S.W. Beech, Jr.

Born in 1917 on his father’s farm near the community of Belfast, Tennessee, S. W. Beech, Jr. grew up helping with the daily farm chores. He took an early interest in the livestock produced on the farm, which included high quality mules, Percherons, and plantation horses. After graduating from high school, he added a few more stalls to his father’s mule barn and began training horses. In 1941, he married Margaret Moore and shortly thereafter took a training job in Arkansas. While in Arkansas, the couple greeted two sons, Bobby and Steve. In 1945, the family returned to Middle Tennessee. Following his father’s death in 1946, Beech took over the family farm. He continued training and began a breeding operation. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association of America in 1947 and his third son, Ray, arrived in 1949.

In 1954, the year Merry Go Boy arrived at S. W. Beech & Sons Stables to stand at stud, Beech stopped training and decided to devote himself full time to breeding top-quality Tennessee Walking Horses. From that time until his death in 1985, S. W. Beech & Sons Stables stood some of the most influential stallions in the industry, stallions such as Go Boy’s Shadow, Ebony Masterpiece, Another Masterpiece, Go Boy’s Chatterbox, Handshaker’s Delight, Delight Bumin Around, and Go Boy’s Sundust. The list of notable horses bred and raised on the Beech farm is almost endless.

James R. Brantley

Born in Coffey County, Tennessee, James R. Brantley inherited his love for horses from his pioneer ancestors that came from North Carolina to carve homes and farms from the Tennessee wilderness. In 1903, he acquired the horse that would be the foundation of our breed. That horse, Black Allan, was part of a package deal that also included a fine jack and a jersey cow – all for $110. At first, Brantley wasn’t sure that he wanted the small, 17-year-old black stallion, but after researching Allan’s pedigree and discovering his outstanding bloodlines, he closed the deal. Between 1903 and his death in 1910, Allan sired the horses that would provide the framework of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. His get included the great stallions Roan Allen F-38 and Hunter’s Allen F-10 as well as the outstanding mare Merry Legs F-4.

Shortly after acquiring Allan, Brantley made the decision to breed his prized saddle mare Gertrude to him. The resulting foal, Roan Allen F-38, was perhaps, the most influential sire of his time. In his book, Echo Of Hoofbeats, Dr. Bob Womack, makes the statement that 100% of all living walking horses trace to this great stallion. Roan Allen’s offspring included Wilson’s Allen, sire of five World Grand Champions including Midnight Sun; Merry Boy, sire of two World Grand Champions, including Merry Go Boy; Hall Allen, Brantley’s Roan Allen, Jr., and Mitch F-5. He was also the sire of several great and influential mares, including Maude Gray, Pearle, and Wiser’s Beauty

Albert Dement

Albert Dement was born in Cannon County, Tennessee in 1868. In 1892, he moved to Bedford County and began breeding plantation horses.

Often referred to as the foremost experimental breeder of Tennessee Walking Horses, Albert Dement played a prominent part in the work which culminated in the formation of a registry exclusively for walking horses and the formation of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association of America. As early as 1905, he envisioned the development of a breed of horses which would produce and reproduce, by proper mating, the true gaits of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed as they are known today. He began his breeding program with the mare Nell Dement F-3. Dement bred Nell to several top plantation and five-gaited stallions of the era, learning something valuable from each pairing. In 1910, he bred her to Allan F-1, producing the great mare Merry Legs F-4. Dement continued with his experimental breeding program, pairing both Nell and Merry Legs with both plantation and five-gaited stallions. After several pairings, he determined that, while the five-gaited stallions added refinement, only the plantation stallions produced foals with the nodding walk that he was looking for. Through continuing experimentation with line breeding, Dement was able to also add the refinement he had been seeking.

Mr. Dement’s experimental breeding program resulted in such influential horses as Merry Wilson, Merry Boy, Little Merry Legs, and Last Chance. Aware of the potential influence of Mr. Dement’s program, W.H. Davis of Wartrace, who showed Merry Legs and other horses bred by Mr. Dement, declared, “I would say Mr. Dement was the Master Breeder of all times…”

Harlinsdale Farm

In 1932, William Wirt Harlin, Sr. purchased the first sections of Franklin, Tennessee property that would become Harlinsdale Farm. The original farm operation centered around the training of five-gaited ponies and it wasn’t until talk of the formation of a Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association began to circulate that Harlin began to seriously consider acquiring Tennessee Walking Horses. In 1935, he and his two eldest sons, Bill and Tom, attended the organizational meeting for the new association. From that day on, the emphasis at Harlinsdale has been on producing the finest Tennessee Walking Horse foals.

In 1937, Harlin persuaded his nephew, Harlin Hayes, to move to Franklin and take over management of Harlinsdale. By 1939, Hayes had implemented the use of artificial insemination at the farm and had begun assembling what would eventually become known as the most enviable group of Tennessee Walking Horse broodmares anywhere. Five years later, Harlinsdale acquired the stallion that would make them a household name – Midnight Sun. Midnight Sun would go on to win two world grand championships and sire more than 2,000 foals, including 7 world grand champions. The very foundation of the Harlinsdale breeding program, the sons, grandsons, daughters, and granddaughters of Midnight Sun carried on at the farm, continuing to produce the finest Tennessee Walking Horse foals around. Over the years, the Harlinsdale stallion lineup included such greats as Ace’s Sensation (WGC), Gen’s Major General, Midnight Mack K, Out On Parole (WGC), Pride of Midnight, Pride’s Hallelujah, Pride’s Dark Spirit, Pride’s Genius, Revelation, and Sun’s Delight.

