Heritage Highlights - TWH Heritage Society
Transcription
Heritage Highlights - TWH Heritage Society
Heritage Highlights Published By: TWH Heritage Society Volume VI Number 7, July 2012 Thanks to Bob Long, Fayetteville, Tennessee for the photo of his Indian Chief Iris. Shocker of a Lifetime by Franne Brandon, Petersburg, Tennessee Well now! We’re coming up on half of 2012 behind us. . We hope you all are keeping records of the things you have done with your horses this year, the places you’ve gone with then, etc. We would love to see some entries in our Performance Horse Contest this year. This story was first printed in the April 2012 Canadian Walking Horse News The Heritage Society firmly believes that the term “Performance Horse” should be reserved for animals that typify the original purpose of the breed, as using horses that can cover ground smoothly, work cattle, climb hills and mountains safely, and be enjoyable mounts. The Heritage Society is once again offering our Performance Achievement Award in two divisions, to the Heritage Horse and HeritageSired Horse that best exemplify these talents for which the breed was developed. If your horse is enrolled in any distance riding programs, versatility programs, Canada’s Ride Your Walker program, field trials, competitive trail rides, endurance, or other activities, we would encourage you to enter your horse in our contest. Even if you’re not enrolled, enter the contest – You might be a winner! Participants will write a narrative as to why they feel their horse deserves this award. The winner will receive a cash award and a story in Highlights. Winners in the Heritage and Outcross categories will be chose and announced in the February 2013 Highlights. Contestants should email their materials to [email protected] or [email protected] by January 1, 2013. Good luck and we look forward to your entries!! It was September 3, 1966, and the darkened arena at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration grounds in Shelbyville, Tennessee, heralded the moment when the judges’ cards would reveal the new World Grand Champion. As the spotlights flashed on, announcer Emmett Guy’s voice reverberated with the traditional monologue “And the 1966 Grand Champion of the World is number 35…..” The roar that went up from the crowd drowned out the rest of the announcement, words that marked the culmination of a feat not duplicated within competition in the Tennessee Walking Horse breed from the 1939 blue ribbon win by Strolling Jim to 2011. The story began almost twenty-three years before the championship competition. On November 20, 1942, in Manchester, Tennessee, a baby girl was born to Henry Pearl and Virginia Wright Sain. The Sains named their new daughter Elizabeth Faye. Three years later, the family moved from Manchester to Bell Buckle, a small town in a rural area of Bedford County, Tennessee. Having grown up in a small town in the forties, Elizabeth Faye, now known as Betty, recorded her memories in a hand-written, as yet unpublished, journal. She writes “Growing up in the 1940’s was a lot different than the life of today. Radio was your source of news, and word of mouth, and newspapers. We had an eight party telephone line, and each had their own number of rings. It was before TV.” She also writes “The big Saturday night treat was to go to Manchester, to see Gene Autry and Roy Rogers movies, while the parents visited with Grandmother Sain. My brother and I would fuss and fight over who was King of the Cowboys. I was Gene Autry and Champion, Gal – even named my special filly of Polly, a black and white pony, Champion. However, Brother insisted that Roy and Dale and Trigger were the best – so many debates which did not ever get a compromise from either of us. Riding all over the farm, and creeks, and hills were the greatest way to grow and dream. Riding on the backs of my steeds gave great learning and confidence. Each and every animal taught you some things to remember. You could ride the roads to neighbors, or town, or kinfolks, and the people in the vehicles respected animals on the road.” (Journal,”Forward”) Betty with Mary Elizabeth Brady on board Polly 1947 In that much simpler time, she recalls that “Fairs and horse shows were real social events all over our areas”, and that “People would go on a Ridea-Thon and prided their horse, and dress, and picnicked.” The times changed, however, and by the late fifties, the main avenue for use of the Tennessee Walker was the show ring. The Sain family had a select group of walking horses at this time. In the spring of1962, Pearl Sain and Betty learned that Tom Barham of Lewisburg, Tennessee, had bred his Hunter’s Allen linebred mare named My Darling to Mack K’s Handshaker. Very young Betty on one of the Sain family horses Mack K’s Handshaker Betty & Polly 1946 They greatly admired Handshaker as an individual, and so My Darling’s foal was “spoken for well in advance to his foaling.” Breeder Barham registered as Handshaker’s Nodder, and the youngster went to his new home in Bell Buckle in October of 1962. Betty, however, did not particularly like the colt’s name. She states emphatically that “Handshaker’s Nodder did not suit him. He was too regal. And he did it.” – that exemplary loose and flashy movement that people looked for in that era in a show prospect. Betty changed the colt’s official name in the TWHBEA records from Handshaker’s Nodder 621314 to Shaker’s Shocker. Many fine youngsters by Mack’s K’s Handshaker, the 1960 World Grand Champion, were successful in the show ring in the sixties. What set Shaker’s Shocker in a class by himself was his lifestyle. When Shocker was coming two, he was not sent to any of the trainers in the area in preparation for two year old competition. Betty Sain herself started Shocker under saddle, and trained the colt for two year old classes. He had a successful show season as a two year old. On June 6, 1964, he placed third at the Baxter Show in Cookeville, Tennessee. Although he failed to earn a ribbon at the Goodletsville show on June 19th, he took first at the prestigious Wartrace show on August 1, and a week later, earned another blue in Geraldine, Alabama. In 1965, when Shocker was three, all three year old horses were still considered Junior Horses in the show ring. They were required to canter, but not compete with the Aged Horses that were four and over. Shocker also had a very bright junior season in 1965. Starting on May 21st, he received first place at Lewisburg,. On June 29, at Lafayette, he got fifth. On August 6, at the highly regarded Belfast show, he earned another blue ribbon. After placing fifth in the junior stallion preliminary, his Celebration competition culminated in winning the Reserve World Championship at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, with owner-trainer Betty in the irons for this significant victory. In the past, holding the title of Junior World Champion or Reserve Junior World Champion walking horse marked these youngsters as major figures to be watched in competition the following spring when the first gates opened for Aged Walking Horse competition. The rules changed before the first shows of 1966, however. For the first time, in 1966, all four year old horses were considered “Junior Horses”. Shocker and his foal crop would compete yet another year as junior horses, and not be required to compete with the older, more experienced animals. The former junior horses would now be exhibited in classes for three year olds, and not required to canter. Instead of being an important contender for World Grand Championship honors, Shocker became a leader in the race to be crowned the first Four Year Old Junior World Champion. Whatever the goal, however, Betty Sain approached his training in the same way. She explains that to train a champion, one must “start with a good horse. Then it is patience and common sense. He was a big, powerful horse.” Even as a four year old, Shocker had height, size, and bone. Betty took advantage of his strength and determination to fully condition the big stallion with workouts six days a week. She recalls “our workouts were an hour and a half, at least, ...in a great, big, open field.” Since the show shoeing for the sixties was much smaller and tidier than the stacks wore by show walkers in the 21st century, Shaker’s Shocker could readily travel through weeds and over small rocks while maintaining balance and that wonderful four beat rhythm. Sain emphasizes “He was never in a ring except at a horse show.” Over time, the black stallion developed a powerful way of going and the stamina to produce this show gait far longer than other contenders whose shorter workout times generally involved circles of a practice ring or trips up and down a barn aisle. As the Celebration competition began in on Friday, August 26, 1966, the shock of the show proved to be not only the horse’s name but his management as well. Betty Sain had elected not to exhibit Shaker’s Shocker at any of the one night shows that served as precursors to the Celebration. She realized as others also did that one judge’s opinion at a show in May or June could adversely affect the big horse’s status when he was entering the ring in August. When the class for Junior Stallions was announced on Wednesday night, August 31st, an untested Shaker’s Shocker entered the ring with the other four year old stallions, and emerged with the blue (1st place) ribbon and the silver. He became the favorite horse to win the Junior World Championship, to be held two nights later, on Friday, September 2nd. That was when owner/trainer Sain made a second “shocking” decision, to withhold her big black from the junior championship and to pay the larger entry fee for the World Grand Championship on Saturday night, for which they had qualified, according to Celebration rules, by winning the Junior Stallion blue ribbon. It was standing room only, all boxes, reserved seats and general admission seats filled, when the contenders for the 1966 World Grand Championship entered the Celebration arena on the night of September 3rd. Sain was competing against other well-known black stallions, winner of the Aged Stallion class Johnny Midnight and that class’s reserve champion Go Boy’s Royal Heir. Also in contention were Duke’s Handyman, trained by Hershell Talley, and Go Boy’s Sundust, shown by Bud Dunn. The bright bay Go Boy’s Chatterbox was also among the horses that made the final cut to the workout. When the dust settled after three grueling workouts and the roars of the crowd settled to the expectant silence preceding the announcer’s change from conversation to class results, the lights darkened, the spotlights swept the ring, and it was Betty Sain and Shaker’s Shocker, only a four year old but obviously in charge in terms of strength, stamina, and ability, who were announced as the winners. At the time, Betty was twenty three years old, the second youngest rider to win the World Grand Championship, and the first woman to ride for the roses. Only two other women, Judy Martin Wiser and Vicky Self, both professional trainers, have ever duplicated her success in the ensuing years. Betty & Shocker riding for the roses Betty & Shocker waiting for the judges decision Betty Sain chose to not retire Shaker’s Shocker the year following his historic victory. She continued to campaign him throughout the Southeast until his formal retirement ceremony in Montgomery, Alabama, at the Southern Championships, in 1970. While his first foal crop had arrived in 1969, in 1971, Shocker was no longer in show training, but focused on a new career in the stud. The times in the seventies were changing, though, and unlike many of her contemporaries, Betty Sain, ever a woman of vision, recognized the importance of these changes and adapted her mission to embrace them and a new outlook for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed she loved so well. To be continued….. Sources – interview with Betty Sain on February 29, 2012 Sain, Betty. Journal. The Nashville Banner, Celebration coverage, 1966 (author’s scrapbook) GALLOPING TO ETNA By Nancy Bergman, Whitehall, Wisconsin Chapter 2 Palermo , Cefalu and Bambi May 5. It was Saturday night in Cefalu , Sicily. I was in the city square in front of a cathedral built in 1134. standing in a sea of people. Everyone was either outside on the narrow little streets, in the cafes or shops or hanging over their balconies conversing with the neighbors. They were conversing in loud, voluptuous Sicilian-Italian, and using hand gestures that I had never seen before. Toto, I don’t think we’re in Wisconsin anymore. The day had started with Yolanda and I being ferried by her husband Eelco to Heathrow Airport. The weather was cold and damp and the air had a real bite to it. Once in the busy airport we had coffee and breakfast. Yolanda is Dutch and likes her coffee so we get along real well. Going through British security was much more pleasant than in the US—we did not need to take off our shoes, coats or belts and all the inspectors were very polite. Our first flight was on Air Italia to Milan. Upon reaching Milan, we found the procedure was to climb down the stairs off the plane and walk across the tarmac to a bus. Unfortunately, it was raining so we were damp but at least it wasn’t cold. The terminal in Milan was filled with stores selling perfumes and high end jewelry. The fashion stores featured manikins wearing the new ‘in’ color for men’s trousers—bright coral! (somehow I can’t see that color becoming trendy in Whitehall WI but I could