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Wilson's Allen (1914–1939) was an influential early Tennessee Walking Horse sire. Although he himself was not used as a show horse, he sired the first three World Grand Champions of his breed.

Life

Wilson's Allen was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion foaled in 1914 (some sources say 1917) in Coffee County, Tennessee. He was bred by Bud Messick at the urging of Johnson Hill, who contracted to buy the colt for $200. Wilson's Allen was by the foundation sire Roan Allen and out of a mare named Birdie Messick. The breeding created a stir in the area because Roan Allen and Birdie Messick were both sired by Black Allan. That mating is considered by some to be the first deliberate act of inbreeding within the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. Wilson's Allen was a chestnut with a left hind sock. Wilson's Allen was taken to Johnson Hill's farm at five months old. When he reached maturity, he was started under saddle by Hill's nephew Steve Hill, who later became a successful horse trainer.

Johnson Hill died in 1922 and Wilson's Allen was sold to Bibb Kirby. By then the horse had lost an eye and was referred to as "Kirby's one-eyed horse". Kirby tried to breed Wilson's Allen but did not have much success. In 1928 Wilson's Allen was sold to Frank Wilson, who immediately stood him at stud, with considerable success.

Death and burial

Wilson's Allen died in 1939 and was actually buried three different times. The first burial was right after his death, and the grave was located at Steve Hill's stables, but in 1975 the horse's body was exhumed and taken to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he was buried on the campus. Later, his grave was moved to a new location near the MTSU Horse Science Center, where it remains to this day.

Descendants

Wilson's Allen sired a total of 482 foals. Among them were five of the first ten World Grand Champions: Strolling Jim, winner in 1939; Haynes Peacock, winner in 1940 and 1941; Melody Maid, winner in 1942; City Girl, winner in 1944; and Midnight Sun, winner in 1945 and 1946. It is estimated that of the nearly 70 horses who have won the World Grand Championship, only three do not trace in a direct line back to Wilson's Allen.

Pedigree

* Wilson's Allen is inbred 2S × 2D to the stallion Black Allan, meaning that he appears second generation on the sire side of his pedigree and second generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

1. Beisel, Perky; DeHart, Rob (2007). Middle Tennessee horse breeding. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Pub. p. 68. ISBN 9780738552811.
2. ^ Green, Sara (2011). The Tennessee Walking Horse. Minneapolis: Bellwether Media. p. 19. ISBN 9781600146602.
3. "Notable Horses of the Past". TWH Heritage Society. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
4. "Notable Horses From The Past". twhheritagesociety.com. Tennessee Walking Horse Heritage Society.
5. ^ "Tennessee Walking Horses – Wilson's Allen Homepage".
6. "Strolling Jim portrait graces museum (04/09/15)". Shelbyville Times-Gazette. Local News.
7. "Tennessee Walking Horses - Wilson's Allen Homepage". www.walkerswest.com.
8. "Tennessee Walking Horse - Midnight Sun #410751, home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
9. "Ebony Masterpiece #560586 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
10. "Tennessee Walking horse - Ebony's Senator #641156 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
11. "Ebony Mountain Man #670069, home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
12. "Ebony's True Grit is horse champ". The Tuscaloosa News – via Google News Archive Search.
13. "Tennessee Walking horse - Another Masterpiece #681363 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
14. "Tennessee Walking horse - Ebony's Bold Courier #752371 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
15. Kiwanis Club hosting annual event
16. In Memory of Masquerading
17. ^ "Horse trainer finds road to victory tough". The Tuscaloosa News – via Google News Archive Search.
18. "Champ walking horse to stay in Tennessee". Gadsden Times – via Google News Archive Search.
19. "Tennessee Walking horse - SHAKER'S SHOCKER #621314 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
20. "Handshaker in Grand Champion". The Tuscaloosa News – via Google News Archive Search.
21. "Triple Threat home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
22. "Tennessee Walking horse - Threat's Supreme #673989 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
23. "Tennessee Walking horse - OUT ON PAROLE #970569 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
24. "Tennessee Walking horse - THE BLACK NIGHT SHADE #983540 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
25. Never Dunn
26. "Tennessee Walking horse, Pride of Midnight HF homepage". www.walkerswest.com.
27. "Tennessee Walking horse - GAMEWORLD #20501780 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
28. "Tennessee Walking horse - Prides Generator #753925 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
29. "Equine Obituary - A Strong Dollar | The Walking Horse Report". The Walking Horse Report Online.
30. "Tennessee Walking horse - WATCH IT NOW #20302938 home page by Walkers West". www.walkerswest.com.
31. The Touch draws crowd of horse fans to Bishopville event

• Individual Tennessee Walking Horses
• 1914 animal births
• 1939 animal deaths
• Individual male horses