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Tennessee
Walking Horse OnLine Congratulates
Adult
Supreme Champion
Chris Fox,
Washington
Jack’s Super Star
The Versatility Program is a
great one! It really encourages you to do as many things as you can with
your horse. Showing in all breed shows, you hear so many derogatory
comments about Walkers - obviously made by people who really don't know
what they're talking about - but it's still frustrating! We do need to get
our pleasure horses out to educate the public - to show them that our
horses can do anything any other horse can do with the right training -
and smoother! The Versatility Program is a great way to get people
involved in doing just that!
"The first time I saw Jack's Superstar, he was in the back of a stock
trailer. That was in July, 1978. I already owned an older Standardbred
mare, and was boarding at Arnold Stables in Gig Harbor, Washington. I had
ridden since the age of eight, mostly under the direction of Arnie Arnold,
and was now 'bitten by the bug' of wanting to own a Walker. It was during
the Northwest Tennessee Walking Horse Jubilee at Arnie's that 'Jack' was
brought to be sold by Al Cason of Shelton, who had trailered Jack
cross-country at the approximate age of five. He was then green-broke, and
used mostly for trails. He had been born in Mississippi, sired by Go Boy's
Black Jack and was a grandson of Merry Boy. Arnie knew I was looking for a
horse, watched Jack being ridden, and told Al not to do anything until I
saw the horse. Arnie told me he "had the horse for me" so, totally
trusting his judgement, I bought Jack on the spot without even riding him
myself.
"When I purchased him at the age of six, he was a very gentle horse - as
long as I stayed on the ground! It was obvious he needed a few lessons in
manners, and especially a lesson in standing still for mounting! It was
this fault of his that put me in the hospital for a knee operation just
several weeks after buying him. I had attempted to mount without help one
day when everyone else was gone to a show. My third attempt was when I
came off about as quickly as I had gotten on, only the landing wasn't so
easy! During my non-riding time, I visited Jack at the stable, and he was
occasionally exercised by various people. Three months later, I was ready
to start again. With the help of Linda Arnold, Jack received many lessons
on the lunge line in standing still for mounting. He still had a stubborn,
headstrong streak in him, but finally gave in to the hours of teaching.
"From there, Jack and I started to learn together. Since he was the only
Walker I had ridden for any amount of time, it took quite awhile for me to
be able to tell if he was 'right' or not. The gaits were not as easily
defined as the walk, trot and canter I was used to! I was told he had
potential and a 'good back-end' but really didn't know what it all meant.
I never dreamed he would come along as far as he has now! Any plantation
rider knows that the secret to a good horse is time and this was so true
with Jack. We spent many hours braving all kinds of weather, going around
and around the outdoor arena.
"Our first show was the 1979 Jubilee, entering just Model and Two Gait
Classes. We found out real fast that a Halter Class wasn't as easy as it
looked, and ended up not placing in any of the classes. We went to
training shows over the winter, and as Jack and I came to know and trust
each other, there was improvement.
"By the 1980 Jubilee, Jack was up in the ribbons, and even won the Show
Plantation Championship Class. He came to be consistent in at least
placing, and occasionally winning. The 1981 show season was even better,
and was also his first year in the Versatility Program. Halfway through
the year, we started to add Western Classes, which was a fun new thing to
do. He brought home ten blue ribbons that season, including one English
Plantation Championship, and a reserve in the United States National
English Plantation Championship. The next year was terrific. At his 'home
show,' the Jubilee, he was victorious in both the U. S. National English
Plantation Championship, and the U. S. National Western Pleasure
Championship which was a real thrill! He was also High Point Horse of the
show, and was the first winner of the Hugh Bradford Versatility Trophy. At
the Summer Albany show, he won both the English and Western Championships,
along with many qualifying classes. The Western International Show was
another success, receiving High Point Horse, the Western Championship, and
Reserve English Championship.
"To this point, Jack was shown almost exclusively by myself. I had him
shown by several different juvenile riders, and he did well for them also.
It was during the 1982 show season that I met Darren Stainbrook, who was
also involved in showing, but with the Morgan breed. We put his knowledge
of halter showing to use, and soon he and Jack became a very competitive
team in the Model classes. They even did quite well in the all-breed
shows, and often came out with the blue which was especially exciting.
This took care of our Model points required for the Versatility Program,
usually hard to accumulate due to small classes. Next, we tackled Driving,
and to my surprise, Jack took to the cart with ease. We added Trail
Classes, which have been quite a challenge, but fun! Darren had also
started to show him in the Two-Gait Classes, and was having a great time
having his turn to ride, also doing quite welt The three of us have become
such a good combination that we decided not to let a good thing go -
Darren and I will be married this spring! (Chris and Darren were married
April 14, 1984.)
"The year 1983 was a great one for Jack. I finally moved to a place that
could accommodate horses, so he was brought home at the beginning of the
year. He quickly learned to love the pasture and the freedom it gave him,
and also became fast friends with my mare, Dollar, and Darren's yearling
filly, Irish. His show season produced 28 blues including Tennessee
Walking Horse Exhibitors' Association of Oregon Spring Show Western
Championship, Tennessee Saturday Night English Plantation Championship and
High Point Adult in the Versatility Heyday Classes. At the Washington
State Open Show in Yakima, he was English Plantation Champion, Driving
Champion, and Reserve Champion in the Western Class. At the Jubilee last
year, he was Show Plantation Champion, U. S. National Western Pleasure
Champion for the second year in a row, Plantation Two-Gait Champion,
Reserve Champion in the U. S. National English Plantation Class, on the
first place Washington State Water Glass Team, and High Point Three-Gait
Horse of the show. It was also at the Jubilee where we got our final point
in the Driving Class to reach our goal of Supreme Champion. He completed
his season with the Juvenile Plantation Championship and Reserve English
Championship at the Western International Show.
"Our other achievements include Washington State High Point English
Plantation Horse in 1981, 1982, and 1983; Western Plantation Horse in 1982
and 1983; Driving Horse, 1982; Two-Gait Horse, 1983; and Versatile Horse,
1982. He was also the first recipient in 1983 of the Berdie Raab Perpetual
Trophy for the most versatility Tennessee Walking Horse, given by
Washington State Horsemen.
"Jack is the kind of horse I will never get bored with. He has quite a
personality. One of his favorite treats is drinking pop from a can! When I
first got him, he had such a stubborn spirit that I wondered if we'd ever
get past that knee operation. I know there will always be some of the
'untamed spirit' in him, but now I'm glad it's there. We have our share of
bad shows, too, but most of the time I think he really enjoys competing.
We enter the arena and he's like a steady little machine. He's not a very
big horse, but the power and the stamina are certainly there to make up
for his size!
"Working full time as I do in a medical office as a
receptionist/bookkeeper, Jack has been a great source of relaxation for
me. I often spend hours grooming, working, or just talking to Jack. He's a
great listener, doesn't talk back, and my secrets are safe with him! The
showing has been turned into quite a family affair. My parents have always
enjoyed my horses, and now are very avid followers of our show circuit.
They've gotten involved in helping at some of the shows, and really enjoy
meeting all the people. They've been a great source of support in any of
the decisions I've made, which has helped me a lot, too. Jack has taught
me so much. Each new category we try is a challenge, and I've found that
with patience, kindness and persistence, he always responds. There are so
many divisions to enter with a Plantation Horse that it will always be
interesting. You keep trying new things if only just to find out if you
can do it! And we keep proving that a Walking Horse can do so much more
than walk!
"In 1984, we will continue to show Jack. My ultimate goal would be to be
able to show him at the Celebration, but we'll see how this year goes! We
have met and become close friends with so many great people through the
shows. It's almost like one giant family. You spend almost every weekend
together during show season. . . then winter comes and it's almost lonely!
With the great fellowship we have found, it is certain that whether we're
showing or not, you'll always find us somehow involved with the Walker!"
(Reprinted from Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse
magazine, January 1985)
Adult Supreme Champions
Youth Superior Champions
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