John Milton, who is the presenter of this act. A long mount without pad's is a pretty serious behavior, is it not?
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Famed Sioux City Shrine White Horse Patrol Performing Double Duty
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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This post card is of my uncle Dick Wallen with the act my grandfater Harry Wallen trained. Believe it was taken in 1941.
Dan Wallen
Mr. Wallen was his own person and did not train according to the circus, by that I would suggest bwe have always used the long mount for ponies and the hind leg rear for horses. But Mr. Wallen was a great innovative trainer and my Dad got to experience that when he befcame trainer in sIOUDX cITY.His ground sit horses were fabulous. Guess he handed it down to all the Wallens. Glenn Randall was not circus either and his liberty also included the long mount. Pads are not necessary once the thing is trained as the horses or ponies will lightly rear up and putb their feet on the horses rump. not his middle back.johnny
Dan,
Thank you for the insight. Was this group of horse's just used for liberty, or were they also the horse's used by the temple for the mounted patrol in parades.
Wade
My grandfather moved from Independence Ks to Sioux City Ia in 1935. The Abu Bekr Shrine had 40 some white horses. They had 24 in the drill with 2 Lieutenants and a captain. During parades my grandfather, father, and 2 uncles would ride with having 31 on the street. The performing horses were used by my family. May have been a few in the drill but mostly not. Had the 6 horse liberty, 2 horse liberty, several Hi school acts, along with roman riding teams. The first 4 in the act were mares and the last 2 stallions. Two of the mares were used in their own liberty act. Both teeter totter together. Lay down so close the ones legs were over the other and different tricks. One of the other mares Kit was the first one Harry taught to situp. A few years later Dick taught Pink Lady to sit up. The stallions were used in single displays as well. They would travel a few times a year to Shrine conventions on a private train and also do shows in town. I bet it was something to see.
Dan
Dan,
Thank you for the information. Indeed the Sioux City Shrine White Horse Patrol would have been something to see. Years ago there were a number of Shrine Mounted Patrols. Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Evansville, etc and many others that I can't recall. The last I recall seeing the Hadi(Evansville) Shrine Mounted Patrol it consisted of two haired up, long in to tooth geldings who walked in colors for the national anthem.
A wonderful bygone era, much like the company draft horse hitches, now sadly gone, and I shouldn't think the world should expect the same back again any time soon. Tragic.
Wade
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