Let's Talk Walking Horse Trivia

I recall a very simple, yet very effective method Joe Webb used for setting a young colts head, which was outlined in his book. Although it was designed for young horses, I had a aged horse that nosed a bit and I wanted him to tuck his head. I tried this method and it worked very well if done on a consistent basis.

This method was used while a horse was standing in the stall, not while riding. Joe would simply tie a small watch chain to a piece of soft rope and tie the other end to the other end of the watch chain, creating a loop or circle. The chain was inserted in the horse's mouth, just like a bit, and the horse was forced to tuck his head and arch his neck as the loop was passed over his ears and down to a spot low on the neck. The hair on the mane was parted to hold the rope in place. This forced the colt to stay off the chain (bit) and keep his head tucked in and his neck arched, using those muscles not normally used. He recommended you leave this simple rig on them in the stall for no more than 30 minutes at one time, once per day.

I found this not only helped set their head and tuck their nose, but also helped them stay back off the bit.
A rope and a piece of small chain.............that's all it took!


Thanks Joe !!!

Many people used this method that Joe started and still do.I know trainers that use it today !!

Who was the most successful rider of Walking Ponies in the 1950's?

Jimmy McFarlin? Jenny Jones?

Don't forget "Orion"...Jimmy Ellis.

Vicki Lynn Thompson

All good answers.

Dickie Pate belongs on that short list, as well as Jack Slayden Jr., Jimmy Hackett and Eddie & Bobby Wiser.

Judy Wiser & Susie Beasley also showed walking ponies in the 1950's.

JOE KELLY JR.

Black Beauty & Eddie Wiser, 1950 Walking Pony Riders 14 & Under World Champion


Gay Girl & Bobby Wiser, 1949 & 1950 World Grand Champion Walking Pony with Bobby riding


Gay Girl & Bobby Wiser


Gay Girl & Eddie Wiser, 1951 World Grand Champion Walking Pony with Eddie riding

Trivia: Can anyone name a pony ridden by Judy Wiser in the 1950's with an UNUSUAL name?

I only remember Shadow's Jet. But, that was in the 60's.
Who's old enough to remember the early 50's?

Could Judy's pony have been named Walk With Me Henry?

WALK WITH ME HENRY is CORRECT!

A few notes on walking ponies of the 50's (and late 40's)


Bobby Wiser also won the 1948 Pony World Championship on Merry Man's Souvenir. Some other ponies he showed before that time were " Noe News" and "Doughboy", both of which tied at the Celebration. Gay Girl, ridden by Bobby won the Pony WGC on in 1949, 1950 and also in 1951, with Eddie Wiser in the saddle. Susie Beasley showed this same pony in the following years and received top ribbons.

"G.I. Joe" & Jackie Slayden won the Walking Pony Rider 14 & Under WC in 1950 and 1951. They were Reserve World Grand Walking Pony champs in 1952, but never won the WGC title

1952 saw "Mighty Little Man" and Jimmy Hackett win their first title. They would repeat again in 1954.
In 1953, "Johnnie Gee" won the Pony WGC with Betty Ann Baron riding.

"Mighty Red Man" and Dickie Pate won back to back pony titles in 1955 & 1956.
"Atomic Star" & Ginny Jones won back to back titles in 1957 & 1958.
"Go Boy's Wonder" (rider?) won back to back titles in 1959 & 1960

Sam's 88 & Sammy Teague won a 14 & Under title in 1955
"Merry Little Lady" & Jimmy Ellis won a 14 & Under title in 1957 and were reserve in the World Championship. After two more reserves, Jimmy would finally win the Pony title 7 years later on "Sun's Glory Boy" in 1964.
"Mister Mischief" & Vicki Lynn Thompson won a 14 & Under Title in 1958

Upper left: Mighty Little Man & Jimmy Hackett
Right: Merry Little Lady & Jimmy Ellis
Bottom left: Atomic Star & Ginny Jones

Retro Ribbons

Saw this posted by Tommy on the Chat a couple of days ago concerning the ribbons braided into the manes of show horses:

Tommy said...

"I couldn't help but notice Lilly Waites, turning back the clock and going for what I call the "Mack K's Handshaker" type ribbon...some might call them the Threat's Black Power, Jackie McConnell ribbons. Andrew Waites is a sucker for flipping back the calendar, and I understand this was his request and the trainers said "you want to do what?"

Cadillac's Bum breaks out the old style ribbons at Belfast.

http://www.jackgreene.com/2011/Belfast/17/images/BEL_0302.jpg "



I think this is GREAT, but it got me to thinking.............WHEN did these ribbons with big bows come into style and WHO started it? Well, I can't answer the second question, but maybe I can the first and some of y'all can help me. Notice the Wiser boy's ponies above; these photos were taken in the early 1950's and the horse's are wearing regular braided ribbons in their manes. Go down just a little and check out the photo of Mighty Little Man & Jimmy Hackett. This photo was taken a little later, most likely between 1952 and 1954 when he won his titles. The photos I've seen of Strolling Jim show him wearing the regular ribbons, so I'm wondering if this fad started in the early 50's, or could it have started before that?


Also I read where there is talk that Lily may show this year in a sparkly coat ala our friend Sensation61 !!! Now wouldn't that be something?

I am all about RETRO - I love some of the old style coats - I used to show in velvet and lame' too - however I'm kind of on the fence about the braids. There is a fine line between looking good and NOT when it comes to ribbon. Those long braids used to get REAL SWEATY and the bows would go all limp unless they were done exactly right. Peggy Ann Moss was the best at braiding I ever knew back in the day - she could do the bows/flags just the right length and they would hold up better than most.
I say GO ON Lily Waites - wear some bling! That little silver horse of mine had on full stage makeup everytime he went in the ring - my coat and my pig tail or pony tail ribbons always matched his braids - but I never did like the colored breast straps and girths - that's just taking coordination a little too far!

Who showed "Jethro Tull" ?

While we're waiting for Bubbadog or Hill to tell us who showed JETHRO TULL..............that got me to thinking about unusual or even absurd walking horse names I've heard over the years. There have certainly been some doozies..............here's one I saw today that I've never seen before. This is just plain corn pone ridiculous...........I mean...............WHY?

That is an unusual name - I don't seem to recall Threat's Surfboard.
And sorry but I can't remember who showed Jethro Tull - I'm sposed to know - right?

I keep envisioning Threat's Surfboard and Batten riding down the beach with Annette & Frankie and the whole "Beach Blanket Bingo" crowd dancing around him............. (check out those awesome graphics too......)

Yeah, Bubbadog.........you should remember JETHRO TULL..............you and Hill OWNED HIM !!!

Smitty - what you taking? Hill and I never owned a horse together! Did we?

no.......not a horse..........

I'll post it on his FB page!

Thanks for posting that - we went way beyond "silly" back then - but boy we had a good time! That po ole donkey would never have made it through inspection. Wasn't nothing legal about him!