H. L. Worrell

H. L. Worrell’s entrance into the walking horse industry came out of a random act of kindness. According to legend, he heard a boy talking about wanting to go to college. The only thing of worth that the boy owned was a Tennessee Walking Horse Mare. Worrell bought the mare for $1,000 in order to help the boy pay for school. Although he boarded the mare at first, it wasn’t long before Worrell had purchased land on which to build a farm of his own in his hometown of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Constructed in 1948, he dubbed his farm Solitude Stock Farm and proceeded to implement top-notch training and breeding programs.

While the horses of Solitude excelled in the show ring, the farm’s greatest claim to fame came from its breeding operation. It was Solitude that produced the great Pride Of Stanley, the dam of Pride Of Midnight – one of the most influential sires our breed has known. It was also Solitude that crossed the great Skipper Son Midnight with Lady Lee to produce 1962 World Grand Champion Ebony Masterpiece, who went on to become one of our industry’s legendary sires. In addition to standing Skipper Son Midnight, Solitude Stock Farm was home to influential breeding stock such as Son’s Successor, Son’s Worthy Boy, My Palomino Pal, and Mountain Man’s Go Boy.

A. S. “Audie” Dean

Our first honoree of 2010 began his breeding program prior to World War I. Shortly after the death of Albert Dement, who was honored with a Master Breeder Award last year, A.S. “Audie” Dean purchased Snip’s Chance from the Dement estate. Crossing Snip’s Chance with Wilson’s Allen, Dean decided to keep the fillies that were produced for future brood stock. In later years the Last Chance blood of Snip’s Chance was crossed with Dean’s Wilson’s Dean by Wilson’s Allen. The result of this crossing produced four mares, which became legendary as the “four sisters.” It was these four mares that became the foundation for Dean’s success as a breeder of outstanding Tennessee Walking Horses.

From these mares came Sun’s Hero, Sun’s Delight, Johnny Midnight, Midnight Imp, Midnight Ike, Mack K’s Trigger, Dean’s Boss Man, Delight’s Sunbeam, Delight’s Chance and many more. Sun’s Delight won the World Grand Championship in the early 1960s and went on to become one of the breed’s great sires. Johnny Midnight was the Reserve World Grand Champion in 1968. The others were consistent winners and many went on to produce foals that continually reflected credit to Dean’s foresight and patience as a breeder.

Dean’s knowledge of the walking horse breed penetrated to the very foundation upon which the breed rests. While most of his contemporaries could trace the breeding of outstanding stallions, Dean could trace the bloodlines of mares all the way back to the Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, and Saddle Horses from which they sprang. To him the mare represented a vital ingredient, which blended its strengths into the melting pot of bloodlines that characterized the Tennessee Walking Horse.

Dr. Porter Rodgers

A native of Searcy, Arkansas, Dr. Porter Rodgers began his breeding operation in 1933 with an eye toward developing and promoting the Tennessee Walking Horse. For the first decade, Dr. Rodgers gradually grew his operation, acquiring top-notch brood stock along the way. By the early 1940s, Porter Rodgers Stables was well established as a top breeding facility for Tennessee Walking Horses.

In 1950 Old Glory’s Big Man won the World Grand Championship. It was Dr. Rodgers who decided to cross Old Glory and Nell Mayberry to produce the popular champion. Old Glory’s Big Man was the first of four World Grand Champions to originate from Porter Rodgers Stables.

A mere five years later, Dr. Rodgers watched yet another of the colts he produced walk to the industry’s ultimate title. That horse was Go Boy’s Shadow, who followed up with a repeat win in 1956. Go Boy’s Shadow was by Merry Go Boy and out of Dr. Rodger’s great mare Merry Walker.

1959 World Grand Champion Rodger’s Perfection, the third World Grand Champion produced by Porter Rodgers Stables, held a special place in our honoree’s heart. Foaled on Dr. Rodger’s birthday in 1955, the stallion was the first to actually be owned by the Doctor at the time of his win. By Midnight Mack K and out of Merry Walker, the stallion proved equally successful in the breeding shed. Standing at stud at Porter Rodgers Stables, Rodger’s Perfection, when crossed with Midnight Doll, went on to produce 1964 World Grand Champion Carbon Copy. The fourth World Grand Champion produced by Dr. Porter Rodgers’ breeding program.

Four World Grand Champions – quite an impressive record for any breeder. Add to those the great mare Shadow’s Sis W., dam of 1978 World Grand Champion Mark Of Carbon, who, by the way, was sired by Carbon Copy, and one beholds a truly incredible record.

Charles Ramsey

A native of Viola, Tennessee, Charles Ramsey made one of the most momentous and influential breeding decisions in the history of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed when he decided to breed his mare, Ramsey’s Rena, to the great stallion Wilson’s Allen. This cross produced the horse that has been referred to as the greatest sire of all time and the horse of the century – Midnight Sun. Ramsey’s decision on that long ago day in 1940 set the tone for future generations of Tennessee Walking Horses. Midnight Sun was shown to both the 1945 and 1946 World Grand Championships before finding what may have been his true calling in the breeding shed. He went on to sire more that 2,000 foals including World Grand Champions Midnight Merry, The Talk Of The Town, Setting Sun, Sun’s Jet Parade and Sun’s Delight D. He also produced the great Pride Of Midnight and a slew of good producing broodmares and sires.

