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Tennessee
Walking Horse OnLine Congratulates
Adult
Supreme Champion
Carol Worsham,
Florida
Hot Black Desiado
By Carol Worsham
My husband, Jim, and I drove up the drive of a thoroughbred farm on the
outskirts of Ocala, Florida, where the owner possibly had a Tennessee
Walking Horse stallion for sale. I had been trying to see the
nine-year-old horse for about eight months, but the owner was unsure that
she really wanted to sell her pet. I didn't know much about the horse
other than that.
As we looked into a secluded grassy pasture, there stood the most awesome
stallion I had ever seen. The owner had purchased him to be a companion
for her thoroughbred foals, and named him Hot Black Desiado after her
favorite character in a book titled, "Restaurant at the Top of the
Universe." She added that, as a youngster, he was so ugly she felt sorry
for him. Little did she know her ugly duckling would mature into a 16.2
hand black beauty.
Not being a walking horse person, she also didn't know that his bloodlines
were impeccable. As a son of Delight's College Boy, a prominent sire from
up north, I knew the moment I scanned his registration papers he was
everything I wanted and more.
Since Desiado was not even green broke, I put him in training with LeDon
Conkle in Dade City, Florida. His son, James, took on the task of breaking
and training Desiado. Three months later, James and Desiado made their
show ring debut. Despite a tremendous thunderstorm, they took the blue.
Next, my husband Jim put Desiado in the model class and again our new
horse tied for the trophy. Needless to say, the rain didn't dampen our
enthusiasm!
James continued to work with Desiado and, after a few months, it was time
for me to give training a try. I wanted to participate in the TWHBEA's
Versatility Program, so I brought Desiado home to our North 40 Ranch in
Dunnellon, Florida. I started with plenty of trail rides and work in the
round pen. Jim and I decided not to breed Desiado for at least a year. He
was so well behaved as he was, we didn't want to risk behavior problems in
our quest for versatility points.
The model classes were so easy for Desiado, and they almost spoiled me for
the rest. I happily thought all the other events would be just as easy for
us, but we learned quick that we had a lot of work to do. I knew Desiado
would have to canter if he was to be a true versatility horse. I consulted
several knowledgeable friends about the proper way to train him to canter,
then he and I spent plenty of time in the round pen. In all though, it
turned out to be easier to train Desiado than I imagined. He's an
intelligent animal, and he has a heart to please.
I entered a three-gait class at the next show. Tracy Pinson, one of the
friends from whom I had sought advice about the canter, said I had done my
homework. Her comments made me feel great! Desiado and I still needed
work, of course, but we were getting better. We went home and practiced,
practiced, practiced.
I'm sure you've already realized that I'm a backyard amateur. The training
process was slow going even though Desiado is very bright. Even though he
quickly mastered the canter and learned to side-pass as well as other
skills, I was becoming discouraged about how long it would take us to make
it to the top.
My friends encouraged me not to give up. I thought long and hard about
what Desiado and I were doing. We had been going to every show and
entering every versatility class available, speed events as well as
regular classes. I decided to slow our pace and concentrate on specific
areas until we had mastered them. I chose the three-gait classes, the
water glass class and trail obstacles at first.
The plan worked, and we quickly garnered our versatility points in these
categories. I then turned our attention to what would be the most
difficult for us, western riding. We worked and worked until we were both
dead tired, then we worked some more. Soon, we were entering the western
riding classes at every show we could. We got at least one or two points
each time we went into the ring, so our efforts were paying off.
As with others competing for the title of Supreme Versatility Champion,
the last two points were the most difficult to get. Our success came on a
Saturday afternoon at a nearby show. When the announcer called for our
turn at western riding, we had a quick, clean run, and I knew we had done
it! In just three years, my unbroken stallion had joined the select ranks
of the TWH Supreme Versatility Champions. I walked right up to cloud nine
and I've been there ever since!
Once Hot Black Desiado had obtained his title, we turned our attention to
breeding. One mare was particularly enamored of Desiado. She had her
owner, Dru Travis, send him a fax that read, "Dear Desiado, Kisses and
tail swishes. Love, Maggie May." Desiado had me fax back, "To my lovely
Maggie May: You can swish your tail in my barn anytime. Love, Desiado."
Maggie May is also known as Starlite Blaze. Her foal is due this spring.
Jim and I also purchased another stallion to stand along with Desiado.
Blue Rassmatazz is as a champion stallion known all over Florida. He's
flashy like Desi and this gives mare owners a selection in the stallions
we offer at stud.
As for me, like a fireman fighting a raging fire, I just can't give up.
Since Desiado has made his mark, I'm now going to concentrate on my next
versatility champion, Prized Pusher. This six-year-old black stallion is
currently in training with Sheryl Skala-Carl and Sasha Teft at Hard Rock
Farm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
That doesn't mean Desi is out of the picture. We decided to use our
Supreme Versatility Champion to promote this great breed. Desiado was
selected to be included in a new book titled Book of Horses and Horse
Care, by Smithmark Publishers. Author Judith Draper and Olympic
photographer Kit Houghton came to our ranch just to see our beautiful
horse.
We also participated in a number of public demonstrations. A salute to the
horse was held in Ocala, Florida. It was called "Horses in Harmony."
Desiado and I were chosen to carry the American Flag and lead 22 other
flag horses into the ring. My big, black, flashy lite shod stallion and I
entered the spotlight at a flat walk and then we broke into an awesome, up
and down, rocking chair canter that stunned the crowd. After the other
flag horses completed their routine, Desiado and I did our thing to the
song, "Born in the USA." The narration was fantastic, the music was loud,
the lights were flashing , and the horses were fast and flashy. It was so
much fun. I think Desiado enjoyed it as much as I did.
At the end of our performance, I cued Desiado to do a side pass down the
rail near the crowd. Repeatedly, the audience kept asking what kind of
horse he was. The best part of the entire night was when I kept answering,
"He's a Tennessee Walking Horse."
I guess we did a good job that night because we were all invited to
perform at the evening finale at the opening ceremonies of the Tampa State
Fair February 8, 1997. Desiado, with his flashy gaits and beautiful
canter, will once again be the highlight of the show.
I love to promote our breed with this stallion since anyone can ride him.
I recently had a gentleman come to the farm who wanted to breed his
Quarter Horse mare to Desiado. I asked if he wanted to ride him, and that
was all it took. He was hooked on walking horses then and there. He sold
his Quarter Horses and purchased walking horses, including Desiado's
Fortune, a big and beautiful three-month-old colt.
I retired from the local Social Security Administration office, but not
before they selected a model picture of Hot Black Desiado for their
telefax cover sheet. A picture of this talented horse has literally been
sent over the United States. What better advertising for the breed can
there be than one Hot Black Desiado?
(Reprinted from Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse
magazine, March, 1997)
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