1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 January Voice RS | Page 83

^Q^iHeAAee , Pgjc & i

by William J . Webster

EDITOR ’ S NOTE - This article is reprinted from a January 1915 edition of a publication entitled " The Tennessee Walking Horse ,” founded by the late jimmy Joe Murray . It was written by the late William J . Webster , Jr . of Columbia , one of the most widely known harness horse authorities in America at that time . He carefully researched the various bloodlines for years and frequently contributed articles to various horse publications . He assembled the most valuable data available on " the Tennessee pacer ” and accurately reviewed the BROOKS . Mc- MEENS , TRAVELERS , COPPERBOTTOM and HAL blood . This article originally appeared in " The Trotter and pacer ,” the national journal of this breed activity , in August 1928 , and was written in 1927 . It was later printed in booklet form and still stands as a contribution of authority .
The Tennessee Walking Horse also received Mr . Webster ’ s careful research in proven blood for research and development and , at his death in August of 1928 , he owned a noted sire , ALLEN BROOKS by MAJOR ALLEN by MITCH , with the first dam by
JOE BOWERS by PAT MALONE F-27 . In addition
ChHESTNUT allen by hunt .
., LEN F ' 10 ’ and two of Ws mares . Daughters
posed his WalkP 5 * and MAJ0R ALLEN como ? qMiT « -JVt ? ing H ° rSe founda “ on with the blood
SMITH S STONEWALL F-30 , HAL SUMNER F-7
F ‘ 25 ’ BROOKSMFN2E4RaFn7d
TOM HAL F-20 . The stallion ALIEN RRDfiffC blended the blood of ALLAN F-l , STONEWALL
AnSJi53 ’ EARNHEART BROOKS F-25 . ROAN
NFtf ^F ‘ 24 ' MERRV LEGS F-J and NELL DEMENT F-3 . These popular foundation sires ?, nd dams were fortified also with the blood of Mc-
MEENS TRAVELER ( referred to as probably the breeds most potent sire at that day ). COPPER-
SN0W BEELS , BROOKS and HALS . ( This information is taken from the catalogue of an Administrator ’ s Sale of the stock owned by the estate of William J . Webster . There were twentysix horses sold at auction on December 29 , 1928 . The foundation names and numbers have been added for clarification of present-day reference .)
It was very evident that Mr . Webster knew a breeding program and , for that time or now . no better Tennessee Walking Horse nursery could be selected carrying more potent blood . He built on foundations that are now well known and proven . Many orders for Tennessee Walking Horses rewarded Mr . Webster for his good judgement and blood information of the breed , and he sold fine Walking Horses in many states and in Cuba . He was a breeder , showman and judge . Many tributes were paid to him in equine publications , expressing appreciation for his data and research which gave a glorious background to the Pacer and the Tennessee Walking Horse in the bluegrass basin of Middle Tennessee .
Unquestionably , William J . Webster , Jr . bequeathed much information that has left the Tennessee Walking Horse the great Inheritance that it so richly deserves in the ranks of the equine today , it is with great pride that we present this article by a man highly respected and knowledgeable in the Walking Horse business almost a half-century ago . We hope it lends credence to the background of this breed , and that you can apply some of this information to your own breeding program .
Campbell , who beyond a doubt has had more experience with more prominent individuals of the Hal tribe than any man living . Added to this he has a most acute memory for pedigree , as well as an indelible recollection for the characteristics of individuals with which he has come in contact .
Sincere and earnest efforts were made some years ago by Parsons and Babcock to establish a pacing register and guide . One volume was published which contained much valuable and interesting data , most of which was obtained through Maj . Campbell Brown . But some of it was not .
We are all everlastingly indebted to John H . Wallace . But we must admit that he was at times coldly selfopinionated , often barricading his chosen convictions .
The mistakes of Parsons and Babcock were in a great measure excusable , and to a greater extent natural . No foreigner can visit ever so often and successfully dissect local information . They must imbibe the atmosphere as well as walk into it with a most acute eye for human nature . They listened too much and too often ; should have accepted what was genuine , though not complete , and let the other go .
John H . Wallace ’ s correspondence with Maj . Campbell Brown covered the cumulative period of the latter ’ s research . Mr . Wallace was absolutely dependent on Major Brown for such information as could be gotten down here . And although corrected data was sent him long previous to any authentic publication , we find Mr . Wallace calmly sitting down with some former speculation , and later giving it to the world as final and genuine . We
find him most pleasant in his correspondence , at the same time ignoring any reference to a correction of what had
aPPealed to his far-away digestion . Such was the man . It shall not be my purpose here to attempt a sketch of the Hals extending down to recent time , but rather to furnish such data and evidence as I have been able to collect pertaining to the blood that was proffered up to his advent and recognition as a harness horse and pacer , which brings us down to the old age of Gibson ’ s Tom Hal , sire of Hal Pointer 2:04 3 / 4 , Little Brown Jug 2:11 1 / 4 , and Brown Hal 2:12 * 4-
History indicates that racing of note was confined principally to the South in its infancy . Virginia , the Carolinas , then Kentucky and Tennessee , seem to have occupied foremost ranks in the breeding and racing of thoroughbreds . And at one important period there is no doubt that the Carolinas were far in the ascendacy . This particular section of Tennessee was made up , settled , or populated almost entirely by emigrants from one or the other of the Carolinas . And this fact is followed by correspondence and transfers which tend to show a continual traffic in horses , particularly from the old home to the new .
Maury County was not in existence until 1807 , when it was formed out of Williamson County . But as the names associated with horse-breeding in Williamson County were later identified as the same that carried on in Maury County with distinction it is fairly reasonable to adduce that Maury County was that part of Williamson harboring the horselovers . At this late period we find existing a like condition as applied to the two counties .
It might also be mentioned , that to grant geographical Maury County the entire pursuit would work an injustice to still other neighboring counties . Although horse enthusiasm later centered on the Hals in a territory about the size of Maury County , a portion of this county was eliminated in favor of nearby portions of Marshall , Giles , and Bedford . And at one period the quaint and appropriately named little settlement of Cornersville , occupying as it does the corners of Maury , Marshall , and Giles ,