Member Spotlight . . .
A Conversation With
Linda & Larry Starnes
1. Where did each of you grow up?
Larry - I was born in downtown Brownsville, KY and
grew up in Sweeden, KY.
Linda - I wad born in the Philippine Islands’ Clark
Air Force Base then lived in Texas, Arizona and, in
1967, Kentucky. . .eventually Burkesville, KY (& other
places too).
2. When and how were each of you introduced to the
Tennessee Walking Horse?
Larry - I grew up with them. My grandfather/namesake, L.W. Starnes, raised the 1944 WGC City Girl.
Linda - Owsley Young and his son Billy Young lived
in Burkesville, KY and Owsley’s daughter, Carol, was
my age and we rode/showed ponies. Owsley/Billy let
me ride on their TWHs and took Carol and I to shows
with them in the late 60’s.
3. When did you start showing?
Larry - I started showing TWH colts when I was 11 or 12.
Linda - I showed Prince the pony in 1969 and howed
my first Tennessee Walking Horse in 1973.
4. How old were John and Dan when they started
riding?
In utero. . .pretty much. They showed Leadline when
they were about a year or so old.
5. Which of your horses, over the years, stands out in
your memories? Why?
Probably Traveling Time or Star along with her mother Travlin Victory Ann. Travlin Victory Ann or Annie was our first versatility horse and Kentucky’s first
TWHBEA Youth Superior Champion with our son
John. Annie had Star, and Star was a Youth Superior
Champion with Dan and Adult Supreme with Linda.
She earned both the Youth and Adult Register of Merit
through WHOA. She was an amazing mare that gave
winning rides to kids from California to Kentucky and
several states in between. A once in a Lifetime Horse!
Of course, we also can’t leave out Rebelation and Victory Trip. They both won their fair share of awards and
introduced a number of kids to the breed.
6. What industry awards have you received?
From TWHBEA: Linda & Larry - Pleasure Horse Ambassador, Larry - Pleasure Horse Ambassador, Member
of the Year, Linda - Youth Ambassador.
From WHOA: Versatility Horse of the Year Rebelation
& Victory Trip. Also lots of Highpoint awards with
6 • Walking On
TWHBEA & WHOA AnnualVersatility & WVS/International. Kentucky 4H: Linda & Larry State
Show Dedication Award.
7. What are some of your best memories from your
time in the breed?
VERSATILITY!!! The friends that are family because
of Versatility. Watching the kids grow up with Tennessee Walking Horses. It was pretty awesome with John
winning the Run Ride and Lead at the Celebration and
the year that Dan won Obstacle Trail at the Celebration. Guess the year that Star swept all three age divisions in Obstacle Trail at the International and World
Versatility Show & then also won at the Nationals was
pretty amazing.
We met because of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Linda’s Mom, Reggie, bought a registered TWH and
happened to put it in training at the same barn where
Larry’s parents had horses in training. So. . .we all grew
up going to Tennessee Walking Horse shows together.
Dan met his wife Catherine Simpson Starnes
through Versatility with Walking Horses.
I could probably write for hours on best memories.
The horse shows and going to eat before and after. . .