1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 April Voice RS | Page 49

R. B. WOMBLE ESTABLISHES MAJOR BREEDING
OPERATION IN CHATTANOOGA
QUITE A TEAM - Above, left to right: KEENE'S CO BOV. Jim Babb. Bob
U omble and SUN'S BIC SHOT "staff" the new breeding operation in the
Chattanooga tri-state area.
Keene’s Go Boy and Sun’s Big Shot Feature Stallions
Walking Horse enthusiasts in the area of Alabama,
Georgia and Tennessee were pleased to hear that a
major breeding farm had been established to serve
this part of the country. In Chattanooga, which is a
hub for Walking Horse activity in this tri-state area,
Mr. R. B. "Bob” Womble has leased a 75-acre spread
previously used for Thoroughbreds and is offering two
top stallions at service. In January he purchased
SUN’S BIG SHOT, the 1953 World Champion Junior
Walking Horse and Reserve Grand Champion in 1954.
BIG SHOT is a beautiful mahogany bay stallion that
stood for over ten years at Harlinsdale Farms. He has
also leased KEENE’S GO BOY, himself an outstand­
ing show horse and proven producer, to stand with
BIG SHOT. KEENE’S GO BOY is a big black stallion
with a perfect cross of MERRY BOY and MIDNIGHT
SUN blood.
The decision for Mr. Womble to get into the Walking
Horse business was not taken lightly. He has been
active in various areas of training and breeding for
over twelve years but it was not until last year that
he considered getting into the business full-time. Bob
is a graduate of Omaha University and was a sales
representative for the Mellen Laboratory Furnishings
Company of New Concord, Mass, for two years. A
pilot as well as a horseman, Bob and his lovely wife
Diane love to travel. They have recently found out,
however, that a breeding operation such as this re­
quires their attention around the clock and leaves
little time to travel.
Working with the Wombles are Diana and Jim Babb
of nearby Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Bob and Jim
have been friends for many years and Bob relies
heavily on Jim’s background and experience in the
breeding business. In 1963 Jim became manager and
trainer for the H. C. Bailey Stables in Jackson, Mis­
April, 1968
sissippi, and handled the breeding of GO BOY’S SHA­
DOW for two seasons while there. Since that time Jim
has been actively engaged in training and breeding
but expresses a real interest in a program built
around stallions such as SUN’S BIG SHOT and
KEENE’S GO BOY. He states, "With these two stal­
lions we can offer a breeder bloodlines and individual
excellence that will blend with any mare. We have ex­
cellent facilities and qualified personnel as well as
two top stallions.”
Thus far the availability of BIG SHOT and KEENE
has been well received. They now have over thirty
mares on the property and bookings on over a hund­
red for the two horses. Bob Womble is pleased to
point out that "the season is just getting started and
we now feel that this will be a good year both for us
and for the breeders in this area.”
The R. B. Womble Stable is located at the Joe En­
gel Farm just east of Chattanooga in East Brainerd.
This is the old home place of one of the most color­
ful figures in Chattanooga history. Mr. Joe Engel,
who recently celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday, is
well-known in major league baseball circles and was
owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts for many years.
He has now retired but thoroughly enjoys the renew­
ed acticity in the horse business since Bob leased his
farm. At one time Mr. Engel had some fine Thorough­
bred and Standardbred horses on this beautiful spread.
Bob Womble and Jim Babb extend an invitation to
Walking Horse lovers everywhere to visit this fine
breeding operation and see their stallions. Jim also
extends an invitation to visit with him and Diana at
Battleground Stables. For information on booking to
SUN’S BIG SHOT or KEENE’S GO BOY, contact
either party.