generally go down . Still . . . they bring about what they are worth .
Our problem is that too many people are traveling on HOPE in their horse activity . They HOPE that t top stud ( with a fee of $ 250- $ 400 ) will have enough potency and reputation to overcome the deficiencies of a second-rate brood mare . When the colt comes and he is just one notch above a pleasure horse they HOPE he will grow out of it . They keep him for two years and HOPE to get top dollar for him at an auction sale . And they also HOPE no one will notice that he has a gap at the withers , his hind legs are too straight , his head and ears are a bit large and he is a little off color . They also HOPE no one will check the papers too closely on the bottom side . The days are over when a colt would bring top dollar just because he had some brand names on his pedigree . People are looking at the individual and , if
he has the looks of a show horse and the natural ability to do the required gaits , they will pay the price for him . In fact , if you have the horse , you won ’ t
have to SELL him . . . someone will BUY him . Don ’ t get the wrong idea ! Breeding does make a difference . As we said in the January Stallion Directory , " Breed the best you ’ ve got to the best you can find .” It is important but it must be done wisely if you are to receive the compensation you want for your horses . From coast to coast we hear about top colts that are " not for sale ” at any price . These are horses that are the result of wise breeding and they are the future of our breed . The next time you are selling a horse , at auction or
otherwise , ask yourself the following question : " If I were buying him ( or her ), what would I be willing to pay ?” You ’ ll be surprised at your own answer ! Don ’ t be too discouraged , however : there is still a great market for the lesser horse ( see story , page 28 , this issue ) and the Tennessee Walking Horse is famous as " the world ’ s best pleasure horse .”
THE STOCK MARKET The 1968 edition of the spring Murray Farm Sale indicated that the " stock market ,” as we know it , is stable and secure . There was no ticket-tape reeling off the Dow-Jones Industrial Averages for the day , but there was a clear indication that the " ask and bid ” prices of stock at auction was variable . In many cases the " asking ” price was so far out of line with the " bid ” price that it caused us to ponder the condition of the market . In the words of one wise observer , " They were bringing about what they were worth .”
It was interesting to listen to the comments of some horse owners as they dejectedly led their horses back to the barn area , stating , " I just can ’ t sell this horse for $ 450.00 . I paid almost that much stud fee on him and have fed him for almost two years . I ’ ve got to have at least $ 1,200.00 for him in order to break even .” His next comment was , " This Walking Horse business has gone to the devil .” Not true ! The facts are that the Tennessee Walking Horse business is in better shape than it has ever been , but it is like the " used car business .” When the market gets overloaded with second- and third-hand cars the prices
FOLLOWING THE RULES
This issue of the VOICE contains an article with the generally-agreed-upon rules and regulations for judging the Tennessee Walking Horse in the showring . As most of you realize , there is no specific authority with regard to the Walking Horse in the showring and with the exception of the American Horse Shows Association and several other state and regional organizations there is little control over management , exhibitors and judges . You can lodge a protest at a given show and have no assurance that the same infraction
will not be committed next week by the same person . Generally speaking we must rely on the integrity of
the individual with regard to showing , judging and managing . As we have said before , " We cannot legislate morals .” If a person is inclined to show a threeyear-old in a two-year-old class , what can we do about it ? We can protest to the management of the show after it is over but can we take his ribbon and prize money away or prevent his showing the same horse in another show next week ? If a judge works horses only one way in a workout in order to beat a specific horse , can we prevent his judging another show next week ? Not really - especially if he has no judge ’ s card from any recognized association ( and there are a lot of judges these days who carry no card at all ). Rules are of no value if they cannot be enforced and if everyone involved will not follow them . As stated before ,
( Continued on page 46 )
44 Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse