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Tennessee
Walking Horse OnLine Congratulates
Adult
Supreme Champion
Muriel Meier,
Pennsylvania
Beauty's Sun Down
Photo: © Mickey Anderson
By Muriel Meier
Beauty's Sun Down — My friend, my therapist, my hero.
Beauty's Sun Down and I met after my two children were grown and graduated
from college.
When I had horses as a child, I certainly never imagined that one day I
would have a National Supreme Versatility Champion. As a matter of fact, I
never imagined I would own a Tennessee Walking Horse. I didn't even know
about the breed.
The first to get a horse, after we moved to acreage, was my daughter. She
bought a palomino Tennessee Walking Horse, Rocky Scotch. About all we know
was that this breed was very comfortable to ride. Since we lived in the
midst of hunter-jumper country, finding information and help was not easy.
Eventually we were steered toward the Pennsylvania Pleasure Walking Horse
Association then toward others in the area with walkers, then toward
clinics, shows and various activities.
Now that we knew a "little more" about the Tennessee Walking Horse, it was
time for "mom" to get her long awaited horse. Twenty-two years after
having my last horse as a child, I got a phone call from a local dealer. I
told him,"I want a large, black horse to trail ride and maybe do some
showing with him in the future." I was told, "this is a difficult
combination to find. . .," but he assured me he would try to find this
special horse.
When I went to look at the horses Lester Weber had for sale, there were
three black horses. Two of the horses were show horses and one was a 16
hand, black, seven-year-old gelding with hardly any training at all. This
horse was extremely thin and ill. This horse, of course, was Beauty's Sun
Down. As he stood in the back of his stall with his head down. . .
"Click!" I could see him as a healthy, beautiful horse. I was advised not
to buy him; I did. Beauty stayed put for thirty days until he was well
enough to travel home to my barn.
During the thirty days that Beauty was recuperating, I traced his
background. He was foaled July 15, 1978 on the farm of Ralph Thomas, Glen
Jean, West Virginia. Not able to contact Mr. Thomas, I was lucky enough to
get in touch with his second owner, Carolyn Edwards of Beckley, West
Virginia. Carolyn helped me to piece together Beauty's background.
Beauty's first six years were spent in pasture with no stall time or
confinement. He had been green broke. When Carolyn purchased him in 1984,
his life had some major changes. He was put in a trailer for the first
time to start the long trip to Tennessee for training. Apparently
terrified by the confinement he tried to get loose and caught a leg in a
hay net. Unable to be calmed or freed from the net, a vet was called to
the highway scene for Beauty to be tranquilized and have his leg stitched.
After the very long trip, he arrived at the barn and was put into a stall
with no outside freedom. Again, he must have felt trapped.
I was able to contact the trainer he had in Tennessee. He reported that
Beauty would try to please and do what he was asked, but all he had time
to do was get Beauty under control and slow him down.
Again, tragedy affected Beauty's life. Carolyn's husband had a heart
attack. In a few short months he was sold again and taken to an auction.
Because he was scared and lacked training, it was feared he would go for
meat. Instead a walking horse dealer saw him and purchased him for a sum
of $500. He was taken to his new temporary home in the fall of 1984. I am
not sure, but it appears he was sold to yet another dealer before Mr.
Weber purchased him and brought him to Pennsylvania.
After thirty days of recuperation at the dealer's barn, it was time to
bring Beauty "again" to his new home. Here he met his new stablemate,
Rocky. Since fall and winter were approaching, Beauty and I, two greenies,
took the opportunity to get to know each other.
We rode mostly on the property to try to slow him down and just control
him. I spent 1986 working on a flat foot walk and controlled running walk.
We were learning together and beginning to trust each other.
I purchased a horse trailer in 1986. It took some help from some horsey
neighbors to get Beauty to load again. He was home and happy and didn't
want to take the chance of leaving again.