Sam Stockett

Our next honoree, who hails from Jackson, Mississippi, began riding when he was five. He made his first show ring appearance aboard a Shetland Pony when he was eight and three years later he made the transition to Tennessee Walking Horses under the direction of J. H. Noblin. Influenced by a childhood spent immersed in the Tennessee Horse World, Sam Stockett has spent the years since that time working towards the betterment of the breed he loves.

In February of 1979 he purchased from Tom Jones of Franklin, Tennessee, a three-year-old son of Pride Of Midnight. This talented young stallion was named Pride’s Royal Master. After a successful show career, Royal Master was retired full time to the breeding barn where he quickly made a name for himself as a top choice among knowledgeable breeders. His first crop of seven foals arrived in 1981 and all seven made successful show horses. When Stockett acquired Pride’s Royal Master, he owned only three mares, and he had been adding, very selectively, to his broodmare band. The success of the stallion’s first foal crop stressed, even more strongly, the importance of assembling a group of top caliber mares.

Stockett intensified his search and by the mid to late 1980s his broodmare band included such standouts of Tiger Lilly K.C.H.C., Rock’s Romance, Lonely Little Star, Delight’s Star M., Delight’s Caper, Bum’s Caper, Senator Special Babe, Delight’s Kay M. and Delight’s Ideal among others. Crossing these mares with Royal Master, Stockett produced successful contenders such as Royal Label, Royal Seal, Royal’s Dark Bum, Royal’s Kay, Royal Deal and Royal Sparkle. Stockett also proved successful when crossing his mares with his second stallion Pride’s Last Recall and other prominent stallions.

Today, Stockett continues to seek out only the best mares and to produce top quality foals that are full of potential.

George Wright Family

The breeding program of the family we are honoring with our last Master Breeder Award of the evening began with one mare – Shadow’s Juliet. By Go Boy’s Shadow and out of a Stately Allen mare, Shadow’s Juliet produced Master Perfection who, in turn produced two Pride Of Midnight daughters whose offspring would become the beginnings of the George Wright family broodmare band.

From this broodmare band, the Wright family breeding program produced such greats as World Grand Champions Gen On The Run and Play Something Country, and Reserve World Grand Champion and sire of numerous world champions Pride’s Main Man. They are also the breeders of record for over 20 world and national futurity champions as well as numerous reserve title holders.

The Wright family currently has 12 producing mares, seven of which are by Pride’s Main Man. At the 2011 National Futurity and Celebration, five of their mares had offspring that won two world grand championships, three world championships, one reserve world championship, two national futurity championships and two reserve national futurity championships.

Burt Hunter

Burt Hunter, along with his father Bright Hunter, was one of the men that founded our great breed. Bright was a longtime breeder of plantation horses and his son followed in his footsteps. The family bred, raised and owned Hunter’s Allen F-10, one of the foundation sires of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed and one of the most influential early stallions in our breed’s history. Hunter’s Allen F-10 sired such early notables as Nell, Bright Allen, Last Chance, Lady Sensation, Brooks Allen and Dements Allen. As he grew up, Burt’s love for his family’s smooth riding horses only increased and it was a conversation between him and former Tennessee Governor Jim Nance McCord that resulted in the idea to create the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association of America. That conversation was held on the corner of the public square in Lewisburg, Tennessee, the hometown for both men. Burt Hunter served as the Association’s first President. His esteem for the Tennessee Walking Horse continued throughout his life and it was one of the legacies he left to his children.

Larry Gribble

A native of McMinnville, Tennessee, Larry Gribble became interested in the Tennessee Walking Horse as a teenager. His drive to learn all he could about the breed carried him to a number of its founding fathers including Harlin Hayes, Steve Hill, the Paschal brothers, James R. Brantley, Auburn Gray and Elmore Brock. From these men, Larry heard, first hand, the philosophies and theories behind the development of the breed he so loved. He took the knowledge gained from his elders and began developing his own stock, continuing to research the breed as he refined his breeding operation. Over the years, a number of outstanding stallions called the Gribble farm home including Midnight Mack K., Johnny Midnight, Rodgers’ Perfection, Pride’s Stormy Night, Stormy’s John Mack and Stormy’s Lightning. Equally impressive, the Gribble broodmare band has included Merry Boy’s Fame L.M., My Shady Lady, Mack’s Lovely Lady, Stormy’s Ruby, Stormy’s Roseanna and Stormy’s Rebel Queen. With the quality of  stallions and mares, it’s no wonder that the Gribble program has influenced a great number of past and present champions including NYPD, Stormy’s Miss Delightful, San Juan, Chicago, Jose’ Jose’ and Stormy’s Fashion.

