| By Aggie Mottern
A Champion showing in
the Northwest and Reno by many riders in Western, English, Trail,
Equitation, Juvenile, Sidesaddle, Driving, Reining & Water Glass.
The first time my daughter, Linda Arnold of Gig Harbor, and I saw this
dark, dark bay gelding was in March 1984 at Trails End Arena, Olympia,
Washington. Kim Wood, who is well known in the winner's circle and a Youth
Versatility Champion with Silky Merry Boy, brought "J. R.," a
three-year-old, to the training show as a sale horse. She and Linda went
for a trail ride to help pass the time and that did it.
"Mom," Linda said, "I think you should buy this horse."
J. R. went home with me the next night and my husband Tom was quite
surprised when two horses came out of the trailer instead of one. Well, J.
R. soon became a member of our household. He has been described as a human
being in a horse's body and that describes him perfectly! He is the
product of Winston's Night Hawk and a palomino mare, was orphaned when
born and raised by an Arabian mare with the help of Maurie and Betty Brown
of Centralia, Washington.
J. R. loves attention, nuzzles everyone and really seems to enjoy giving
the kids and beginning riders a good time. Advanced riders he keeps on
their toes!
As a friend to new riders, J. R. has given many a great introduction to
Tennessee Walkers. He has shown them what a flat walk, running walk, and
canter can be like. Pure pleasure!
He has shown in all areas: Driving, English, Western, Advanced English and
Western, Trail and Side Saddle. With Linda he has also spent some time
calf penning and drilling with our local saddle club and also accompanied
our mule, Abner, to the local rodeo to advertise the Mule Show.
J. R. has done well in English classes but his and Linda's first love is
Western. He is quite a showoff and is very handy when it comes to Basic
Reining and Advanced Western classes.
During the non-show season, J. R. is at home on Fox Island where he has
carried me for many pleasurable miles of trail riding. He also keeps our
trail riding and show mule company. We have even seen J. R. "practicing"
his spins and turns on his own in the field, as well as herding Abner
around!
As a three-year-old, J. R. competed in Model, English, Western, Water
Glass, Trail and was introduced to Driving. During the year he won six
Two-Gait classes, three Three-Gait English, two Three-Gait Western, one
Western Championship and two English Championships, one Reserve Two-Gait
and Three-Gait English Championships as well as four firsts in Water Glass
classes. Linda was the inspiration behind this great start along with the
help of Kim and many encouraging words from our friends and fellow horse
persons.
As a Western and English Pleasure horse, J. R. loves the challenges and he
and Linda have won many ribbons and helped to promote the use of Walkers
in Open Horse Shows.
We love to have the Walkers in the Open Horse Shows and so we have shown
our Plantation Walker at the local Washington State Horsemen approved
shows. J. R. has done well.
Twice he has won the Washington State Horsemen's "Berdie Rabb Perpetual
Trophy, High Point Tennessee Walking Horse in Open Competition." This last
year J. R. won the coveted "Versatile Pleasure Horse Award" offered by
Gadbow's Vista Stables at the Labor of Love Open Show in Gig Harbor, in
which horses must compete in a variety of areas and J. R. did in English,
Western, Driving, Trail, Advanced English and Western and Side Saddle as
well as his Plantation Class. He was shown by the trio of Linda Arnold,
Aggie Mottern and Susie Bray.
He has been a great ride for 13-year-old Susan Bray of Gig Harbor, who
attempted the equitation classes and sidesaddle classes this last year as
well as the junior rider classes. Susie and J. R. have yet to lose a
sidesaddle class in open and breed shows. Susan was great competition for
the other more experienced riders and also won the TWHBEW High Point
Junior Rider Award for the State of Washington by riding J. R. as well as
her mother's park horse, and a friend's plantation horse.
Each year has been exciting with J. R. He is a fun horse to own. We even
talked our farrier, Skip Bickford, into riding in a Western Class at one
of the Fun Days. Skip looked great in that all black western outfit!
In 1986 we had a marvelous year and completed all the requirements for the
Supreme Versatility Championship except three driving points. Then I
missed the December 1 deadline, so we were not able to compete for year
end awards!
This last year, as soon as J. R. earned his last driving point (which
seemed to take all show season!), Linda made sure the book was in the
mail! It has been hard work, but rewarding. And, last but not least, J. R.
tied for 1987 Versatility Program High Point Western Plantation Horse
along with another local horse and fellow Supreme Champion, Jack's
Superstar, ridden by Chris Stainbrook.
All the Walking Horse owners and trainers are so encouraging and helpful.
Arnie Arnold and Joann Mayberry of Arnold Stables in Gig Harbor are
especially thoughtful and provide jackets which state that the wearer is
the owner of a Supreme Champion. I wear mine proudly!
But when all else is said and done, without the marvelous dedication and
talent of our daughter Linda, I would not be writing about Night Hawks
Copyrite. To her, a great big thank you!
Reprinted from Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse
magazine, April 1988
I would like to thank Aggie &
Linda for contributing Night Hawks Copyrite photograph, giving us the
opportunity to meet this extraordinary Champion Tennessee Walking Horse.
Stop by
to visit them!
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