Paul Nelson is often over looked when discussing liberty acts. When he is mentioned by liberty trainers, it is with the greatest respect and admiration. One of the finest there has been. A great thrill and honor for me was to have Mr. Nelson come one day when I was training the White stallions for Raul Rodriques, and sit in a chair and offer insight and advise on the training of liberty horses. I mentioned that I was having a problem with a behavior, and Paul said let me see. After I showed him, he suggested I do this and that. It worked perfect. How can you repay that kind of advise and assistance from one of the masters?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Paul Nelsons Palomino/cremello liberty horses--Cole Bros. Circus
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Wade G. Burck
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Paul did not get overlooked by all of us in the field.. As a boy and young man he and his number of sisters performed one of the bgreatest "Risley" acts and would be featured with all the big shows. As a young boy he became infatuated with cowboys and circus horses, being around Carlos Carrion on Sparks Circus and then around Jack Joyce and others. His sister would become the wife of circus owner Zack Terrel [Cole Bros.] and he would take over the Palomino liberty act that had always been the feature liberty act with various capable trainers over the years, and would present it as well, putting some interesting additions, [a pony thread the needle, working them on horseback]. In early 1947 in a hunting accident his leg had to be amputated right below the knee and my father was called back to work the horses on all the big indoor dates. Paul, with extreme determination worked with the replacemewnt leg and actually presented the horses under canvas. My father would remain as a principle trainer and he and Paul were fine friends. Paul would later train a sorrel liberty act for Mills Bros. that I would eventually take over and I started a group of six half AraB HALF QUARTER HORSES and before finishing them for Hunt Circus I left and Paul came in and finished them up and would work them on a Hunt for a couple of years. Hunt sold them to Ringling and Jack Joyce presented them on the early Blue Show and then I arrived and they were transferred to me on the Red Show where Mary Ruth capably presented them in a display of beautiful blonde horse trainers, being Jeannette Williams, Sigrid Gebel and Mary bRuth Herriott. Later Billy Baker would present them, so you see its an on going thing in circus equestrian circles that we all know each other and each others horse acts as well. Paul and I remained friends until he departed.
I forgot to mention that I was one of the last presenters of these horses and some eight of them were killed in a truck wreck coming down a mountain around Oil City, P A. My father arrived on the scene minutes later and they had to shoot anumber who had severe fractures. This happened on the big King Bros. Circus in 1954. I was in Calif. with the elephants in a picture at the time. Very sad for all of us.
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