Betty Freeman

A longtime resident of Wilson County, Tennessee, in the 1970s Betty Freeman turned her passion for horses into a full-time breeding operation known as Freeman Foals. During her breeding career, she bred and raised over 300 foals, many of which went on to great success in both the show ring and breeding shed. Some even traveled oversees where they made a great impact on the Tennessee Walking Horse industry in Europe. She was the breeder of 1997 World Grand Champion Generators Santana as well as the plantation pleasure phenom Ironworks. She also produced such greats as Extra Ebony, Absolutely Armed, I’m A Buzzsaw and current breeding success story Watch Out Jose. Committed to the betterment and success of the breed, she served as a director from Tennessee for TWHBEA and was a Hall of Fame inductee. Perhaps her greatest and most lasting accomplishment, she passed her love for the Tennessee Walking Horse on to her daughter Delaine Freeman Smith, who continues to operate Freeman Foals today.

Paige Edwards

Paige Edwards grew up in the walking horse industry. As an exhibitor, she claimed 10 world championships before leaving the show ring behind to focus on her first loves, her broodmares and the babies they produce. Her residence in Dawson, Georgia is home to 15 top-notch broodmares and the farm where her husband Gary and brother-in-law Larry train is home to nearly 100 more. Paige’s breeding philosophy is straight forward – breed well bred mares to well bred stallions. To her, bloodlines are everything and she has found a great deal of success combining such lines as Generator, Hard Cash, Pusher, Ritz and Jose. The horses produced by her program include 1996 World Grand Champion and multi-titled Sire of the Year He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz, World Champion Gen’s Dixie Crystals, World Champion and World Grand Champion The Dixie Lineman, World Champion Sugarland, World Champion Neon Deion, World Grand Champion Palm Beach Ritz and World Champion Neon Bright. For Paige, nothing comes close to the thrill of raising a world champion.

Hoyte Eakes

A lifelong horse enthusiast, following a career spent first as a Master Sgt. and Drum Major in the Tennessee National Guard and later as an owner and operator of drive-ins, Hoyte Eakes devoted himself full time to breeding and raising top-quality Tennessee Walking Horses. He and his wife of 62 years, Jane, owned and operated Hidden Acres Farm in Donelson, Tennessee, where they bred numerous horses that went on the success in nearly every division our industry has to offer. Over the years, the Eakes breeding program produced five world grand champions, six reserve world grand champions, 18 world champions, six mare and foal world champions and seven TWHBEA National Futurity Champions. Notable names among these champions include Jewel’s Magic, Magic Bum’s Jewel, Maxie Choice, Bummin Choice and Whoopin It In Command. Hoyte’s love for the breed, love for the show ring, and love for our great industry are legendary. His legacy continues in the capable hands of his grandson Nathan Mills.

S.P. “Pete” Anderson

A native of Woodbury, Tennessee, S. P. “Pete” Anderson first became involved in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry in the early 1950s. His passion was always the challenge involved in breeding top-quality Tennessee Walking Horses. His philosophy was simple – breed good mares to good stallions. His broodmare band was renowned, including such names as Miss May Lady, Piddley’s Business, Eldorado’s Threat, Bummin Belinda, Qtr. Back’s Majorette, Sun’s Bay Girl, and Lady Supreme A. Crossing these mares with the best stallions of the time, he was able to produce numerous winning show horses as well as numerous successful broodmares and breeding stallions. Among his greatest success stories was, of course, 1979 World Grand Champion Threat’s Supreme A., who was out of Miss May Lady and by 1965 World Grand Champion Triple Threat. Other well-known products of his breeding program include Eb’s Black Charger, sire of 1998 World Grand Champion Masquerading, and the popular stallion Black Diamond Ritz, sire of Adorable Diamond.

Dr. William R. Gaw

Born in Gainesboro, Tennessee, William Gaw spent the majority of his life in Nashville. He was a very well-respected physician and veteran of the Vietnam War who harbored a passion for the Tennessee Walking Horse.  Starting in the late 1970s, Dr. Gaw began developing one of the industry’s top breeding programs. The first stallion that he stood was the great Delight’s Solitude, who sired 104 foals. Following in his hoof prints was Solidarity, whose offspring included Executive Order, Threats Dixie Delight, Valid Consent, My Solidarity, and Prevailing Justice. Additionally, Dr. Gaw stood Vigor who made his mark with offspring that included Vigor’s Modest Charm, A Major Impression, Sleipnir, Dust Bunny and Vigor’s Dixie Chick.

Not to be outdone by the stallions, the Gaw broodmare band was renowned for its success. Notable broodmares included Traveler’s Annie, Shadow’s Clementine, Threat’s Lovely Lady, and Senator Sassy.

Billy Hale

When he was only 27 years old, Billy Hale purchased his first broodmares from legendary horseman Sam Paschal. Shortly thereafter, in 1961, he bought his first big-time show horse, which happened to be none other than the great Ebony Masterpiece. After winning the World Grand Championship in 1962, Billy decided to stand his striking black stallion at S.W. Beech & Sons Stables in Belfast, Tennessee. He based his decision on Beech’s background in the breeding business and in the horse business in general. It was a decision that certainly paid off, for Ebony and his connections as well as for the walking horse industry at large as the great stallion went on to sire five World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horses – Ebony’s Senator, Another Masterpiece, Ebony’s True Grit, Ebony’s Mountain Man, and Ebony’s Bold Courier.

Of the champions sired by Ebony Masterpiece, Another Masterpiece and Ebony’s True Grit were out of broodmares selected by Billy Hale as was Ebony’s very first champion, 1964 National Futurity Weanling Champion Ebony’s Image and many, many more.

Robert Keenan

Robert Keenan initially became interested in Tennessee Walking Horses in the 1960s as a fun, family hobby. Over the years, an interest in breeding developed and by the 1970s he had established Hill Vale Farms where he stood a number of the industry’s top stallions including Ebony’s Black Market, 1968 World Grand Champion Go Boy’s Royal Heir, and Spirit’s Headliner. Later, he established Possom Trot Farm and owned the great Pride’s Dark Spirit whom he stood at Harlinsdale Farm. During his time under the ownership of Keenan, Pride’s Dark Spirit sired numerous champions including 1992 World Grand Champion Dark Spirit’s Rebel.

Over the years, Robert Keenan projected a love for the Tennessee Walking Horse that spread to his entire family. His breeding program produced numerous success stories, including, but certainly not limited to, Generator’s Silver Express, Silverado Spirit, and Express’s Frosty Girl.

Stephen B. Smith, Ravenswood Farm

Always valuing quality over quantity, the breeding program developed by Stephen B. Smith and Ravenswood Farm is modeled after that of the legendary thoroughbred breeder Bull Hancock, who believed his broodmares should themselves be great racehorses or full sisters to great racehorses. To that end, the broodmare band at Ravenswood Farm has continually included great show mares such as miltiple-time world champions Miss Walking Miracle, Jenny’s Jezebel, Pride’s Xanadu, Miracle At The Ritz, and Cameo Cash. Mirroring Mr. Hancock’s additional theory of breeding strengths to strengths, Ravenswood only breeds to accentuate their mares positive traits, rather than breeding to mitigate their negative traits.

The primary goal of the Ravenswood breeding program has been to raise the top yearling every year. Judging by sales price, almost every year for over a decade, they have accomplished that goal. And that’s with averaging less than 10 yearlings per year.

World Grand Champions raised by Ravenswood Farm include Miracle At The Ritz, All American Ritz, Ted Williams, and Prime Country. World Champions include New York Yankee, Brooks Robinson, and Cash Date.

“Marty Warren, Steve’s “right hand man” deserves much of the credit for this award, it would have been impossible without his loyal supervision”, says Smith.

Donald Franks

The North Mississippi lawyer and breeder who believed less is more and ponies are beautiful sought over 50 years to establish a sub-breed, pony-size strain of the Tennessee Walking Horses. Franks bought his first registered Tennessee Walking Horse in 1939, Pride’s Fashion; being one of hid more notable horses. The first mare he took pride in breeding was a mere 36 inches tall at her withers, Tiny’s Secret. She was by No Secret and out of Tiny Mite. Next was Little Man’s Gypsy, sired by Sun’s Little Man by Setting Sun, the 1958 World Grand Champion and his damn was Sun’s Golden Girl also by Setting Sun.

Franks would say “I try to find small mares to breed down, since I believe the dam brings at least 75 percent of all characteristics to the foal, with the stallions contributing 25 percent.” One of his most eye catching walking ponies was Mud Slide’s Brother. The small stallion was a black apparition of the World Champion pony, Mud Slide Slim, he had the same full, arching neck, same fine head and same fire about him. Bet on Me, Little Wench, Betty’s Shaker and Playboy’s One Spot are just a few others than Donald Franks had the privilege of raising and breeding.

Connie Bryant, Karla & David Landrum

It all started with an “I do”. Karla Bryant and David Landrum were married in 1988…with this marriage came a union of family and horses.

Karla’s mother, Connie Bryant, always had a love for horses. She began a small breeding operation of Tennessee Walking Horses in the 1970’s and enjoyed taking care of her mares and watching their foals develop (one of which was WGC Our American Eagle). During this time, the family began purchasing show horses such as Pride’s Executioner, Gen’s Queen of Hearts, Shadow’s Making Magic, Ultra Violet, and a very talented and well-bred 2-year-old stallion named Gen’s Major General.

David Landrum grew up in a family that enjoyed all aspects of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Karla Bryant Landrum enjoyed showing and helping her mother with the broodmares and foals. In 1987, David and Karla met at the Kentucky After Christmas Sale and a year later they were married. With Karla’s move to Tennessee, along with her luggage, came the talented Gen’s Major General.

MG, as he was affectionately known, would go on to have a stellar show ring career that resulted in multiple World and World Grand Championships. The decision was made in 1991 for MG to pursue a breeding career, first at the Horse Hub, then Joe Martin Stables, and finally to historic Harlinsdale Farm. MG was named TWHBEA Sire of the Year 2001(percentage points) and 2003 (actual points). He was the sire of one of the breed’s greatest show and breeding horses, Jose’ Jose’. MG has produced countless World and World Grand show horses along with top producing mares and stallions that will continue to carry his legacy for future generations.