be wrong) The last leg of our journey started when we took a bus out to the plane for Palermo. Again the passengers had to cross the tarmac and then climb up into the plane. It reminded me of loading cattle into a chute. Again, it was raining and blowing. It made me a bit anxious wondering about the weather in Sicily. Riding in the rain is not one of my ‘faves’. However, as the plane came out of the clouds an island ringed by a bright turquoise sea appeared. Rocky, treeless mountains rose up from the coast and marched away inland. The sky was clear and bright blue. The trip had not started out in an auspicious manner but maybe the planets were starting to line up and my luck was kicking in. Yolanda and I emerged from the plane into Palermo’s bright, Mediterranean sunlight and retrieved our baggage ( it was extremely comforting to see my bag appear). Pigeons were hanging out inside the terminal. As we walked into the arrival area the ride’s organizer, Guiseppe, came forward and asked if we were Yolanda and Nancy. I guess we weren’t hard to spot in a Sicilian crowd. Yolanda is tall and blonde and I am short and faded. A pretty blonde girl stepped up and introduced herself as Miriam from Munich—a member of our riding group. Amiable Guiseppe loaded our bags into his very small car (all the Sicilians drove very diminutive cars) and off we sped to our destination-- Cefalu. Nancy in Cefalu on Saturday night Sicily, being an island, has been invaded and occupied many, many times over the centuries. Those enterprising seamen, the Phoenicians, settled the island but in 743BC were replaced by the Greeks who were part of the long parade of invading groups that were to rule Sicily. After the Greeks, it was the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Spanish, Garibaldi’s Italians and then in WW II, the Allied Forces. Consequently, Sicily is a culture with many roots and Sicilians will let you know that they are not Italians but Sicilians. Cefalu is a very old city on the northern coast and Guiseppe drove right into the heart of it. All the buildings were made from stone or stucco and the streets were medievaly narrow. Photo showing how narrow the streets are We sat in the town square in front of the big cathedral and met our guide for the trip, Alex, and a young couple from Virginia, Lynn and Bryan. Over dishes of hazelnut gelato we got to know each other a bit. Lynn had a Walking Horse back in Virginia and she liked to trail ride. She and her husband had been touring around northern Italy before coming to Sicily. Miriam didn’t own a horse but took lessons and had a photo on her phone of her mounted on a drop dead gorgeous black Friesian. We loaded back into tiny cars and headed off to our hotel for the night. We drove out of Cefalu without crushing any pedestrians ( a miracle) and into the twilight. As Guiseppe zoomed along the curvy road I started to feel uneasy. I come from western Wisconsin where large animals like to cross the road and often do not make it. I asked Guiseppe if Sicily had any deer. “Deer? I do not understand” I considered for a bit and then ventured “Bambi?” “Oh si, si’ Bambi—no , no Bambi here” and on we flew. The bright Sicilian moon came up over the mountain as we climbed past vineyards and groves of olive trees to our accommodation— Casa Anastasia-a stone hotel on the top of a hill. In the morning we would meet our mounts for the next five days. To be continued…… Also from Nancy Bergman: Graham Goodwin from Troy, Alabama visited Northern Foundations Farm, Whitehall, WI in May. Although Graham greatly admired all of the horses, Cecil the donkey managed to get attention and scratches. Graham showed the photo of Cecil to his brother and told him he was taking a donkey back to Alabama. Our group before the ride From left to right: Lynne, Bryan, Yolanda, Miriam, Nancy Graham, Cecil & King (Sorry Graham, Cecil stays in Wisconsin!) The Adventures of Mr. Amazing by Rachel Hill, Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada I was going to wait until the end of the season with a story that would provide the highlights of all of my endurance rides. But I can't wait that long. So I will share some updates of what we have done so far. The last newsletter showed a picture of Beamer and me crossing a creek on a 50 mile ride in Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin. That was our third ride of the year and our first 50 for the year. It was very hot for May, reaching into the 90's that day. Beamer still had some winter coat in places, so I was careful and determined to finish with a healthy horse. That meant pacing out the ride and taking it easy which we did. The next ride was a 50 at Birdshill Park, just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is a flat course, but again, it was hotter than normal for early June (seems to be the story every where this year). I finished the first 30 miles at pretty good speed and came into camp strong. The third loop we completed not quite as quickly, but still pretty good time. In the open field, where the water jumps are still set up from the old Pam Am games that were held there, was a small hill going down to one of the jumps. When Beamer went to slow down for team in front of us, he caught his right hind toe and wretched his hind leg. He never missed a beat and shook it off as he always does, and after a while I gave it no more thought. When we came into camp, I was feeling the heat. At the vetting, Beamer trotted out fine and had all A's for his criteria. When the vet commented "that's the best jugular refill I have seen all day" I responded with "how is my jugular refill? I started to get light headed and had to get to the ground fast. A very kind lady took Beamer and looked after him, a few others helped me get in the shade and to my trailer. Although I had taken good care of my horse with feed and electrolytes, I had failed to do the same for myself. And it caught up to me. I took a very long break (1.5 hrs) and still did not feel well, but I was determined to get back in the saddle and finish the last 13 miles.. When I came into camp for the last time, that little strain Beamer had done on the third loop had also caught up to him, and he got a cramp in his large hind muscle. The two of us limped into camp as we finished that 50 miles. But what a trooper, he never hesitated once on the trail and gave me everything every time. The cramp was gone by the morning and he was totally fine. When I started getting outfitted for endurance riding, I purchased a saddle pack that came with water bottles. I never knew the true meaning of the message on them, until that ride. Now I totally know what it means to "ride till you puke". The last ride was the Souris River ride at the southwest corner of Manitoba. The trail was challenging and again, it was stinking hot. After my last 50 mile ride, I thought it best to stick to the 25 mile distances. July 1st was Canada Day, so I had a long weekend, and there was not a rush to get home. So I decided to do two 25 mile rides in two days rather than one 50 mile ride in one day. The trail was tough but the scenery was lovely, well worth the drive there. The valley where we camped next to the river You can see the valley where we camped off in the distance to the left The view from Beamer’s back Hills drop straight off into the river The hills go on forever The River We took 2nd place the first day and 1st place the second day, but the highlight was getting awarded Best Condition both days. I need to explain what it takes to get Best Condition. At the end of the ride, one hour after finishing, you present your horse to the vet one more time.. The vet does his usual check of the horse but is more scrupulous in his evaluation, noting any cuts, saddle sores, wind puffs, anything sore or swollen. The observations are noted on a score card. The more wear and tear on the horse, the more points you lose. When Henry made his comments on the last newsletter about Beamer's size being a disadvantage, he is absolutely right. A larger animal will have a large body mass that will sweat more, need more electrolytes, will take longer to cool and keep heart rates higher. The higher the horse’s heart rate, the more points you lose. The more sweat that is lost, there is an increased risk for dehydration. A larger horse also takes more pounding on the trail, he has to work harder at dodging obstacles and tucking in those jackrabbit legs to scoot down those steep, long hills. But the biggest handicap for Beamer in the Best Condition scoring is my body mass. It makes total sense that the horse carrying the heaviest load has to work harder on the trail. So the score card formula compensates the heavy riders for this handicap.. I weigh 120 lbs, and ride in an English Wintec saddle. My rider weight (body weight + gear) is 155 lbs, putting me in the Feather Weight category and giving Beamer a big disadvantage for the Best Condition scoring. This means Beamer has to do it all. This year we have been awarded three Best Conditions, which has made me immensely proud of my Mr. Amazing. He really is a special horse that keeps impressing me with every ride we do. Photo Caption Contest We’re challenging you all to come up with a clever caption for this photo. We know these two colts are conspiring something…..but what? Send your caption to [email protected] by August 1st and we’ll announce the winner in the August newsletter. Winner of the contest will receive a free 2013 Heritage Calendar when they are printed up this fall. Buffalo Moon Expeditions from Megan Dube, The Woodlands, Texas Megan Dube and her Tennessee Walking Horse Evangeline have taken to the roads of America to inspire Emotional Freedom in others from the Trail- (TM). Buffalo Moon Expeditions stemmed from the Dube's dream to ride her horse a great distance from A to B. When her relationship with horses began close to 28 years ago, she had no place to ride, and being from the third largest urban area in the United States, she took to the road. At age of 40, the founder's opportunity came to fruition; she planned her first expedition in 2008. A new state and lack of funds for horse transport gave her the thought to "just ride the thousand miles there instead". The original journey was to be completed from Southwest Oklahoma up to Historic Route 66 and on to Chicago, but turned into seven separate equestrian trips over the next four years. Each journey, or Range Ride, as Dube calls them, has been over 210 consecutive miles, with her greatest and most recent being 576 consecutive miles through the state of Texas. Her total miles to date on expeditions like this are close to 2500 miles. Dube and her horse travel with no horse trailer and no truck support. Just Dube, Evangeline and a few pounds of gear, they have set out into the unknown to help people find their own emotional freedom and educate them about the horses who carved out our country. Dube and Evangeline are experienced equestrian travelers and have been together for the last five years. Evangeline is a registered TWHBEA horse. Her registered name is Eve's Revenge. She was named that as her mother had a hard time giving birth to her. She is out of a mare by the name of Eve's Midnight H and her sire was a Night Cap's Revenge. Both were grandget of the late, great Midnight Sun. Evangeline is one of his double great- granddaughters. "Evangeline had a bad start in life and was abused and misunderstood" Dube states, "Her other owners said she couldn't be ridden because she was too dangerous". Dube says that even though Eve has been well taken care of, the folks who trained her "cowboyed her" after her she didn't prove herself as a big lick walking horse, which was also an abusive situation. "Eve has the chain scars to prove it," states Dube'. Eve then was thrown out to pasture to have a total of 9 foals. After her foaling career, many had no hope for her as a saddle horse. A quick sale led her to a total of 13 homes where she couldn't be ridden by anyone. Then a little girl came along and Eve, at the age of 17, started her retraining. This little girl brought her along for six months, but they felt she was too much horse for her and another quick sale brought Evangeline to Dube's care. "Evangeline was a hard, hard, hard horse to redevelop. She was a dangerous bolter" remembers Dube. Dube didn't give up on her and in 2009, the two of them went on their first expedition together around the perimeter of the state of Oklahoma "for about 350 miles, until it just got too hot." Eve was 19 at the time. Dube' is also the founder of Buffalo Moon Expedition. Buffalo Moon Expedition's mission is to preserve equestrian heritages while celebrating and counseling people who are emotionally struggling and wanting to celebrate and share their lives with her while she travels by horse. Dube is just a dissertation away from her doctorate in psychology and owns her own Equine Assisted Psychotherapy service. Buffalo Moon's Expeditions are able to assist people in managing emotional struggle, celebrate their life's achievements and allow Dube to do what she loves doing best- counseling others from the back of her horse. "There are so many people out there who are hurting emotionally and just as many who want to celebrate and share their lives an on adventure like this, " Dube states. Buffalo Moon Expedition then expanded into the Range Rider's Coalition. This is an international community of equestrians who have travelled great consecutive distances by horse from 150 to 1000 miles by wagon, trekking