Craig - that really made me think of how windows have played a big role in my life looking through them.





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All I’ll say on that matter is this , there were A LOT of cock fighters around here when I was growing up some with the name DuPont mixed in . Anyway ANY Hawk had a tough road in central Virginia when I was growing up even after the feds got involved . I

Here is a pic of my field trial/dog working/show Tennessee Walker. 16 Hands and a bit broke to ground tie, could shoot off his back, could stand in the saddle to scout a dog and he likely "FOUND" more dogs on point then I did. I hunted off him in 6 states and he never missed a lick as they say. He is gone now and I miss him.....

https://i.imgur.com/uRBPD8N.jpg

What a thoroughly majestic animal. As a kid in the early sixties, I had a half Tennessee Walker half thoroughbred that I used for jump meets and he was much too skidish for hunting but tried once and he took me for a mile jaunt through the woods and not on a path either. He was a big dark chestnut standing 16.3 hands and worked with a double split curb and snaffle and a running martingale. Always rode with a forward seat saddle. I miss all my horses.

Bruce

Good ones are hard to replace. Just got the call last night from a friend and he moving forward with his trial first weekend in April. Judges will ride a be a few scouts.

Back in the day we had a number of open shows where we had Saddlebreds and Walking horses and hunters at all of them.

Our mutual friend (Patton) had all Tennessee Walkers correct when he was in the horse buisness ?

I think I’d kinda like to go ride in the National one time before I meet my demise . Although I might be a little to stiff and or brittle anymore to ride every race .

If you are going to ride Ames DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT go on the weekends. Its a cluster with every cowboy and cow girl riding. It looks like a cluster and is no fun. Go during the week with much smaller crowd.

Jim: Thank you. He was a wonderful horse. He was set up (shod) to rack in the pic but he could shake his head, reach and squat when shod to walk. He was a calm dream around pups teaching them to road to the harness. I have a pic of him somewhere with pups under him with the main lead wrapped around him. He just stopped and waited for me to get em untangled.

Craig

Danny and I both worked professionally with American Saddlebreds which are a completely different breed from Tennessee Walking Horses. The majority of horses you see at Field trials are walking horses and most closely resemble the plantation type. Wonderful to follow the big running dogs much the same as they have done for a couple hundred years.

I dunno. One of the best pieces of advice I got from my dad was "Son, never own anything that poops while you sleep"

I grow-up in central Illinois and every farm boy had a trap line: Raccoons, Skunks, Weasels, Beaver, Muskrats and occasionally a coyote. Several of these will destroy quail nest in seconds, today kids don't trap and the addition of new farming practices and feral hogs have had a server impact on quail populations in Illinois.

I seen quite a free Paso Fino Horses utilized in field trails out west in the last number few years.

Yes the gaited breeds with lateral single footing gaits are much smoother than a 4 cornered trot. Breeds minds matter just as with anything. Use to be good mined, good thinker, is today’s pretty chill. Equine and canine have made great moments in my life.

I live in GA, hunt GA and AL. I’ve paid a lot to kick-up birds, but enjoy a great cocktail and delicious meal afterwards, and I’ve paid a lot to shoot amazing birds that I’d rather eat raw than the “gourmet” fare included that evening. But, there are plenty that get it right. The closer to Thomasville, GA, the better the experience.

Robert give Morrison Pines in Moultrie a try. Great birds and down home southern fried quail just can't be beat.

Second Rich on Morrison Pines (no relation btw)

fried quail is the best wild bird I have eaten...charlie

They do a great job!