David’s longtime client, Dorothy Halsey, made the decision to retire and breed her great show mare, Ebony’s Sun Lady. That resulted in two fillies being born at David Landrum Stables, My Magic Dream (My Magic Marker x Ebony’s Sun Lady) and Splash of Gen (Pride’s Generator x Ebony’s Sun Lady). Upon Dorothy’s untimely death, David purchased the three mares. It was decided to breed My Magic Dream to Pride’s Generator resulting in WGC Sweepstakes and WGC The Lottery. Dream was then bred to Gen’s Major General producing WGC The Super Bowl, WGC The Stanley Cup, WC Preakness, WC Miss Keeneland and TWHBEA Futurity champion Ryder Cup. Top broodmares include Wimbledon, My Cosmopolitan and Pimlico. My Magic Dream spent many years in TWHBEA’s top 10 Dam of the Year lists. In addition, Splash of Gen and Gen’s Major General produced WGC Major Splash, WC Major Splish Splash, WC Brother Splash, RWC I’m Splashed, RWGC General Splash, Futurity Champion Cocoa Splash and Brother Oh Brother, who is the TWH breed representative at the Kentucky Horse Park. Splash of Gen was named twice TWHBEA Dam of the Year in 2001 (by percentage points and by actual points) and spent numerous years on the Dam of the Year Top 10 List.

Grider Family

Tommy Grider was born in Columbia KY in 1951. He and his older brothers Ronnie and Donnie grew up on the family farm alongside their parents Mr. 0.E. and Margaret Grider.

His passion for horses began at an early age as one would expect since his parents along with his granddad were horse enthusiast. Growing up there was a different horse show every weekend in the summer. The family vacation being the Celebration. Possibly not realizing at an early age that this horse was and would continue to be the nucleus of forming and maintaining the many wonderful friendships throughout the years.

Tommy married Marsha Ann Caldwell, raising two children Todd and Julie Grider Tucker. Once again being a total family involvement in the horse industry.

Tommy served as a Director from Kentucky and 2 terms on the TWHBEA Executive Board, former Co-owner and President of Wiser Farm, and was inducted into the TWHNC Hall of Fame in 2008.

As in many cases getting an education, starting a family, getting a career off the ground would distract Tommy’s love and involvement in the horse business. All the while never diminishing his dream of being active and involved in the Industry. During this period, he stayed with the family farm operation. At times his Dad, whom Tommy considered as having a talent and sharp eye for selecting great prospects, found and purchased a little known yearling, Pride’sDesign. This extremely talented colt was plagued with health problems forcing his show career to cease and becoming the breeding stallion for the farm. At the time it was not known that this medical set back would allow this beautiful talented animal to excel in the breeding shed, producing such greats as World Grand Champion Flashy Pride.

So, it is no surprise that Tommy’s continued interest expanded into a larger scope to include marketing, promoting, breeding as well as showing. Some of the World and World Grand Champions that are a product of the Grider Farm include: World Grand Champion The Bourne Legacy, World Champion Master Miracle, World Champion Pusher’s Society Man, Reserve World Grand Champion Design’s Red Baron, World Grand Champion Rammer Jammer, World Champion Major Sky Command, World Champion I’m Plum Pretty, World Grand Champion She’s Limitless, World Champion Generating The Command, World Grand Champion Mr. Country Gentleman, World Champion Estatic, World Grand Champion Roll The Gold, World Champion J.F.K.’s Tiny Dancer, World Champion Big Time Pusher among many others.

Tommy has always emphasized the importance that should be placed on the dam. This was instilled early on as he saw such greats as Pusher’s Special Design, Pusher’s Solid Design, Pusher’s Eight Ball, Travis, Stainless Steel, Chairman of the Board, Pride’s Painted Rose and others being produced out of the broodmares band bred and retained by his parents. This philosophy continued as he would retain most of the mares after their show ring career had ended. Placing them in his broodmare band. Some of which included World Champion and World Grand Champion Producer Witch Revival, Reserve World Champion and World Grand Champion Producer Miss Emma Brooks, World Champion Preakness, World Champion and World Grand Champion Producer Pocket of Gold, Reserve World Champion, National Futurity Champion and World Champion Producer Pusher’s Major Minor, World Grand Champion and World Champion Producer Generator’s Flirtin, World Champion Flirtin’s Command, World Champion I’m Plum Pretty, World Champion Pushin’s Miss Genny, World Champion Gennie’s Charming Lady, World Champion Sweet Sixteen, Pusher’s Color My World the dam of World Grand Champion Game World and others.

If you have ever been in attendance at Wiser Farm or had a horse conversation with Tommy, you probably heard him make this statement “A broodmare will make you and an incubator will break you”.

In addition to the many greats that is a direct product of Tommy’s Family Breeding Program, he has owned some of the Industries’ premier horses, including World Grand Champion The Pusher C.G., World Grand Champion Delightof Pride, World Grand Champion Pride’s Jubilee Encore, World Champion Pusher’s Firestone, World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion Pusher’s Twist About, World Grand Champion Pride’s Midnight Prowler, World Grand Champion Wired, World Grand Champion and World Grand Champion Producer My Promises Promise’s, World Champion Jubilee’s Knight Time, World Grand Champion The Sky Command and others.

When ask what some of his most memorable moments are in the Horse World? He replied, there has been so many it’s hard to list them. Some would be “The Pusher” being named Sire of the Year, also his producing World Champions in Walking, Racking and Spotted. Watching our son win the International, our daughter winning 10 World Championships including a World Grand Championship. Winning 2 World Championships myself was pretty special. Watching my great niece being the fourth generation of our family win her 1st World Grand Championship this year at the Celebration. Also, I take great pride in my nephew Brent for not only his World Champion rides but more importantly assuming the responsibility of continuing our role in the breeding of these fine animals.

Tommy summed up the significance of his family being afforded The Master Breeder Award as being very humbling and a great honor to be in the company of the Elite Group of Master Breeders. He is honored to accept this award. He would like to dedicate this distinguished award in memory of his late parents who introduced and supported his involvement in this great industry.

Ray Beech 

William “Ray” Beech is the youngest son of Stephen Wood “S.’W.” and Margaret Moore Beech. He was born on August 22, 1949. The family pleasure pony, John Henry, taught Bobby, Steve, and Ray a lot about how to train and show horses.

Ray’s next mount was Little Bit o’ Trouble. He and “Trouble” were in the show ring dozens of times claiming many blues ribbons and titles including the 1963 TWHNC World Champion pony, 14 & under, the l964 TWHNC Reserve World Champion pony, 14 & under.  In 1965 and 1966 Ray and Trouble claimed back to back Walking Pony World Championships at the celebration, and in 1965 and 1965 they also won the Kentucky State Fair show in Louisville, KY. One of the highlights of Ray’s years training and showing Little Bit O’ Trouble was being asked at the age of 14 to exhibit him at the University of Tennessee’s Homecoming game during the half-time festivities. He had to wear a band uniform, and he remains the youngest person ever to exhibit a performance Tennessee Walking Horse in Neyland stadium.

Ray married his wife, Jean, in September of 1972 and in December of the same year he graduated from MTSU with a degree in Animal Science and Agriculture Business. He bought Murray Farm and Sale of Champions and continued the sale traditions of his Dad and Pete Yokley. Ray learned so much from his Dad about genetics. Overtime he began to study his mares and know their strengths as well as their weaknesses, and he began to strategically breed them to the stallions that he felt would produce the best combination.

For example:

In 1992, Peaches Big Time was bred to Gen’s Future Attraction (who was also bred and raised by Ray) and produced Hoffa.  Ray’s son, Bill, led Hoffa to: the 1993 International Weanling Colt World and World Grand Championships, the Futurity Weanling Colt Championship, and the TWHNC Weanling Colt World and World Grand Championships.  That same year, Hoffa was also voted Weanling of the Year by the Trainer’s Association

In 1989 Count’s Silver Lining (raised by Ray) was bred to Prides Generator and produced JFK, who had great success in the show ring.  His titles include:

1992 TWHNC  2-year-old stallion World Champion and World Grand Champion

1993 TWHNC 3-year-old stallion World Champion and World Grand Champion

1994 TWHNC 4-year-old stallion World Champion and World Grand Champion

JFK was retired from the show ring in 1994 and went on to become one of the industry’s premier breeding stallions and sire many world champions. JFK produced over 50 individual World Champions that claimed numerous of World and World Grand Championship titles including show ring stars Mr. Heisman, John FK’s Pusher, John FK’s Delight, JFK’s Monopoly, Oh My Darlin, Mistress, Lil Wayne, JFK’s Irish Dream and a host of others.

Three years later Count’s Silver Lining was bred again to Prides Generator and produced My Jackie O- the 1996 Futurity 3-year-old Mare and Gelding Champion with Tim Gray and that same year Ray’s daughter, Margaret Anne and Jackie O won the 3-year-old Owner-Amateur Mare and Gelding World Championship. Margaret Anne rode Jackie O to seven more World and World Grand Championship titles, including the 1998 and 1999 Owner-Amateur Mare and Gelding World Grand Championship. Jackie O was also voted Ladies Horse of the Year in those years.

In 1996 Count’s Silver Lining and Pride’s Generator produced RFK.

Bill led RFK to the 1996 Reserve Futurity Weanling Colt Championship, the 1996 TWHNC weanling colt World Championship and Reserve World Grand Championship RFK also retired the S.W. Beech Memorial Challenge trophy at the 1996 Celebration.

A few years later Ray bred Count’s Silver Lining to Generator’s Silver Dollar and produced Jackie O’s My Sister who was the 2000 TWHBEA Futurity Weanling Filly Champion with Tommy Wilson at the halter and the 2002 TWHBEA Futurity 2-year-old Mare Champion with Buck Williams.

When My Jackie O was at the height of her show career, Ray still wanted her to be able to produce foals. At this time, the Embryo Transfer program was new to our breed and being finetuned at Waterfall Farm under the expert direction Dr. Mike Harry.

My Jackie O produced l0 foals by various stallions using the Embryo Transfer program. Hey Hev Jose, by Jose’ Jose’, and Simply Priceless, by RPM were both 2002 foals. History was made at the 2002 TWHBEA Futurity when Hey Hey Jose and Simply Priceless both won their divisions under the direction of Bill Beech. Hey Hey Jose and Bill were also the 2002 TWHNC Weanling Colt World Champion and the Reserve Weanling World Grand Champion.

Sadly, My Jackie O died in 2005, but her last embryo foal, our Amazing Grace by Jose’ Jose’ was born in 2006. “Gracie”, as she is lovingly called, was the reserve 4-year-old Amateur Mare and Gelding Champion at the 2010 Celebration, and she is the dam of the 2018 Wartrace 2-year-old Amateur Mare, I’m on Good Behavior. Margaret Anne has been fortunate enough to show three generations of mares all bred and raised by Ray: My Jackie O, She’s Our Amazing Grace, and I’m on Good Behavior.

There are many other notable horses bred and raised by Ray- Jackie O All Over, Aristotle Onassis, Santana’s Rockette, Soul Patrol, Hell’s A Poppin Again, Hello Jose, Steve Nash, I’m Dialed In, Delightful Attraction, Ebony’s Handiwork, I’m Filthy Rich, I’m A Blockbuster, King of Pop and Our Commander In Chief, just to name a few of approximately 300 foals raised and registered over the years. For Ray and Jean, the greatest pleasure has been sharing this wonderful breed with their children and grandchildren. Seeing their children showing halter, and under saddle is confirmation of a life’s work and they feel very fortunate and blessed.

A.E. “Rock” McEwen

When he was a very young boy, an old lady felt of his arm and said “Boy, you going to be hard as a rock”, the name stuck for the rest of his life. Rock was born in September 1914 on his family farm in Shady Grove, Tennessee. He would marry Georgia Harvill McEwen and have two sons, William E. “Bill” McEwen and James Walker “Jim” McEwen.  Rock was a lifelong farmer and remained on his family farm his entire life.

His farming interests were varied. Hogs and cattle were a big commodity on the family farm in the early days. His band of Hereford brood cows were considered some of the best.  But horses were his first love. One of his early horses was a big gelding named “Lively Lad”, a big strawberry roan saddle horse that took him far and wide. But as saddle horses became a breed, the Tennessee Walking Horse, Rock became more involved.  In 1939, he attended his first Celebration and never missed one until he died in 1980.

Horses and especially his broodmares became Rock’s passion. He loved pedigrees and trying to cross the best mare with the right stallion to get the best foal.  Rock spent many, many nights in the barn watching and waiting for his foals to be born.  It was a joy and excitement shared by his whole family. He spent countless hours transporting his mares to Beech’s, Harlinsdale, and Shadow Valley to get his mares bred to the best stallions.

Some of his outstanding brood mares and their offspring are, Dawn of Dixie, Delights Kay M, Triple Threats Kay and M K’s Society Glory with babies raised on the farm such as Delights Rock and Roll, Sun’s Dixie Delight, Tiger Lilly, Ebony’s Old Crow, Lonely Little Star, Pride’s Hard Rock, Pride’s Sky High and countless others.

Rock was a well-known and highly respected judge having judged shows all over middle Tennessee and the Southeast. Perhaps what he was best known for in the Walking Horse world was his outreach and ability to help others to become involved in this great industry of ours.

He handpicked Dixie Allen Baker, one of the greatest broodmares, for his lifelong friend and neighbor Billy Maddox.  He assisted and guided Pete Banks in his choice of mares for his startup band. Sam Stockett was a fan and owned many mares that came off the McEwen Farm. All three of these fine gentlemen have received the TWHBEA Master Breeder award.

Also, of note that in 1953 one of Rock’s best mares, Merry Sal, foaled Midnight Jubilee. That same year the Maury County Horseman in Columbia, Tennessee of which Rock was a lifelong member initiated the Columbia Spring Jubilee named after Midnight Jubilee.

Rock never knew a stranger and was known far and wide for his easy-going disposition and his deep love for the animal, our Tennessee Walking Horse.

Kenneth “Pete” Banks

Kenneth, better known as Pete, Banks was an avid Walking Horse breeder and enthusiast for forty plus years. Pete first attended the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1964, which sparked his interest in raising walking horses.  He registered his first mare in 1966.  Pete was a Hickman County native.  It’s believed that he bought his first mare from Rock McEwen in Hickman County.  In 1974 he bought a farm in Maury County where he resided until his death in 2014.

Over the course of Pete’s life, he registered more than 300 horses through the TWHBEA.  He began his breeding career at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin Tennessee.  He continued to breed there for more than 30 years.  He also went to other breeding farms, such as S. W. Beech Stables, Waterfall Farms, Joe Martin Stables, The Horse Hub, Rising Star Ranch, Black Hawk Farms, and Fantasy Farms just to name a few.  Our current TWHBEA President David Williams assisted Pete with many of his mares being bred and sold many yearlings for him. Pete owned some great mares with reputable blood lines from sires like The Pusher C.G., Sun’s Delight, Pride’s Gold Coin, Ebony’s Bold Courier, Midnight Mack K, Mack’s Hand Shaker, Midnight Sun, and Go Boy’s Shadow.

Some of his choice breeding sires included Pride’s Dark Spirit, Pride’s Generator, Coin’s Hard Cash, JFK, Dark Spirit’s Rebel, The Sky Watch, He’s Puttin On The Ritz, Generator’s Santana, Motown Magic, and Gen’s Armed and Dangerous.  Pete raised some of the top-selling yearlings at the celebration sales.  Yearlings that would go on to have a show or breeding career.  For example, Generator’s Ten High, A Big Chill, Pride’s Respect, You Light Up My Life, Jewel’s Black Charmer, Kennedy, and Coin’s Ten High.

Pete enjoyed the business, but also loved the social aspect of the industry.  He had many connections with people in the walking horse industry all over the country. He developed many friends over the years.  Pete was a reserved, never boastful man.  He took pride in his stock and loved breeding and raising colts.