1967-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1967 June Voice RS | Page 13

Middle Tennesse and last year finally got it published. It
is a very popular song on the West Coast and many Walk­
ing Horse lovers all over the country have purchased
copies.
Regarding the future of the Walking Horse on the
West Coast, Ray is full of enthusiasm. He says the big
need is more trainers and better horses. Here, as in other
parts of the country, top horses are scarce. There appears
to be a great market for the medium-priced horse and a
good market for top stock, when they can be found. He
further added that breeding is at an all time high as noted
by the sixty colts that were entered in the California Fu­
turity.
It is easy to see how the Walking Horse has continued
his fantastic growth and increase in popularity on the West
Coast with men such as Ray Rhoads leading the way. We
are pleased that he would share his story with us so that
we may pass it on to you. That’s Ray Rhoads . . . Dean
of West Coast Walking Horse Trainers.
BITS AND SPURS
By Sharon Terry
the Ray Rhoads Stables in this facility. He is still working
out of this stable and has one of the most successful horse
operations on the West Coast. The Rhoads children, Mor­
gan, 15 years old, and Gloriana, 12 years old, share a com­
mon interest in their father’s work.
Ray has worked with some of the well-known person­
alities of the Walking Horse world and several have
worked for him at different times. Buddy Hugh, now a
well-known Middle Tennessee trainer, and Albert Row­
land, now in Alabama, both worked for Ray in California.
Everyone relates a trainer’s success to the horses he has
“made and shown” and Ray Rhoads has had his share.
Going all the way back to MERRY DOUGH BOY, which
he purchased from S. W. Beech in 1950, there is a succes­
sive string of top horses that have made their mark on
Walking Horse records in this part of the country. Names
such as MR. DOUGHBOY, MIDNIGHT MERRY BOY
(seven times West Coast Walking Horse Champion),
SUN’S COCK ROBIN which he bought from Joe Urqu-
hart, MIDNIGHT SONATA, GO >,OY’S JEZEBEL,
APRIL KNIGHT. SHADOW’S DREAM, SHADOW’S
STAR, MERRY SOUVENIR, THE LEPRECHAUN
and MY LITTLE MARGIE are just some of the top
horses he has trained. Over the years Ray Rhoads has won
about every class and every major show on the West Coast
... a fitting record for a man who really believes in the
Tennessee Walking Horse.
In checking our records we noted that Ray had never
shown a horse at the Tennessee Walking Horse National
Celebration. On being questioned about this, Ray smiled
and said, ‘I’ll tell you the truth. I never had a horse that
I thought could win the big stake and figured it was a
long way to haul to consider something less.” He admits
that it has been a life-long ambition to show a top horse
in Middle Tennessee. If he does you can bet it will be a
good one.
A highlight of Ray’s activity in the Walking Horse busi­
ness has been the production of a record entitled Walk
On.” Ray wrote the words and music in 1946 while in
JUNE, 1967
The usual excitement of the start of show season fills
the air. I believe I have seen more good horses this year
than ever before, especially young horses.
The Nichols of Vardaman, Mississippi, are always a
familiar sight around a show ring. HAPPY ANNIVERS­
ARY, a black three-year-old gelding by MIDNIGHT
CHEERLEADER, is a nice young horse who will be able
to go in any competition. Mike Nichols’ favorite is a
bay yearling stud colt by GO BOY’S FANCY PANTS.
GO BOY’S DANDY, top pleasure pony, recently won the
pleasure class at the Jackson Coliseum.
Another young juvenile rider is Randall Saxton of
Clinton. Randy will be showing his mare, PRIDE’S STAR
LADY, in juvenile classes this year. SHADOW’S HIGH
SOCIETY, Randy’s three-year-old stallion, is working like
a clock under Jack Moorman’s guidance.
Ken Daughtrey Stables of Seminary, Mississippi, has
a barn full of good horses and a well-qualified trainer,
Sonny Holt. An outstanding aged mare, REBEL’S RED
ANGEL, is working great for Mr. S. W. Grantham, owner
of the barn. Jeff Speed of Collins recently bought
TRIPLE LASSO for an amateur horse, and should be
one to keep an eye on. MACK K’S SUZETTE is a six-
year-old head-shaking mare that Sonny is training for
Cliff Lirette, Jr. of Thibodaux, Louisiana. Mr. Lirette
also has two nice two-year-olds, a stud and a filly by
SETTING SUN, with Sonny, along with SETTING
SUN’S JUBILEE, a sorrel aged stud. JUBILEE is an
“honest” Walking Horse with a big lick. Ken Daughtrey
is real proud of his two-year-old GO BOY filly who is
showing promise of becoming a real great mare. Sonny
and L. J. Cameron own a fine two-year-old GO BOY
stud together. Ray Gibbins of Buras, Louisiana, has an
outstanding three-year-old MIDNIGHT SUN bred horse
with Sonny. From the looks of things Daughtrey Stables
will be “sitting on ready” this season.
GO BOY’S STORM WARNING, my five-year-old
GO BOY marc, is nearly ready to make her debut in the
show ring. Due to lameness this young mare has never
been shown, but hopefully will make it this year.
Let’s keep the news coming. See Ya at the shows!
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