Dear Sir :
LETTERS
We recently had a fine three-yearold MIDNIGHT DUKE stud out of a MERRY BOY mare and also a sixyear-old stud by a son of MERRY GO BOY in training with a " socalled ” professional trainer at Lewisburg , Tennessee . These horses were sound as a " gold brick ", not a hair off their ankles or legs when we sent them to this so-called trainer . He was to finish breaking and professionally train the three-year-old and put some speed on the six-year-old . After ten ( 10 ) months and approximately twelve hundred dollars ( S1 , - 200 ) later paid for trainingand such , we were compelled to bring them home . They were so scarred around their pastern area that very little hair was left on their feet . We had to treat these horses for damaged legs , scars , callouses , chain bruises , etc ., and we are still at it .
A lot of talk has been going on as to what to do about such abuse , but nothing constructive has been accomplished so far and probably will not be until the lawmakers outlawsuch tactics and put some " teeth ” into such laws . If the Association ( TWHBA ) and Trainer ’ s Association want to do something about these abuses , why not outlaw boots , chains or any other loose objects around or on the horse ’ s ankles or legs . By doing this the so-called " nickel ” horse will be eliminated and the natural Walking Horse will be recognized as it should be .
We have raised , bred , and shown the Walking Horse for thirty ( 30 ) years and have never shown what people would call a sore horse . When we tell the ringmaster and / or judge at show ' s that our horses are clean , they just look at us and say , " Well , they sure are clean ,” but when the ties come up , we usually get the gate , and the sore horses get the winnings .
We contend that this is rottenjudging and it seems that the following are the only alternatives to try and clean up this situation : namely ( 1 ) the judges guilty of such tactics in tieing sore horses should be barred from ever judging another horse show or being licensed to judge any show where the Tennessee Walking Horse is to be shown ; and ( 2 ) bar every showman or exhibitor from allowing their horse to be shown before any such judge under penalty of S500.00 fine to anyone violating such rules — including the judge and / or exhibitor .
If the powers that be want to stop all this criticism and bad publicity , and really clean up our breed , we dare them to try these recommendations for at least five ( 5 ) years . It will take that long to get back our reputation as true Walking Horse showmen .
We are not members of the Walking Horse Trainers Association , but are members of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders ' Association ( TWHBA ) and have been for years .
Clips Horses
Clips Dairy Cattle
With the Model 510A head , the Clipmaster Animal Clipper clips horses ( for a “ show horse trim ”), ponies , dairy cattle , beef cattle , and large or medium-sized dogs .
But unscrew the 510A head , attach the EW310A head , and the Clipmaster Animal Clipper becomes a Shearmaster Sheep Shearing Machine !
Either way , it ’ s the fastest , most powerful tool of its kind .
Lightweight and w-ell-balanced , but rugged , it has a built-in fan to keep the motor cool and the handle comfortable — even with all-day use .
DOUGLAS F . WEBB Goodlettsville , Tennessee
Dear Mr . Webb :
Thank you for the copy of the letter you wrote recently regarding the " sore horse ” issue . Your recommendations for correcting this situation are well founded .
We can have the " big lick ” and still have a clean horse , but before we can initiate any action in this direction we will have to get some authority in our horse show business and establish a " league " in which we can participate . At the present there is no authority that can enforce the penalties you recommend for either judges or exhibitors .
We appreciate your interest and hope we can count on your support for continued improvement .
C . BRUCE SPENCER
Clips Beef Cattle
Clips Dogs
The Versatile One
Sunbeam jA
STEWART jgjssir
Clipmaster Jp *,
ANIMAL CLIPPER
<£) SUNBEAM , STEWART , CLIPMASTER . SHEARMASTER
( Continued on page
Shears Sheep
EW310A HEAD
EW310A HEAD
You can buy a Clipmaster Animal Clipper ( the one with the 510A head ), and add the EW310A head later on . Or get the Shearmaster Sheep Shearing Machine and purchase the 510A head at any time . Your dealer has both machines and extra heads in stock .
For a free catalog of clipping and shearing equipment , write : Sunbeam Corp ., Dept . TW-u , 5400 W . Roosevelt Road , Chicago , 111 . 60650
November , 1969 11