unprecedented in equine history .
This breed is destined for a greater popularity , and for a greater demand — not only because this horse is “ gentle , intelligent and easy to ride ,” but because it is the ideal pleasure mount for inexperienced and timid riders and because it can be handled by a woman or child as readily as by a man .
Being a native Tennessean and having spent our two score and a few more years in the central basin of the Volunteer State where these horses originated and from whence they have recently gone to all parts of the nation , we are interested in the future of the breed . Tennessee Walking Horses are as indigenous to Middle Tennessee as are the rolling hills , the bluegrass meadows and the myriad species of trees round about us .
Therefore , we voice this conviction of alarm about a “ natural resource ” of Tennessee :
A nation is no greater than its mothers . A breed of horses is no greater than its dams . Have all the proven sires of a particular breed given you and you will never produce great get without properblooded dams .
What of Tennessee Walking Horse brood mares ? Where are they today ? Whither are they going at the present time ?
During the past sixty days we have seen no less than thirty leave Tennessee . That ’ s one every two days . Rapid depletion that only time can mend . And will the breeders allow the all-healing hand of time to build again ? We doubt it .
Thirty good brood mares are gone to scattered parts of the country . There they will be bred , in many instances to off-brand stallions , not from preference of new owners , but because proven sires of walking bloodlines can ’ t be found at stud there . The get won ’ t be true-to-the breed walkers . A break-down , pure and simple .
These mares , had they “ stayed at home ,” could have produced thirty foals hext spring . The next year and the next they could have repeated , and this is true of the next . That would have mounted up to almost a hundred colts , colts
( Continued on page 24 )
20 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse