Perhaps the single most writtcn-about , talked-about , and discussed stallion in the Walking Horse business in the past five years has been TRIPLE THREAT , the 1965 World Grand Champion . He has , more than any other horse except MIDNIGHT SUN , '' become a Legend in his own time .” His ability as a show horse ' is now history as he was officially retired at the 1966 Celebration .
TRIPLE THREAT was the greatest ambassador the Walking Horse breed had ever had during the three years that he was campaigning for the big stake at the Celebration . More than any other horse ever shown in Walking Horse classes , TRIPLE THREAT won the admiration and praise of horse lovers in general . He made “ believers ” out of a lot of skeptics who had always thought the “ big time ” Walking Horse had to be “ hand made .” His big lick , deep motion , extreme stamina , and natural beauty drew the admiration and ovation of horse enthusiasts from coast to coast .
As can easily be seen from the accompanying picture of promotional pages , news items and other material , TRIPLE THREAT was the most lauded and promoted horse ever to win the roses at the Celebration . His story is one . of extreme ups and downs , but despite numerous setbacks and handicaps , the big horse made it and it is a good thing for our breed that he did . Many people were involved in the long trip that this horse made from Amity , Mississippi , where he was foaled on May 1 , 1956 , to his present status in the Walking Horse world .
To our knowledge , more people have been involved in the ownership of TRIPLE THREAT than any other I ' ennesseo . Walking Horse . He was owned either wholly or in part , by thirteen different people during the first ten years of his life and ten of these people owned him during the years of 1.963 through 1966 . TRIPLE THREAT was bred by Robert S . Ellis who sold him as a yearling to Digby Palmer . Mr . Palmer started him as a two year old and the horse reportedly sustained an injury that forced Mr . Palmer to turn him out to pasture . In 1961 . when he was a five year old , TRIPLE THREAT
RETIREMENT CEREMONY — The big bay appears to be unconcerned as Myron Wolaver , Doug Wolaver , Ellen Metzger , Gottlob Koenig , Mrs . Doug “ Sis ” Wolaver , Harold Wise and Digby Palmer , look on as he is officially retired at the Celebration 1966 . was purchased by “ Gus ” Tinsley of Baton Rouge , Louisiana , and in May of 1962 he was purchased by Mr . J . Glen Turner of Dallas , Texas who started his trip to stardom . In 1963 , after TRIPLE THREAT , with Harold Kennedy in the saddle had been tied Reserve at the Celebration , Mr . Turner sold TRIPLE THREAT along with many of his other Walking Horses , to Mr . Pat Kimbrough of Murfreesboro , Tennessee . He was purchased by Abernathy , Clement and Shcrill of North Carolina early in 1964 and was turned over to Sam Cecil , trainer for Mr . C . E . Clement in Hickory , N . C . After much deliberation again in 1964 . The big bay was again tied Reserve and was sold at auction at the Murray Farm Sale in the Spring of 1965 . He brought a record high price for a light horse at auction and his new owner Mr . Hank Sheely soon sold part ownership to Mr . Joe Wright of Nacogodoches , Texas . Mr . Wright eventually purchased all of him and in turn sold two third of him to Mr . Al Krosche and Mr . Bob Guinn . These three men were the owners of TRIPLE THREAT when Mr . Gottlob Koenig of Daytona Beach , Florida , his present owner , purchased him for another record high price ... a staggering $ 130,000 .
There were actually two highlights in TRIPLE THREAT ’ S career at a showhorsc . The first came when he won the crown of roses at the 1965 Celebration with Douglas Wolaver in the saddle . This was a most gratifying victory for the big bay stallion . The other , now well remembered as one of the most outstanding performance ever made in the “ big ring ”, was the occasion of his official retirement last year at the Celebration . When the ring was cleared and the announcer began the impressive retirement ceremony , TRIPLE THREAT came into the ring in the running walk . Most of the crowd came to it ’ s feet and applauded him as he passed . As he made the regular tour of the ring in the flat foot walk , the running walk and the canter , one could sense the chill of excitement that graced the crowd . At the insistence of
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4 VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse