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World Grand Champion in 1994 |
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Gen's Armed And Dangerous #887590 |
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Owned
by Susan Arthur Gordon of Orange County, California, Gen's Armed and
Dangerous was bred by B.G. Alford, Jr. of Oxford, Mississippi.
First owned by Claude Crowley, Thompson purchased Gen's Armed and
Dangerous as a colt after seeing him at the Walking Horse Trainers'
Auxiliary Show on the Celebration Grounds. He then sold him to
the Gordons. Normally a prospect at the end of a lead strap
would be a chancy proposition, but Thompson could see the future in
this particular colt. He felt there were no limitations as to what the
horse could do, as long as he as a trainer could do his job, and do it
well. |
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A
native of Hartsville, Alabama, Thompson grew up in Woodbine,
Tennessee and although his family enjoyed going to horseshows
and often encouraged Thompson to join them, he had other
interests ...cars. At the young age of 17 he headed to
California and opened an automotive shop. His interest in horses
began while there when he traded his motorcycle for a horse, a
Tennessee Walking Horse. My Midnight Melody was the horse and
Thompson says that Walking Horses are the only kind he has ever
ridden. In 1973 he began his training career, a career which 17
years later would lead him to a handsome, sorrel colt in
Tennessee. |
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Thompson had good stock to work with. Sired by Pride's Generator
and out of Melana Ebony, Gen's Armed and Dangerous has a bloodline
traceable to the foundation stock of the Tennessee Walking Horse
including three World Grand Champions-Ebony Masterpiece, Merry Go Boy
and Midnight Sun. The training went well and came easy according
to Thompson. He describes Gen's as being just "about the most natural
horse I've ever seen." |
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As a two-year-old, Gen's Armed and Dangerous was the National
Futurity Champion and the reserve two-year-old World Grand
Champion. As a three year-old he received the World Grand
Champion title, and in 1993 Gen's was reserve in the
Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Thompson admits to not
having Gen's ready for his 1993 Celebration showing, but he says
he knew by June this year, if he could stay focused, Gen's was
ready. |
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The first Saturday night brought a reserve to the California
pair. Thompson and the Gordons were pleased, but eager to get
back in the ring. Thompson knew Gen's had more to deliver.
He was right. As they waited and the spotlight searched
for the victor the adrenaline was pumping for that first pair.
Thompson caught the eyes of a good friend in the audience who
smiled big and gave him the thumbs up. As Thompson once
again looked at the other horses and their trainers one by one,
men whom he looked up to and horses that he describes as the
best in the world, the spotlight stopped. They were the
first to enter the ring that night but the last to leave, and
they left with their heads held high and the roses pulled close,
for they were now part of an elite few and proud to be there. |
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They
were the first to enter the show ring for the final class of the 56th
Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. As the
other 17 contenders entered the ring, the trainer and his horse waited
under the star-strewn, black sky. He watched with a keen eye as
each horse entered the ring one by one to the exciting cheers of the
more than 28,000 fans in attendance. As the gate closed and the
cheers began to subside he realized the opportunity that laid before
him and his partner. When it was all over the waiting brought
the spotlight to that very first pair, number 34 Russ Thompson and
Gen's Armed and Dangerous.
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photo by
Jack Greene |
When Thompson and Gen's Armed and Dangerous were named World
Grand Champion it was a first, not only for Thompson, but for
the World Grand Championship title. It was the first time
for a horse from California and trained in California to receive
this prestigious award. |
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GEN'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS AND THE LATE
DAVID KRANICH
'hitting a lick', the morning after the Celebration.
P J Wamble was there to photograph the informal event. |
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If you wish to print off
this pedigree, click
HERE
to load a black and white copy. |
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If you have a story or photos of Gen's Armed And Dangerous
that you would like added to this page, please forward them to
Walkers West.
<==1993
1995==>
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