History Of The Tennessee Walking Horse

Razor, Midnight Sun was bred artifically by Harlinsdale Farms. In fact, he was bred so much artifically that in 1953 the Breeders Association tried to outlaw artificial breeding.
There is a letter in the 1953 Blue Ribbon to the Friends and Patrons of Harlinsdale Farms that states that any foal of Midnight Sun would receive an official breeding certificate free of charge, that would list the full pedigree of the foal and a copy would be kept at Harlinsdale.
It sounds like Harlinsdale may have been the first to breed artificially in our breed. The letter states, "Since 1946, Harlinsdale Farm, with Midnight Sun, has pioneered in the field of artificial insemination for Tennessee Walking Horses."
Evidentially the Breeders Association was forced to back down from the artificial breeding ban at some point.

Smitty, It looks like the big house in the old picture is gone now. It probably was where the circular driveway is in the
satellite picture.

MIB . I did not know they used artificial breeding for Midnight Sun. I thought they limited the number of mares
they bred each year. Good to know.

This is River Grange Farm...now owned by Mr. Livingfield More. Mrs. More was fatally injured at the farm, earlier in the year by a falling tree limb. I spoke with William Pennington earlier today...and he didn't remember Fred having Midnight Sun at River Grange..and told me to call Bill Harlin. So, I called Mr. Harlin and he confirmed that Midnight Sun was never at River Grange, and remained at Harlinsdale.
Link to Mrs. More's tragic accident. http://www.wkrn.com/story/14533467/franklin-woman-killed-by-falling-tree-limb

Mr. Harlin was very kind and helpful as always. He said he enjoyed discussing these topics and anytime I had a question to call him. Mr. Harlin said River Grange was owned by Cale Haun when Fred Walker was there. McGavock Dickinson, also owned the farm at one time and he had a few TWH, but mainly Arabians.

My mistake. I was going by memory, which is always a bad idea!

Thanks for your research OHM!

I'd be interested in knowing what years Fred trained at River Grange. He won with Midnight Sun in '45 & '46.
I know he trained at River Grange in 1949 and probably earlier. Did he work horses at two places???

Seems like I remember that Mr. Harlin actually worked Midnight Sun and Fred showed him.

For anyone who may want to research some of the old Hal bloodlines of Middle Tennessee, here is a online copy of " Catalogue of trotting and pacing horses property of Campbell Brown, Ewell Farm, Spring Hill, Maury County, Tennessee ... 1888" I found this interesting and definitely historic.

http://www.archive.org/stream/catalogueoftrott00ewel#page/n1/mode/2up

Old postcard reads "Tennessee Walking Horses. The Ideal Pleasure Horse. Owned by Clayton Brisby, Lewisburg, Tennessee."

As far as I know the old Steve Hill barn in Beech Grove is still standing. I wonder if the tree that serves as the grave marker for Wilson's Allen is still there and identifiable.

Was by Steve Hills old barn last nite not sure about the tree.

Mule Day, Lynchburg, Tennessee

He was one pretty son of a gun !!

Wonder if that barn is still in existance?

Not sure, but this farm was under the threat of being developed back in 2008. There were efforts being made to organize a group to buy the farm to preserve it. Not sure what actually happened. Maybe someone else knows.

Here's an old photo of the Wilson Farm near Gallatin. (no date given) It appears the barn in this photo is the same one in the old ad above, or one just like it.

They don't build them like that any more.
Very Pretty.