YOUR ROVING REPORTER
By Charles Goldswig
Jusl " Roving " — a snapshot of Charlie on WRIGHT ’ S HEIR- Charlie was up when they won the St . Petersburg Stake Class .
Walking Horses have recently " come alive ” in the St . Petersburg area . According to HENRY BOSWELL , President of the Florida Walking Horse Association , there seems to be more interest than ever before . When queried as to the reason for this , Mr . Boswell gives credit to LESLIE THOMAS , popular Walking Horse trainer who came down from Ohio on a look-see basis and liked Florida and the people so much that he decided to make St . Petersburg his home .
With a full-time trainer available , Boswell Farms will build a new barn at 7576 - 78th Avenue North , St . Petersburg ( Pinellas Park ). July 4 is the tentative date set for an opening to which the public and all horse enthusiasts will be invited . This new barn will be 120 x 40 feet , ivith fourteen box stalls , tack room , lounge , and hot walker . In addition , there will be a Celebration-size ring .
Facilities will be available under the direction of Mr . Leslie Thomas for breaking colts , training and showing horses , boarding , and riding instruction .
A welcome newcomer to the Walking Horse fraternity in Tampa is Mr . MARVIN ESSRIG , President of Tampa Bay Bank , who is the proud owner of a new Walking Horse .
JOHN HOLT of Baltimore , as he bade me goodbye , said he would bring some Walking Horses down next winter and have them in training at Boswell Farms . I
I leave Florida after a most rewarding winter vacation and , to the best of my knowledge , have answered all your inquiries . However , if I have overlooked any , please be good enough to write me again , Route 1 , Clayton , Ohio .
Horse Show Judge ’ s Confession :
" SOMETIMES I ’ D LIKE TO FLIP A COIN ” The horses are called before the announcer ’ s stand , and all eyes are turned to one figure - the Judge .
At that point , admits CARL MOSSLER , " Sometimes I wish I were alone and could flip a coin to pick the winner .”
And after that final decision , says RUSS WALTHER , " 1 may get some questions-not often , but mostly from the parents .”
This is the life of the horse show judge . Mossier , Walther , and TOM HEIL were the decision-makers at the St . Petersburg Horse Show at the Skybrook Riding Academy .
" Sometimes you could place ten horses between the winner and the second-place finisher ” said Mossier , a resident of Colorado Springs , Colorado who calls shows in various parts of the nation . " But then they can be so close I ’ d like to flip a coin .”
Heil , from Tarpon Springs , revealed one solution to the problem - in case of an equitation ( rider ’ s skill ) event : " If I feel it ’ s a tie , I ’ ll have the riders switch horses to see if they can do as well on either one . This is done once in awhile .” That ’ s called the " horse factor .” And Mossier agreed , saying , " Equitation events are supposed to be judged on the rider ’ s skill , but a good horse will make the rider look a lot better .”
So we ’ ve covered the " coin factor ,” the " parent factor ,” and the " horse factor ,” and the rider ’ s skill brings forth the cheating factor . " The riders should make everything look easy . That ’ s what we are looking for ” said Walther , a native of Fredericksburg , Virginia and a resident of Winter Haven , Florida . " If a person has to use his feet or whip , he should try not to let us see it .” " Like an artist , we are always looking for the perfect picture - the right blend of rider and horse ” said Mossier , who has judged shows for 30 years . " I have seen them come close , but no one was perfect .” Walther agreed . He then confessed , " I try to keep up with all the riders , but occasionally my back will be turned when a horse starts to buck , and the crowd will wonder why I rated the rider andhorse so high .” That ’ s called the " blind side factor ” - the most exasperating factor in the life of the horse show judge .
The foregoing conversations took place at the time of the St . Petersburg horse show . The following week in Tampa I queried PAUL RANDOLPH of Clearwater , Florida as to his reaction to the present-day methods of appointing judges . " Well , Charlie ,” said Mr . Randolph , " I may never see it but some day horse shows will be governed by a commissioner like they have in baseball and football , and this should make for a better situation .”
FRANK ROPER of Winter Garden , Florida added , " Brother Goldswig , I would like to see horse shows announced without the naming of judges in advance . Real sportsmen should be willing to show before any judge .”
Henry Boswell of Pinellas Park , Florida , President of the Walking Horse Association of Florida asked why it wasn ’ t possible to find men other than professional trainers to judge .
30 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse