Merry Boy was proclaimed by Mrs . Yandell as being the kindest stallion she ever saw . Anyone could handle him and Merry Boy would not even flick an ear No matter how far out in the pasture he might be , whenever Merry Boy heard his name caked he
came immediately . . , Merry Boy never saw a show ring — in tact , he was not even completely bridle-wise . He was unique in the fact that he didn ’ t like to be ridden . One could get on him , ride only so far , and then Merry Boy would deposit him on the ground , just as Mr . Mc-
Michael had warned . As Mrs . Yand ell ’ s letter shows , Merry Boy just could not tolerate flies . He wasn ’ t especially fond of being outside , either , except when Mrs . Yandell took him out in the yard to graze , as she often did .' Much of
her time was spent with Merry Boy . Although Merry Boy had been foundered in later
years , he was seldom sick , and Mrs . Yandell says he was very healthy . Once or twice he needed a veterinarian ’ s attention and usually the late Dr . J . W . SCALES of Mississippi State University was called to attend him .
About forty7 top mares made up Merry Boy ’ s private herd and outside mares were constantly accepted . No other stallion was ever kept there during the time Mrs . Yandell was standing Merry Boy . All of Mrs . Yandell ’ s mares were either Wilson Allen mares or Roan Allen F-38 mares . A very clever breeder and businesswoman , Mrs . Yandell wanted only the best . Always interested in bettering the breed , she had dreams of eventually establishing a complete herd of Merry Boy mares . For years she kept all of the fillies and sold only some of the stud colts . On one special occasion a roan Merry Boy filly was sold to Dr . CLYDE Q . SHEELY of Mississippi State University . Today this filly , now grown , is heavy in foal to the late Midnight Sun .
Back in those days the Tennessee Walking Horses were extensively used as plantation horses , and Mrs . Yandell used the colts who didn ’ t make top show horses or . brood mares for this purpose . These colts with their easy gaits made excellent mounts with which to check the crops . Those days were not U last long , however , for the pickup truck soon replace < the Walking Horse and the days of the plantatioi horse were no more .
Tragically enough , Mrs . Yandell ’ s dream of estab lishing a herd of Merry Boy mares was never to be come a reality . Although it nearly broke her heart she was forced to sell Merry Boy and to dispense with all of her mares . Merry Boy and part of th < mares went to Mr . George Williams of Jackson , Ten nessee , and the other mares went to various places Merry Boy continued to sire show ring champiom until the time of his death . Two World ’ s Grand Champ
ions , Merry Go Boy and Black Angel , were sired b \ him . Old Glory , Merry Belle , Katie Mearl , and Mem Gypsy Rose are only a few of his show ring champ ions . The late WINSTON WISER rode many Mem Boy horses , among them Merry Gypsy Rose and Mer ry Go Boy , seven times World Champion . He die much to promote the Merry Boy line . Merry Walker pnH ^ ° f , tw < ^ W ° rld ’ s Champions ( Go Boy ’ s Shadov and Rodger 8 Perfection ), was sired by Merry Boy nd then there was the famous brood mare , Mem
Rose , the dam of Talk of the Town , who was tu times World ’ s Champion . nree
As time passes on , Merry Boy brood mares the most sought-after mares to be found . They c ^ well with all bloodlines to produce colts of the r ° SS highest quality . The name " Merry Boy ” is 0nVery the most prominent names seen on any papers tod ° f
Merry Boy spent the remainder of his thirty-th^ ’
years with Mr . Williams , who loved him and him a wonderful home . He continued to stand Ve
stud until his death , and he had colts the year h died . As Mrs . Yandell says in her letter , " The great old horse is dead but his name will always be heard from those who love the Walking Horse .”
Ut
Author ’ s Note : I want to thank Mrs . Margaret Yandell for her time , interest , and help in this story ' Without her , it could not have been written .
COLUMBIA SPRING JUBILEE SCHEDULES FIFTEENTH SHOW
One of the most important Walking Horse shows of the season is again in the planning stages and from all appearances , it will again be " one of the best .” The 15th Annual Columbia Spring Jubilee in Columbia , Tennessee , is scheduled for June 2 , 3 , and 4 . The experienced show committee , composed of Mr . R . U . SWANN , LESLEY WHITE , Dr . T . H REYNOLDS , R . P . HARMON and HARDIN HILL , will again be running the show . Mrs . TOM BOWMAN will again be the Show Secretary .
Few people realize that the official title of this show is " The National Tennessee Walking Horse Spring Jubilee ,” as it is commonly referred to as the Columbia Spring Show , the Jubilee , and other names , but it is actually the most important Walking Horse show of the early season and is indeed a national show . Last year entrants came from over a thousand miles to attend this most important Walking Horse event . The Kiwanis Club will have charge of all the tickets and parking , and the Rotary Club will have the food concessions . The Maury County Horsemen ’ s Association is the sponsoring organization .
As usual , the Official Committee of the Columbia Spring Jubilee has made a determined effort to obtain the best possible Walking Horse judges for their show . We feel that they have again done a commendable job with the following slate : Hon . BERRY COFFEE , Morehead , Kentucky ; Hon . J . W . RENFRO , Troy , Alabama ; and Hon . GENE ADAMS , Tignall , Georgia .
2ND all walking horse
ANNUAL STATE SHOW • JUNE 1 8 , 1 966
Sponsored by Stephenville Jaycees
STEPHENVILLE , TEXAS
FOR INFORMATION . CONTACT :
STEPHENVILLE JAYCEES . P . 0 . BOX 731
or DR . KEN DORRIS . WO 5-3798 - Show Chairman
50 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse