1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 July Voice RS | Page 29

has trained such animals as MR. ED and FRANCIS THE TALKING MULE. After working for him, he then went to work for Mr. Glenn Randall, the man who trained for America’s showman, Roy Rogers. While working with Mr. Randall Gibb performed in several acts out of this training stable, including a Ben Hur act and a Black and White act. Due to family ties, Gibb decided to move to Florida where he became associated with Billy Houghton, a harness-horse trainer. While here he began to renew his interest in Tennessee Walking Horses and, when Mr. Houghton moved his stable operation to Pom­ pano, Gibb decided to remain in Orlando and went to work for Billy Davis, a Walking Horse enthusiast. It was here that he really got back into the Walking Horse business and had the well-known GO BOY’S FLYING CLOUD in training. He carried this horse and others to Tennessee and showed for one season out of the Haynes Haven Stock Farm in Spring Hill, Tennessee. His background with specialty horses was well- known throughout the southeast, and Mr. J. D. Nagle of Winter Haven requested that he return to Florida and go to work on some horses with this in mind. Now on his own, Mr. Stepp decided to put some of the training techniques he had learned over the years to work on some of his own horses, and his efforts have been most rewarding. Training of this nature requires a maximum of patience as well as a smart horse. We have all heard that the horse is one of the least intelligent domesticated animals, but to see the Gibb Stepp horses perform would not indicate this Gibb has a string of horses that perform in various acts, including a registered Tennessee Walking Horse of which he is particularly proud. This horse, named KNIGHT, is a double grandson of MIDNIGHT SUN on the sire side and is out of MIDNIGHT AUDREY. He is a four-year-old and has been in training with Gibb for less than one year. In describing his routine, Gibb points out that he has trained this horse to work at liberty with no halter, bridle or shoes. KNIGHT is, as he puts it, "born free," and he intends for him to work that way. KNIGHT is most cooperative and can untie knots in ropes and pick out different-colored (Continued on page 53) .'mm®® Sis '' ;