Quarter Horse
QUARTER HORSE HALL OF FAMERS' EXHIBITS UNVEILED AT MUSEUM
Quarter Horse breeder Duane Walker's two great-grandsons didn't really understand the magnitude of their great-grandfather's induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame – they were having too much fun riding the museum's elevator. After all, they're only 5.
Hall of Famer Duane Walker's great-grandsons, Andrew and Keaton, had their picture taken in front of their great-grandfather's portrait and the portrait of his horse, Jackie Bee, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
Duane and his horse, the late Jackie Bee, were both inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2008 AQHA Annual Convention in March. Other inductees included Beduino (TB), Lynx Melody, Peppy San Badger, Special Effort, Lightning Bar, Do Good, horsemen R.C. "Punch" Jones, Bubba Cascio and Charley Araujo, and AQHA Past President Jim Shoemake.
Earlier this week, the inductees were in Amarillo to unveil their individual exhibits at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
While watching the video about Duane's horse career, I asked his great-grandsons, Andrew and Keaton, "What do you call him? Grandpa? Great-granddad?"
"We call him 'Duane,' " said Andrew, matter of factly. "That's his name."
They may know him as "Duane," their great-grandfather, the guy who has horses and won't let you ride unless you help with chores, but to many Quarter Horse lovers, Duane Walker's name is paired with the effect that he and the great stallion Jackie Bee had on the Quarter Horse breed.
Auctioneer Dean Parker has sold thousands of horses in his career and worked with nearly all of the big horse breeders.
“Duane has excelled in every phase of life,” Dean said. “People know they can trust him to be honest and fair in all his dealings. He is the epitome of honesty, integrity, morality and outright ability. He is a man of clean habits, stately appearance, friendly demeanor and impeccable conduct.”
Jackie Bee, the sire of 1,009 registered foals, 198 point earners (7,881 total points), seven open AQHA Champions and nine youth AQHA Champions, made an impression on everyone, not just with his progeny, but with his personality.
“Jackie liked people,” Duane said in “Legends 5.” “He’d come up to anyone, anywhere, to be petted and scratched. He didn’t like to be treated rough, but then, there never was any reason to."
Duane went on to say, "I owned and cared for this magnificent animal for 23 years, until his death in October 1990. What he meant to me was being a true friend and companion, trusted with my family and friends, and he never let me down. He loved people, and people loved him. He made friends for Jo and I, as well as for himself throughout North America and other parts of the world, as well. He had a soft, friendly nicker each time I approached the barn, as he was always glad to see me. He helped pay for our ranch, build our home and educate our kids. I’ve always said that the grain elevator business made our living, and Jackie Bee made our living better.”
– BY BECKY NEWELL
COVER UP
Keep your AQHA rulebook in like-new condition with this leather rulebook cover. Constructed of chestnut skirting, burgundy latigo trim and lining, the rulebook cover sells for $20.
SHOP QUARTER HORSE OUTFITTERS FOR OTHER GREAT GIFT IDEAS, APPAREL, BOOKS AND MUCH MORE.
SUMMER FUN
Summer is just around the corner, and parents will be looking for riding camps for their kids. Look no further. To find a summer camp, riding stable, trail ride program or instructor near you, log on to the CHA online directory and search.
This comprehensive online searchable database contains all CHA-certified riding instructors and CHA program member facilities throughout the United States, Canada and beyond. If you're looking for a riding instructor or barn near you, go to Advanced Search and then type in your city, state (abbreviation) or province, and all of the instructors and barns in the CHA database come up with an individual profile and contact information.
Summer is also the time that high school and college students are looking for work. Click here to find that perfect horse job for the summer at a CHA facility.
TRADING SADDLES; THIS OUGHT TO BE GOOD!
AQHA will premiere its “AQHA Team Wrangler Presents” series on April 23 with its new television partner RFD-TV. The series debut will feature a Trading Saddles episode in which Team Wrangler members trade places with another team member of a different discipline. This entertaining swap will feature world champion speed event team member Lance Graves and champion English event member Clay Farrell attempting to master each other’s disciplines.
The following week will round out the April show line-up with the first part of a multi-show series exploring some of the most accomplished ranch horse programs on April 30. Both programs will air on the regular RFD-TV schedule – Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern and Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. Click here to see the full programming schedule.
INCREASED ADVERTISING POWER
The American Quarter Horse Journal is the best way to target and grow a market in the equine industry, and the official publication of AQHA is now improving for both advertisers and readers. Marking its 60th year of serving as the voice of the American Quarter Horse industry, the Journal will debut a new look with the June issue and has revamped its color advertising rates for breeders.
To take advantage of the new low rates of this leading publication, contact AQHA’s advertising department at (806) 378-4389. Also, click here to subscribe or renew a subscription.
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