1959 above, and 2008 below. Sometimes it is hard to accept that things have changed for the better.
July 5, 2008 The Abu Bekr White Horse Patrol paraded through the Coleridge City Park Saturday, thrilling local residents with their precision horseback riding in trained horse tricks.
The grandstands at the baseball diamond were packed and lawnchairs filled the area outside of the diamond as local folks gathered to watch the world famous troupe.
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The poster of the Abu Bekr White Horse Patrol at the start of this thread sold for 400.00 and features Henry Wallen. I wonder if he is the father of Darrell Wallen, who is featured in this picture from 2008?
Wade
Mr. Wallen, father of Dick and Darrel was the first trainer of the patrol and did fabulous training in which the chair and ground sit up have been a Wallen trademark for generations of Wallen training. My Dad was hired after Mr. Wallen and the trained horses had reached a low point. For a couple of years my father did some fine training in Liberty, trick, high school, etc. but ill health caused him to leave. Other than Shrine parades the patrol would book out in the area an hour program, or show and so to speak,"go on the road". Dick Wallen followed my dad and continued to put on excellent horse acts. And I believe the next generation of Wallens are doing just that. I believe the first Mr. Wallen was a self taught country boy, but was a fantaSTIC TRAINER IN all types of horse training. Kind of like the great Glenn Randall. In those years I was in that country with Gil Gray and had numerous opportunities to spend time in Sioux City and loved the old world stable at the stock yards, the comraderie of the members in the club house lunsh room and of course subbing for riders in drill practice anbd watching my Dads in training. At that time the horses were at the Imperial session in Minneapolis [convention] and we layed off in St. Cloud, so had fun invisiting there. The Wallens are exceptionnally fine horse men and a huge family of good trainers.
it was Harry R. Wallen father of Dick and Darrel. Darrel's son daniel is carrying on family tradition
I have had the pleasure of stopping out to the Wallen Stables a few times. Dick Wallen is an outstanding man. We showed up a few times to just see the horses, and the "zony", and to peak our noses around the stables. Dick greeted us and had no question why we were there. He always had a smile on his face and was instent on showing up a few of his most prized trick horses!! The cremellow Saddlebred that he showed and did tricks with was amasing! I am hoping to send a horse there in the near future!! I feel so lucky and blessed that I have been able to enjoy the Wallen family tradition.
Do you know how they got into American Saddlebredss horses?
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