NEW YORK HORSE CAPTURES ' HORSE OF THE YEAR ’ AWARD IN WALKING HORSE CATEGORY
New York has been and still is the home of many of the champions from the world of sports . And now another champion is making his home there . GO BOVS REBEL O , leading horse of the Leeswood Stable in Oaks Corners , New York , has been awarded the Horse of the tear Award by the American Horse Shows Association .
Trainer David Welsh and Mr . and Mrs . Cebem Lee have teamed up to bring this latest award to the Empire State . The Lee ’ s own the Stable and David is the man who was in the irons for REBEL ’ S impressive triumphs throughout the year of 1966 . This is a significant accomplishment for this dedicated team and required a lot of hard work and financial sacrifice .
When you glance back at REBEL ’ S record for the past year , it is easy to see why he captured this prized award . REBEL won seven championship stakes in horse shows all over the Eastern half of the country plus six blue ribbons in stud and gelding classes at these same shows . This represents an important criterion for a champion . REBEL was shown all over the country and he did not pick his shows . To be a true champion , one needs to challenge the other top horses and let the best horse win . REBEL certainly did this in 1966 .
The reserve winner in the Horse of the Year competition was SOCIETY SOUVENIR . This horse is an amateur mount and was shown during 1966 by Mrs . Lee .
The one-two placing in the awards is significant in that it points out both the professional and amateur phases of the Leeswood Stable operation . To have a top professional winner and a top amateur winner in the same stable argues strongly for the balance and emphasis placed on each phase . Mrs . Lee is to be congratulated for her “ time in the saddle ” in working very hard for this reserve award .
David Welsh and GO BOY ’ S REBEL O can be justly proud of this award . REBEL was shown in the leading shows in the upper Eastern section of the country in addition to making a show in Tennessee and one at the Kentucky State Celebration . Not many horses are shown
as often or as in many different parts of the country as this big sorrel stallion .
This success is even more noteworthy since the Leeswood Stable did not exist five years ago . Mr . and Mrs . Lee were totally unfamiliar with the Tennessee Walking Horse at that time and David Welsh was hard at work at ' ? Beaumont Stables in Broadway , Virginia .
However , Mr . and Mrs . Lee were introduced to the Tennessee Walking Horse at a horse show in Phoenix ,
Arizona . After several trips to Virginia investigating this breed , they bought their first Tennessee Walking Horse over the phone . Shortly thereafter Mrs . Lee purchased a horse to show herself and spent the entire year of 1963 traveling to shows whenever possible . The first was not all roses as they captured only one ribbon , and that was for fifth place .
On one of their many trips to Virginia , the Lee ’ s were introduced to David Welsh . David was offered the job with the responsibility of setting up the operation on a professional basis . Since that time a lot of hard work and cooperation have been required to reach this level of success .
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BIG MOMENT — Mrs . Cebern Lee is pictured receiving the “ Horse of the Year .” award for the Walking Horse division at the annual AHSA convention . GO BOY ’ S REBEL O amassed sufficient points to merit this distinction .
David suggested the purchase of REBEL after going to work for the Lee ’ s and it appears this has been one of his most important moves . It is vital for a new stable to have a “ name ” horse , from both the quality and publicity standpoint . REBEL has certainly filled this need for the Leeswood Stable .
The Horse of the Year Award is given annually to the horse compiling the most points by winning classes in American Horse Shows Association sanctioned shows . Thus it places emphasis on both winning and showing frequently ._____________________________________ ____
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The highlight of the four day convention for Walking Horse enthusiasts was the presentation of the “ Horse of the Year ” award at the awards banquet on Friday January 13 . Receiving the award for Leeswood Stables , Oaks Corners , N . Y . for their outstanding age stallion GO BOY ’ S REBEL O , was Mrs . Cebern Lee . Reserve in the annual awards competition was SOCIETY SOUVENIR , an outstanding Amateur horse that was ridden during the 1966 season by Mrs . Lee . This was a very impressive one-two victory for Mr . and Mrs . Lee and their trainer David Welsh . ( See complete story in adjacent article ).
What about 1967 and our affiliation with the American Horse Show Association ? We will have to agree with President Hart in saying that we made some very important progress in 1966 but there is still room for improvement this season . We all want this breed to grow in numbers , activity and acceptance and it is only by mutual cooperation and understanding that we can work out our problems to the benefit of this great breed . Congratulations to the ALISA for a wonderful convention . We hope to see you again next year with even better reports
0 progress for the nations greatest show horse . . • 1 ennessee Walking Horse .
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse