High Plains Walkers

Allan F-I
A.T.R. 7623 (Standardbred) Foaled in Kentucky in 1886 and died in Tennessee September 16, 1910.

The first horse to be registered as a Tennessee Walking horse was a registered American Trotting Horse named Black Allen, No. 7623 in the American Trotting Registry, and listed in the Tennessee Walking Horse Registry as Allan F-1. His sire was a stallion called Allendorf, from the Hambletonian family of trotters, but his dam was a Morgan, from Blackhawk breeding. In 1885, the cross between Allendorf and Maggie Marshall, a Morgan mare, by Bradford's Telegraph, resulted in a black colt with a white blaze, off hind coronet and rear hind sock. The little black stallion Allan was born in 1886 in Lexington, Kentucky.

His sons, Hunter's Allen F-10 and Roan Allen F-38 are recognized as immortals for their contributions to the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed. He produced 39 Registered offspring. 35 mares and 4 stallions

Hunter's Allen F-10
Hunter's Allen F-10 (about 1915) with Fred Walker. This same Fred Walker over 30 years later showed Hunter's Allen's great grandson, Midnight Sun , to World Grand Championships in 1945 and 1946. Hunter's Allen was foaled in 1906. He died January 15, 1933 at the age of 27. Hunter's Allen produced over 200 offspring. The most notable may be Dement's Allen, the sire of Ramsey's Rena, dam of Midnight Sun. Also Golden Sunshine and Last Chance. Golden Sunshine sired Barker's Moonbeam the sire of the Fisher palomino walkers which included Roy Rogers' Trigger Jr. He sired over 100 registered walkers with a high percentage being palomino. Last Chance is known as the foundation sire for the Dement Tennessee Walkers.

Last Chance #350034
was sired by Hunter's Allen F-10 ; his dam was Merry Legs F-4. Last Chance was foaled in 1931 and died in 1956. When Mr. Dement died, in 1940, a tribute to his achievements was presented at the Columbia horse show. Last Chance was lead around the arena, saddle empty, as friends and associates circled the ring behind the classic stallion, moving slowly while the announcer listed Dement's many contributions to the breed he helped create.

Last Chance sired, produced over 400 offspring, The most notable, John A's Chance, the palomino stallion that Vance Paschal said was " the greatest yellow breeding stallion of all time. " Yellow Jacket , Gay Chance,and Triple Chance D. The latter are the foundation for what breeders call the Dement Tennessee Walkers.

Merry Legs F-4
Foaled in 1911. Died in 1932. She was owned by Albert M. dement. Merry Legs was the dam of 13 colts and she probably contributed more top stallions to the breed than any other matron.

The daughter of Nell Dement F-3 and Allan F-1. MERRY LEGS was a big mare, standing 15.2 and weighing 1200 pounds. She was described as, a straight-going mare with no amble whatsoever. She had lots of head motion, a good long neck, perfect ears, and large eyes. Her canter was perfect, and her flat walk and running walk were truly as great as any ever displayed by Tennessee Walking Horses. Anybody could ride her, because she had perfect manners, and was gentle as could be. MERRY LEGS' tail was never set, but those who saw her said she carried it as if it had been.

Trouble
Foaled May 20,1936 Elsie Darrah States, "Her knowledge of Last Chance bloodlines started back in the 50's when my husband (Carl Darrah) bought "Trouble" who was a sorrel stallion with 2 hind socks and a narrow blaze. His sire was Last Chance and his dam was Nellie Essay. S.W. Beech showed him at the Celebration in 1941 where he was the World Champion Stallion. He did not make World Grand Champion. He sired a mare called Deep Purple who was the dam of Mack K Handshaker. He sired approximately 125 registered foals and probably as many foals from grade mares because in Kansas City there weren't many TWHs but he was extremely popular because he put his stamp on his foals and they walked. He was an awesome stallion and died of a heart attack in our barn just prior to his 30th birthday.

We boarded and trained horses and so many of those were sired by Trouble and their gait was as natural as breathing. Back then we didn't have to train them to gait and all we had to do was keep working on increasing the stride and speed. It just took lots of saddle time but boy was it fun. My husband and I used to have running walk races to test the horses we trained. I wish the flat shod horses today could be trained the way we did it because it was so exciting to feel the speed and the perfect 4 beat gait with teeth popping and ears flopping.

It has been really tough to find that so many TWHs now have to be carefully taught the running walk and that most inexperienced riders can't enjoy the thrill of riding a TWHs that just can't do anything but a running walk and on a loose rein."

Flash La Marr 411549
Foaled April 13, 1941 Sire: Yellow Jacket Dam: Patty La Marr Flash La Marr was sold to a Daniel Bekins near Seattle, WA. and later on Encino, California. Flash's most notable offspring was Buck La Marr .

Yellow Jacket 360141
Bred by P.K. Fisher Foaled May 14, 1936 Sire: Last Chance Dam: Golden Lady Tom Moss described Yellow Jacket's gold color and that of his offspring as the most beautiful gold; a gold that he hadn't seen in any other palomino walking horse family. My mother described it as almost an orange/pink color. She said it was almost like a claybank. Yellow Jacket sired over 30 registered Tennessee Walkers. Flash La Marr and Yellow Jacket's Ace were probably his most notable offspring

Marie La Marr 501284
Foaled 1950. Died May 24, 1974. Sire: Buck La Marr Dam: Black Beauty Allen Marie La Marr's color could be described as an Amber Cream Champagne. Her daughter, Fairy Breese had a daughter , Little Breese, who had a champagne daughter, Little Breese Chinook. Little Breese champagne daughter, Generator's Fairytale is the dam of Delores Boyenga's champagne stallion, Legacy's Goldmine. Marie La Marr had 14 offspring. The Gay Parader and My Music Man were her most notable male offspring.

Roan Allen F-38
born on May 23, 1904. Died in 1930. sired by Allan F-1. His dam was Gertrude F-84 When the blood of ALLAN F- I and GERTRUDE were combined, it represented the most renowned bloodlines in America. The colt from this union, ROAN ALLEN F-38, proved to be the most outstanding performer and sire of saddle horses Middle Tennessee had yet produced.

Owned by J.R. Brantley Roan Allen produced over 400 registered offspring . Wilson's Allen and Merry Boy may be the most notable.

Black Beauty Allen 440890
Foaled July 1, 1935 Sire: Colonel Allen Dam: Kittie Jackson Black Beauty Allen was purchased from Tom Moss in 1949 and brought to our Big Arm Ranch. Black Beauty had 9 foals. Marie La Marr is with her in this photo. Sago (Black Beauty II), Buck La Marr, Rickey's Silver Star,Colonel D., and Melody O' Rollin Hills her most notable offspring. Sago had 17 foals. Beauty's Sage king and Beauty's Trail's End are notable, but so are all of her offspring, Sago (Black BeautyII ) always had very superior offspring. Colonel D. sired 18 offspring.

ŠHigh Plains Walkers