side by side with their horses and under saddle. They have 30 members from four different continents. Dube states that the Range Riders' finally has given an equestrian home to those have been underrecognized for their achievements and have given them a place to share their experiences as well. The Range Riders community is solely on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rangeriderscoalition. Dube rides 2 days, then rests 1 consistently, which keeps them both alert and ready for the next few hundred miles. Dube and Evangeline have an incredible deep bond as they are each other's only source of emotional support and strength on these journeys. "It's not ever about the miles either, it's about the meaning, " Dube emphasizes again and again. "These range rides are also for people to understand that horses helped humans carve out our civilizations and to forget that is to forget out equestrian heritage as well." Eve and Dube's travel style is similar to that of the old west. With less than 9 pounds of gear, the duo travels on an average of 10-12 miles per day. Their pace is a leisurely 4 miles per hour and they walk the entire way. Eve & Megan Eve all packed out and ready to go Dube and Evangeline rely on the kindness of strangers to host her along the way. Usually the families she stays with help connect her with another host down the road. Dube arrives into strangers' lives on a daily basis and says that she feels like "family" by the time she saddles up and heads back out again. "Evangeline is the entire heart and soul of Buffalo Moon Expedition. Her age astounds everyone as no one can believe she is 23." Dube takes exquisite care of Evangeline on their journeys. She realizes the amount of effort that goes into caretaking a senior horse and always goes as Eve's pace not her own. "Ethics and integrity and Eve always come before my needs. We rest a lot together which helps us savor the experience and really enjoy the journey." Dube usually takes out once or twice a year and usually plans to ride between 300 to 1000 consecutive miles. Her next journey is from her mom's house (Joyce Gist), Fairfield Glade, in middle Tennessee, and she will ride toward Texas. Dube' wants to give Evangeline a chance to experience her roots and once again, do the thing that she and her horse love best: Inspiring others to live their dreams, seek emotional freedom and preserve the equestrian heritages and local history. This year will spotlight Heritage Tennessee Walking Horses and Middle Tennessee. "Evangeline deserves to see Middle Tennessee as a one last hurrah" After that, Dube plans to retire Evangeline into an very easy life of random trail riding. "After all", Dube states, "she IS Walking Horse Royalty and it's time that she enjoys the easy life of a queen." For more information about Dube's next ride visit her blog at http://buffalomoonexpedition.blogspot.com From Rachel Hill, Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada From Mike Davis, Wabasha, Minnesota These are for Henry in South Africa: Hey! What are these?? Rachel with NFF Society’s Noble Traveler Ohhhhh, that feels good! Now I know what these things are for (Walk the Edge of Good-bye – Red Bud’s Rascal x Eb’s Dixie Delight) Hey! Where did all this grass come from?? Summer night riding is fun!! From Debbie Zaktansky, Watsontown, Pennsylvania Here are some pics of Duncan (Tennessee Goldust x NFF Society’s Katherine Gray) last night. Duncan is a really nice colt-lots of personality. Did halter lesson of walking over plastic, when turned loose went over to plastic and walked over it himself, then grabbed a corner is his mouth and shook it more and more. Eventually threw it up in air-it landed on top of his back. He just stood there, reached his head around and pulled it off. Funny to watch. Well, it was fun while it lasted Duncan playing with the plastic Let’s stand on this! All that hard work makes a boy hungry! From Laura Carlson-Humphrey, Twin Cities, Minnesota These are from Wild River. NFF Wilson’s Crown Jewel and Laura (Echo’s Star Gray Wilson x Williams Annabelle) From BillyTaylor, Winchester, Tennessee Angelo Guerci arrived at the Nashville Airport June 21st, I picked him up at approximately 1:30 PM. He came from Crema, Italy for a visit at my place. I've known Angelo for several years, the way I got acquainted him was through the horse business, he purchased a mare from me, Echo's Bon Bon. She was the first Tennessee Walking Horse to be imported into Italy. Since then he has purchased five horses that Danny and I have bred and raised; three mares and two stallions. The next day, which was Friday, we met four of my friends at Keith Springs Mountain for a trail ride. Angelo rode my gelding, Echo's Midnight Wilson and I rode Society's Red Bud Lady. We had a nice five hour ride. Angelo on Echo’s Midnight Wilson The next day, which was Saturday, we planned a trip to Ethridge to visit the Amish and purchase some horse supplies. On our way there we picked up Leon Oliver. While at Ethridge Angelo purchased two bridles, a saddle girth and saddle bags, I had purchased a saddle for him earlier in the year. Angelo was really impressed by the way the Amish live and conduct themselves. We got back at Leon's place about 2:00 pm and spent a couple of hours checking out Leon's horses. I drove Angelo back to the airport early Monday morning to meet his flight back to Italy, he arrived at his home sometime Tuesday. Angelo currently has five mares, one yearling filly and two stallions; he also purchased another yearling filly from me, by Society's Lee Allen and Echo's Lady Bug that will be shipped in October. He plans to breed and promote the Heritage Horse in Italy, for years to come. The Stork Report Congratulations to Leon Oliver, Brown Shop Road Farm, Cornersville, Tennessee on this nice Heritage colt sired by Buds Sterling Bullet, out of Red Bud’s Lovely Lady born on April 24. Sorrel/chestnut,blaze face with right hind sock. Classic Red Bud good looks. Contact Leon Oliver at 931-293-4156 if interested!! Heritage outcross colt born on May 7 at Leon Oliver’s farm. This colt was sired by Buds Sterling Bullet, out of Marie LaVoe. Should be red roan with no white when he sheds out. Congratulations to Diane Bromenschenkel, Wind Shadows Farm, of Nampa, Idaho on the birth of this colt on May 21, sired by Look at Go Boy’s Shadow, out of Star’s Lady Chocolate. Congratulations to Leon Oliver, Brown Shop Road Farm, Cornersville, Tennessee on this nice Heritage Outcross colt sired by Society’s Lee Allen, out of Ostella’s Valentine Brookie. Born on May 23. This colt has gorgeous hooked ears, a blaze, one sock. Contact Leon Oliver at 931293-4156 if interested!! Another fine colt born at Leon Oliver’s Brown Shop Road Farm. This colt was born June 11, sired by Society’s Lee Allen, out of Ostella’s Diamond Chrystal. He will be a Heritage colt. Contact Leon for more information Congratulations to Lesa Luchak, Maple Lane Acres, Two Hills, Alberta, Canada on the birth of this nice colt on June 13. This colt was sired by Allen’s Midnight Rascal out of Moonlit Laughter Congratulations to Bobbie Brebner, Tsuniah Walkers, on the birth of her palomino colt on June 29. Sired by NFF Society King’s Opus, out of Sage King’s Moon Beam. (No photo yet) The Sales Barn From Billy Taylor, Confederate Hills Farm Winchester, Tennessee Congratulations to Tod & Penny Finley, Plainview Farm, Cornersville, Tennessee on the birth of their Heritage outcross colt sired by Red Bud’s Rambling Slim, out of Baubles, Bangles, and Cash. He is for sale for $800. Contact Penny at [email protected]. This nice filly is Delilah Lee Allen, born May 7, 2011. She was sired by Society’s Lee Allen out of Echo’s Midnight Angel. Delilah is 100% Heritage and will mature at approx. 15.2 hands. She is very gentle, willing and well gaited. Priced at $1500. Contact Billy Taylor at (931) 967-9621 or email at [email protected]. Congratulations to Tod & Penny Finley, Plainview Farm, Cornersville, Tennessee on the birth of this nice Heritage Outcross Upgrade filly that shows signs of graying. She is sired by Red Bud’s Rambling Slim, out of Heritage outcross mare, Silver Jubilation. Priced at $800. Contact Penny Finley at [email protected] Echo’s Midnight Sally, born April 28, 2011 is a 100% Heritage filly. She was sired by Sun’s Smokey Midnight, out of Chance’s Society Paige. Sally is a big strong filly that will mature near 16 hands and is very strongly gaited. Sally is a full sister to Angelo Guerci’s stallion, Billy Sunday. Sally is priced at $1500. Contact Billy Taylor at (931) 967-9621 or email at [email protected]. From Shellie Pacovsky, Slush Creek Walkers, Bainville, Montana “Due to the sale of some of our leased land we will be offering several of our Heritage certified mares/fillies we have held back. All of these are gentle, halter, trained, stand for the farrier, load in the trailer, etc. They are also all Heritage certified. We are offering them at a reduced price through the Highlights hoping they will go to someone that will appreciate what they are.” Contact Shellie at [email protected] for more information. The next two are full sisters. We will sell one and keep the other. Both are certified TWH Heritage horses. Both are gentle, load in the trailer, halter trained and like people. Both are current on vaccinations and de-worming. SCW Emily Talon #21100206 SCW A Midnight Kiss # 21000606 (DELIGHT'S MIDNIGHT LEGEND x SLUSH CREEKS KISS THIS) Black Tennessee Walking Horse mare, with a star. Should mature at 15.2 hands. “Bijoux” is a lovely black filly. She is halter trained, will stand for the farrier, loads in the trailer and likes people. She is current on vaccinations and de-worming. She is part of the first foal crop by Delight’s Midnight Legend out of Slush Creek Jubal S daughters. We are very pleased! They are walky and fun to work with. Foaled 05/21/2010. Priced at $1500. (Slush Creeks Jubal S x Ostella Sara Lady) Bay Tennessee Walking Horse filly with a star, strip and snip. Should mature near 15.1hh. This filly is certified with the Heritage Society. Foaled 04/27/2011. Priced at $1500 US. http://www.slushcreekwalkers.com/SCWEmily Talon.htm SCW LADY OSTELLA DILLAR #2100605 (SLUSH CREEKS JUBAL S x OSTELLA SARA LADY) Gorgeous sorrel Tennessee Walking Horse mare, with both hind stockings, lower lip, blaze, mixed mane and tail. Should mature to 15.2 hands. Foaled 05/03/2010. Priced at $1500 US. http://www.slushcreekwalkers.com/SCWLadyOs tellaDillar.htm SCW DELIGHTFUL PERFECTION #21100204 (DELIGHT'S MIDNIGHT LEGEND x SC EBONY SILK PERFECTION) Black sabino Tennessee Walking Horse filly, with a star and snip, off front fetlock, near hind pastern, off hind sock. This filly is certified with the Heritage Society. Foaled 04/16/2011. Priced at $1500 US. http://www.slushcreekwalkers.com/SCWDelight fulPerfection.htm SCW SIMPLY GLORY BOUND #21100203 DELIGHT'S MIDNIGHT LEGEND x SC SHE'S SIMPLY STUNNING ) Black sabino Tennessee Walking Horse filly, with a star, snip, near front sock, near hind pastern, off hind sock. We measured and she should mature near 16hh. This filly is certified with the Heritage Society. Foaled 04/15/2011. http://www.slushcreekwalkers.com/SCWSimply GloryBound.htm Priced at $1500. Northern Foundations Farm, Whitehall, Wisconsin offers these four horses for sale. Contact Diane at 715-538-2494 or email at [email protected] . Some hauling may be made available on any of these purchases, depending on where they go. SCW JUBALS PIXIE STICK #20903143 (SLUSH CREEKS JUBAL S x DAKOTA GUMDROP) “Poor Pixie” is not beautiful; she is small, just 14hh, and her ears are even shorter. Pixie just tried to make friends with a mean old horse but he reached over the fence and bit her ears. Part of one ear is gone and the cartilage in the other is broken so the ear flops forward. This is only cosmetic. BUT, just like her name she is sweet as they come! She is gentle, easy to catch, stands for the farrier, loads in the trailer, etc. We think “Poor Pixie” needs her own person, maybe a little girl, one that won’t see her ears and will think she is the most beautiful horse on the planet! Pixie is Heritage certified. She is current on vaccinations and deworming. Foaled 08/20/2009. Private Treaty Pixie Head shot NFF She’s Simply Amazing (Society’s Duke Allen x Storm’s Maude) This 2012 filly is progressing nicely with her leading and loading lessons, as well as picking up her feet. She’s a fast learner. She has a nicely timed up walk and a nice balanced build. She should mature around 14.3 to 15 hands. “Mazie” is priced at $1500 at weaning and will come with a Coggins and health papers, registration and paid transfer. If she ships north of the border, her paperwork will be included in the price. NFF Society’s Cadillac Jack Jack is quite the character. He is very loose moving, long striding and he has LOTS of bone. This will be a good strong horse with the ability to do whatever you want him to do. Cadillac Jack got his name from his smooth gaits. He is doing well with his foal training and has figured out loading in the trailer = treats!! Smart colt! Jack is priced at $1500 which includes all paperwork – Coggins, etc. and gelding if the buyer wishes him to be gelded, registration and paid transfer also. Don’t let CJ get away from you! This is a nice colt. NFF Wilson’s Chantilly Lace #20406772 “Tilly” is a 2004 model sired by Echo’s Star Gray Wilson, out of Sterling’s Dolly. Tilly was recently ultrasounded as not being in foal but she is still with the stallion as his companion. I will have her preg checked before she is sold. Tilly has spent a bit of time on the trails around Lake Wissota and trails around the Clark County, Wisconsin area. I personally have not ridden her but have been told she’s smooth and can rack FAST. Tilly is 14.2 hands and very stout made. She’s wide through the chest and built to carry anyone. This has been a hard decision but it’s time to downsize the herd some. Tilly is priced at $2000 and would need an experienced rider. Price includes paid transfer and paperwork to get her anywhere in the US or Canada. Ostella’s Della Rosebud #945331 Della is a daughter of the late Red Bud’s Rascal and she carries the bloodlines of the old Jake Reese stock. Della ultrasounded open this spring but has been exposed to a stallion since then and will be checked before she is sold. Della is 14.2 hands, lit up sorrel sabino with flaxen mane and tail. Leon Oliver told me he always felt safe riding this mare. Della is priced at $1800 and includes paid transfer and paperwork to get her anywhere in the US or Canada. Don’t let her age fool you, this mare still has a lot of life in her and can move out. Our Readers Write “I enjoy getting the Heritage Highlights every month and want to say Thank You for sending it to me. Just wanted to let you know that Paul and I went down last Saturday and looked at Billy Taylor’s new babies. I have my heart set on getting the little filly he has. We bought our first girls (Echo's Ellen Belle and Sun's Lady Bug Allen) 2 years ago from him and that they are doing great.” Sandra Wood, Lewisburg, Tennessee “As always, a wonderful newsletter. So nice to see people that are really having fun with their horses and the horses enjoying themselves as well. Good for the Heritage folks for speaking up about the soring issue, we can't forget the real live animals that are suffering. Happy Trails.” Renee Hanson, Greybull, Wyoming “ Heritage Highlights has always been a feel good read and one I've enjoyed immensely. . But I was glad to see such strong statements in this newest issue on where the Society stands on the soring problem. For years people didn't want to talk about it or acknowledge what a tremendous negative effect it was having on the entire breed. It's not enough to say " we don't DO that". As Kristi Q pointed out, there is no time like the present to get involved by contacting our congressional representatives and demanding that the Horse Protection Act be strengthened. The European folks have spoken out and TWHBEA virtually disowned them. I applaud their courage and fortitude. It's past time for American owners to demand that TWHBEA stop giving lip service to this ongoing problem and get it stopped.” Sharon Corr, Syracuse, New York “Just took my first read through the newsletter, and was so glad to see photos of all three of Scarlet's boys. They're such healthy, strong, good-looking colts, and all with their mom's gorgeous bay coat.” Robin Moore, DesMoines, Iowa “I appreciated the most recent Heritage newsletter and the fact that you covered the big lick controversy. I particularly liked the editorial! I grew up in the 50s and 60s in downstate Illinois on the back of a green broke TWH mare that my uncle traded a calf for at the East St. Louis auction. She got me through the hard parts of life. As I watched what was happening to the breed with the advent of the big lick, what worried me most was the loss of the level headed, level gaited horse I had come to love. I am thankful for all the Heritage breeders do. You are not only preserving the breed, against all odds, as the money continues to flow into people who get their pleasure from the pain of the horse, but also saving a precious part of our heritage. I am certain that the field trial guys who always wanted to borrow my mare would agree!” Sandy Cooper, Fallbrook, California And Sandy sent this as well: I love this issue. I laughed out loud at the picture of the tom turkey in the pasture. I had one who would come into the pasture and herd my horses into a corner so the hens could feed. Finally one day, my lead horse put his nose to the ground and herded the turkeys out! I couldn't get to the camera quick enough.” “Seen the newsletter, got a kick out of it, thanks. Enjoyed seeing the commentary on the big lick deal.” Austin Turley, Laurel, Montana “ It has been a very interesting and busy time in the Walking Horse world this past month, with all the news from TV, internet and newspaper articles on the story about Jacky McConnell being caught in the act of "soring"---abusing the horses in his training barn. I am glad that you addressed this issue; it is a VERY important to everybody in the TWH industry, especially those that are Heritage Society breeders and even for those breeders that raise non show horses out of show horse lines. Keep up the good work! Great issue” Pamela Fowler, Broomfield, Colorado “P1: Performance Horse Contest: I have divided loyalties, plus one more as yet inactive contender. Thankfully I do not get to vote. Statement: Numerous forthright stands are taken which should resonate with all kinds of folks, horsey or aliens alike. In retrospect: allowing ‘show pads’ was a huge mistake. It opened the door to malpractices, which led to the following situation: “The old show rocking chair canter became a gait of the past”. “With the emphasis being on a show gait, the original walking gait is almost non-existent in the show world.” One can but wonder if the TWHBEA would welcome or even allow the Heritage Society Statement to feature in their publications. How about a paid advertisement? P2: Editorial: This effort deserves to be widely published. P3: Thermography should be utilised in all inspection processes: Practice Zero Tolerance. USDA should be encouraged, if not obliged, to exercise their legislated mandates. The main goal should be to identify and severely punish offenders. The clincher: “And then, go out to your barn, and hug your safe horse. There are so many that are not safe and won’t be safe until we Impact that change.” P4: The Echo horses appear to have uniformly good mindsets. Oh my, that Wilson was all legs as a colt. I like that. Setting Sun is new to me. Perhaps I should catch a wake-up, and pull myself towards myself. P5: The Keith Springs Mountain scenery is all too familiar. I could happily spend days wandering around there. P6: I also can’t get Rose out of my mind. Perhaps because Sandra reckons that “she has a rolling canter to die for.” She also got away. p8 I have never seen such a low roof on a horsebox. Perhaps it’s too cold for horses to rear? Oh, I almost forgot: Walkers don’t rear, some of them just nod their heads excessively up and down. p9: It seems like there are Eek rides most every Spring and Summer weekend. Step aside Bullet – annual rides just don’t cut it anymore! p11: Seems to me some folks should stay retired and forget about poker games. Grooming mane detangler might work when the local hairdressing salon is fully booked. Very pleasant forest trail riding, even if folks have to pay. I just might also get lost in my home state to avoid the trauma of actually having to pay for something. p12: Any time I see ground crew shaking their heads under a wing, I get off and catch a bus or train. Who needs lights in a hold? First class stowaways? I really enjoyed the adventures of an intrepid American in the auld country. Can’t hardly wait for the Sicilian mafia sequel. p14: At last – long awaited pics of the famous barndominium! p15: Kids and horses: I’ll take all you got, thank you very much. p16: I just realised: small wonder Beamer looks and does so good: Chance + Echo – how could he miss! That Sparky is tall, Toby is getting there, first pic I see of Lady Tasmine: in retrospect, I would have kept her. p17: Yona sure gets around. Thanks for sharing the photos. I want that horse. Brilliant. p18: The mere smell in carpet dealers showrooms gets my antique lover pulse racing. Traveler at 2yo resembles plenty fullgrown horses. That sure is an attractive group of contentedly grazing horses. So what if they’re not all colts or fillies or mares. Nice pasture though. p19: I like all foals, especially fillies. p20: More fillies. Oh my, they’re so cute. The colts aint half bad either. p21: I have to admit that I really like that black colt. And a real horse-size Society + Echo yearling filly at that price? I’ll take a dozen. p22: Two more fillies: a yearling and a 2yo for a mere pittance? Where’s my trolley! Plus another 2yo: I could have a warm stall for her. In conclusion, I would need a farm the size of Texas just for all the horses I would really like to have, plus another one for all the mistreated horses that I would take by force if I had to. Traveler looks good, maybe too good. He has developed a rather wavy mane since his gender was disturbed. He might still be on course as long as he does not start swaying seductively behind. I shall be monitoring his progress from afar: I have spies everywhere. The long years of sanctions and isolation and no television necessitated networks of spies abroad, even in desolate Canada. Instead of desert sand, they have snow. Same difference, their deserts are just wetter, and colder. But, all is forgiven. I have opened a new folder especially for Traveler. He may only be pushing 2 years old, but he is going to have to do plenty growing to match Beamer. I might even reluctantly admit that Beamer might retain a wee bit of an edge for quite some time, but he is getting older sooner. Regards” Henry Ferreira, Johannesburg, South Africa “I just got through the newsletter. Awesome job! My, it has really grown eh, 23 pages!! I loved the comments from Henry. What compliments!! They have to make Billy pretty proud too. I had Beamer out for a little 8 miler yesterday. The horse flies were so incredibly bad, we had to run to keep them behind us. He is moving good and I am looking forward to next weekend in North Dakota.” Rachel Hill, Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada “Loved the photos of Danni and her horses--she looks like quite the cowgirl. I was fascinated by the photos from Yona-especially the horse carved from olive wood! Nice to see photos from other lands.” Nancy Bergman, Whitehall, Wisconsin “ Thanks for another wonderful edition of the TWH Heritage Society's newsletter. You are very dedicated and we appreciate your work.” Annie & Tim Leaverette, Sheffield, Vermont “Glad to see Kris Quaintance speak up in the Highlights. Good for you both!” Marjorie Lacy, Edson, Alberta, Canada "I got the newsletter which I always read and look at the beautiful pictures! I liked your story!! And I always like to know how Beamer is doing. Just a lovely horse with beautiful colour! Would love to ride that one!!" Yolanda Rohling, New Forest, England NEWS & CONGRATULATIONS Heritage Horses Sold Carbonado’s Arcata Moon, Gelding, sold to Frank Lanasa, Isanti, Minnesota. Sold by Austin Turley, Laurel, Montana Carbonado’s Meriwither, Gelding, sold to Joey Degross, Saratoga, Wyoming. Sold by Austin Turley, Laurel, Montana Carbonado’s Moonshine, Weanling Colt, sold to Mike Robbins, Utah Boomtown’s Lucky Strike, Mare, sold to Birgit Winklhofer, Austria Heritage Outcrosses Sold Readers seem to be enjoying the stories of every day people and their horses so we thought we’d share a couple of publications dedicated to Tennessee Walking Horses that are not show oriented: Walking Horse Journal, published bi-monthly by Four Craftsmen Publishing of Lakeside, Arizona. Website: www.fourcraftsmen.com/whj This magazine features stories on flat shod horses who are used for trail riding, endurance, and other disciplines and there are some good training articles as well. Canadian Walking Horse News, is published bimonthly by Marjorie Lacy of Alberta, Canada. The magazine is dedicated to the plain shod horse in Canada and features articles by the Heritage Society’s Franne Brandon on the history of the Walking Horse breed. Website: www.walkinghorsenews.ca Both of these are very good publications for people who are interested in the versatile using horse!! Advertising in Highlights: If anyone would like to place a classified ad in Highlights, our set up fee is $10 for photos and text. Also, if you purchase a Heritage Horse from someone who already has a certificate for the horse and you would like the certificate in your name, we can print a new certificate and mail it for a $5.00 fee to cover the certificate, mailer and postage. For a listing of horses for sale, visit us on our websites: www.twhheritagesociety.com The Heritage Highlights will now be available on our website so you can download them any time!! Join us on our Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/he ritagetennesseewalkinghorse/ CONTACT US: Franne & Harry Brandon, Petersburg, TN (931) 276-2232 Email: [email protected] Sandra van den Hof, Hechtel, Belgium +32 (0) 11 666 158 Email: [email protected] Leon & Mary Lou Oliver, Cornersville, TN (931) 293-4156 Danny & Sherry Taylor, Winchester, TN (931) 967-9553 Email: [email protected] Billy & Mary Taylor, Winchester, TN (931) 967-9621 Email: [email protected] Diane Sczepanski, Whitehall, WI (715) 538-2494 Email: [email protected] The Heritage Society does not endorse any trainer, style of natural training, or tack and horse equipment, to the exclusion of others, as each horse is an individual and not all will respond positively to a particular trainer or training style. Articles published by the Society, which include such endorsements, reflect the view of the author, but not necessarily that of the Society.