Beauty was looking great by now. . . fat with a beautiful coat. He had
also gotten stronger and harder to handle. I was taking riding lessons
from walking horse instructor Linda Howland who was helping to put things
together for me and Beauty.
In the spring of 1987, when Beauty was nine, we made our showing debut. We
went away from our first show with two second and one third place ribbons.
I was as happy as a lark. With our confidence boosted, Beauty and I went
to several more shows that season and did very well.
In January of 1988, Sis Osborne spoke to the Pennsylvania Pleasure Walking
Horse Association's Annual Banquet. At this time, she introduced us to the
TWHBEA Versatility Program. I thought the program sounded like fun and
enrolled Beauty's Sun Down for eligibility.
In the spring of 1988, my mother passed away. In order to help keep my
father and myself busy, we put more effort into working with Beauty. The
work paid off. We received honor roll recognition in the model and e-z
rider divisions.
We gathered points in trail, water glass and promotion. My father and I
were very proud since we had basically done the training on Beauty to this
point.
However, to go further, we needed the canter, which to this point we were
unable to master. We needed help.
At the 1989 PPWHA banquet I was introduced to a trainer who had just
arrived from Alberta, Canada. Her name was Diane Sept. I took Beauty
(begrudgingly, with many fears, his blankey, pacifier, and video camera)
to Diane for further training but especially canter work. After just a few
months, he had a nice rocking chair canter.
While Beauty was with Diane, I spent those winter months taking jumping
lessons at Cedar Spring Farm in Pottstown, Pennsylvania from instructor
Rose Murray.
In the spring, Diane put Beauty and I back together for the 1989 show
season. Our season ended with the awards of PPWHA High Point Horse, PPWHA
High Point Versatility Champion, TWHBEA points in english pleasure, water
glass, TWH over fences, trail and western pleasure. Many of these points
came at open shows in competition with other breeds.
Beauty's Sun Down had become a TWHBEA Versatility Champion.
I was looking forward to the 1990 show season until tragedy struck again.
In the spring, my father was admitted to the hospital trauma unit due to
an automobile accident. For the next three months I was at the hospital
every day after work. Because of the stress and just being worn out
physically and mentally, I just wanted to eliminate the horse shows for me
and Beauty. Friends encouraged me to work with Beauty and show. With very
little practice, we did show, and being a true champion, Beauty went out
there and came through with very little help from his rider.
My father passed away in late July. Beauty helped ease my pain and seemed
to be my therapy during a very tough period of time. The show season ended
with Beauty receiving 1990 PPWHA High Point Horse and Reserve Adult
Versatility Horse.
The 1991 season ended with Beauty needing one point in western pleasure to
become a Supreme Versatility Champion. We were having a terrible time
finding shows with a large enough three gait western entries to allow
points.
Beauty, Rocky and I moved to a new farm in the winter of 1991. Having a
new house and acreage to organize, again it was difficult to find time to
put much practice in with Beauty.
The first show of the 1992 season was April 24th. Beauty and I went just
to get back in the ring and prepare to find that elusive western pleasure
point. Beauty won his western pleasure class.
As tears rolled down my cheek, I knew the "two greenies" had done it.
Beauty's Sun Down was now a Supreme Versatility Champion!
We did it together. When Beauty needed a home and lots of TLC, I was there
for him; but when I needed a friend and TLC, Beauty was there for me.
Even though Beauty and I traveled to most of the shows alone, there was
wonderful support from my family. When we would arrive at the shows, we
were always greeted by helpful, encouraging horse friends. We met and made
new friends in many states, most with one thing in common - the horse that
can do anything - our Tennessee Walking Horse. I was proud to compete at
open shows in many events and show that we were more than just the "pretty
ones" that only walk.
A special "thank you" to all of these people and the TWHBEA for providing
the Versatility Program.
And now, what are Beauty and I doing the rest of the show season? Whatever
we feel like!
Adult Supreme Champions
Youth Superior Champions
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