1965-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1965 June Voice | Page 4

COVER STORY
SPECIAL’S ANGEL ... Top Walking
Mare, Becomes Highlight of Horse
Activity of Arkansas Family!
(LATE NEWS ITEM - See Page 36)
A pretty girl. . .a beautiful horse
and an interested family are the ear­
marks of sure success in the Walking
Horse business. This is the obvious
winning combination of the LLOYD
RUSSELL family of Piggott, Arkan­
sas, and their daughter MARIAN,
who initiated the whole business, is
proud of her accomplishment.
The highlight of the Russells’ Walk­
ing Horse activity thus far is a beau­
tiful black mare named Special's
Angel, now in training with RUS­
SELL PATE at the GLL Farms in
Collierville, Tennessee. Considered
one of the leading four-year-old
mares in the nation, Angel has start­
ed the season right with two bluesin
two shows. She capped the 1964
season with a spectacular perfor­
mance in winning the blue in the
Junior Mare class at the Dixie Jubi­
lee in Jackson, Mississippi.
Special’s Angel is a large mare,
standing sixteen hands high, with
an unusually smooth and rhythmic
way’ of going. She has the speed and
stamina to back up her three excel­
lent gaits and with time should prove
to be one of the truly great mares
produced by the breed.
Miss Marian Russell has had a
lingering interest in horses for many
years but attending Harding College
in Searcy, Arkansas put her in such
close touch with the breed at the
JOE WEBB Stables that she could
resist no longer. A frequent visitor
to Joe’s stable while in school, she
soon became a true Walking Horse
devotee and soon got her family in­
terested, also. In 1963, Mr. Russell
purchased Special’s Angel for the
4
SPECIAL’S ANGEL — Russell Pate up. One of the
leading age mares in the nation.
MARIAN RUSSELL - Young Walking Horse en­
thusiast and proud owner of SPECIAL’S ANGEL.
Russell Farms from the Dr. H. T.
MclVER Stables injackson, Tennes­
see, when she was a two-year-old.
She was placed in training at the
GLL Farms early that year to be
trained by Russell Pate.
Originally purchased as a prospec­
tive Amateur Horse, Angel soon
indicated that she indeed had the
disposition and manners of a top
amateur mount. Showing this out­
standing horse has been one of the
most delightful experiences of Mar­
ian’s life, but due to school activities
most of the "showing” has been
done by her trainer. As the 1965
season reaches a peak, aiming to­
ward the Celebration, the name of
Special’s Angel will become more
and more pronounced as a logical
contender for top honors in the mare
class and, as trainer Russell Pate
puts it, "She doesn’t know just how
much she CAN do yet!”
As for her lovely owner, Marian
will be a senior at Arkansas State
College in Jonesboro in the fall. This
talented young horsewoman has dis­
tinguished herself at college by be­
coming a member of Alpha Gamma
Delta sorority and by being the 1964
Sweetheart of Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity. Marian is one of the eight
Yearbook Beauties, and was chosen
1965-1966 Arkansas State College
Rodeo Queen at the Annual Agri-
Day Festivities.
The Russells have one other
daughter, BETTY, who is a guidance
counselor at Westside High School
in Memphis. All are very active in
community affairs, Mr. Russell being
chosen by popular vote as "Citizen
of the Year” for 1965 in Piggott.
For the past three years they have
operated the Russell Mortuary in
Piggott and another in Gideon, Mis­
souri, in addition to their activities
on the Russell Farms.
It looks as if the Tennessee Walk­
ing Horse is firmly entrenched in the
affairs of the Lloyd Russell family,
and with an outstanding horse such
as Special’s Angel they should have
many years of enjoyment ahead.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse