1966-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1966 October Voice RS | Page 20

CELEBRATION STORY
(Continued from page 18)
A. H. S. A., was also in town for the show. Charles Bon-
nici and his family were also in town, having traveled
all the way from San Jose.
On hand for the first time on the show grounds were
representatives of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders
Association in their own office. During the day the trailer
office was managed by two attractive young ladies who
handed out registration and membership forms, answered
questions and otherwise acted in a public relations ca­
pacity for the Association. Col. Tom Fulton and Mr.
Jerome Ryan, president of the Association, also spent quite
a bit of time in the office.
The Celebration continues to grow and this year 1504
horses were officially entered in the show. Everything
about this annual event is expanding and we wonder
where it will lead to. Despite the constant attacks of dis­
senters in the horse business the Tennessee Walking Horse
continues to march to higher credit and the Tennessee
Walking Horse National Celebration is a clear indication
of it’s popularity. More horses, more people, more classes
and more enthusiasm ... all of this was in evidence at
the 1966 Shelbyville Classic.
The Celebration is the annual “swan song” for many
Walking Horse enthusiasts who have to get the kids back
to school and get back to the grind of everyday life. We
still have the “Deep South Circuit”, the Montgomery
Southern Championship Show and various other lesser
shows on the docket through November, but for most of
us it is “goodby until next year”. Along about February
however, the true horse enthusiast will start finding time
to bundle up and head for a few training stables to look
over some new show stock. More eager advocates of the
breed will head for Florida and the “Sunshine Circuit”
and soon ... as the first rays of Spring Sunshine tips the
scales of Middle Tennessee, some hardy soul will invar­
iably ask the question—“I wonder who will win the
Celebration this year”.
TOP HORSES
BROOD MARES —
GO BOY mares in foal lo MIDNIGHT SUN -
Weanlings by MIDNIGHT SUN - Mares in foal to SUN’S DELIGHT
— Top bred young mares by MERRY GO BOY and MIDNIGHT SUN
— Top two-year-old and top three-year-old now under saddle and do­
ing well with Middle Tennessee trainer — .Top pleasure mares and
riding horses — One good pleasure gelding, child broke — GOOD
MARES AND COLTS FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES - WE STRIVE
F.OR THE
BEST.
Also
... a top black four-year-old MIDNIGHT
SUN stud out of a LITTLE MERRY BOY mare for sale.
THOMAS EATON
420 N. CHANCERY STREET
McMINVILLE, TENNESSEE
PHONE [phone]
20
THERE MUST BE A REASON
Now that we have all had time to get back to normal
after what appears to have been one of the most varied,
exciting and enthusiastic Celebrations we have ever wit­
nessed, perhaps it would be wise to take an objective
look at the “big show” and ask ourselves WHY? WHY
was there so much response from the audience as com­
pared to last year ? WHY were our horses in such good
shape as compared to last year? WHY was the judging so
widespread in instances and close together in others?
WHY did everyone have a feeling of participation this
year ?
To begin with, our horses WERE in better shape this
year than ever before. Almost without exception, the top
ten in every class were horses that were excellent repre­
sentatives of our breed. They were finer than ever before,
stronger than ever before and despite the exceptionally
rigorous classes, they appeared to fare better than ever
before. The Tennessee Walking Horse is getting better
and better and our trainers are learning more about ac­
cepted training techniques and how to use them to best
advantage without exerting undue strain on their stock.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse