EXPERIENCE AND HEART HAVE PRODUCED EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING Dub has a love of horses that he learned as a child growing up on a farm in Oklahoma.  They had no electricity, no tractors, no Walmart.  His family farmed and traveled using horse power, and Dub's father taught him that the horses and mules came first.  They were fed, watered, bathed and bedded before anyone ate, slept or went to school.  One of Dub's chores was to husk the corn so they could eat it more easily.  He picked peas and peanuts for the hogs and carried them from the field.  Water came from a hand driven well pump, and it took Dub and his older bother, Otis, to ride that handle until all the troughs were filled.  He rode everywhere he went from the age of 5.  As an adolescent, he left home with his horse and earned a good living roping and riding broncs and bulls.  At the age of 24 he discovered a miracle; he could actually get paid to ride horses.  He was hired by Mr. J. Glen Turner of Circle T Ranch, Roanoke, Texas to ride and show Tennessee Walking horses.  He has been doing it ever since.  While with Mr. Turner, he had the priviledge of training Triple Threat, and in later years he trained and showed his son, Mr. Triple Threat.  Dub ran his own training barn in Dallas and Garland, Texas, in the 60's and 70's, but due to health and family matters he gave up his business and worked for other owners.  Presently, his health is good, and he feels fortunate to be able to do what he loves best; ride horses at his Happy Hill Stable. This biographic snap shot gives you an idea of Dub's understanding of horses and his work ethic.  He rides customer horses every day.  Rain or shine, cold or hot.  His vast experience with gaited horses is unmatched in Texas, and he has great skill in developing horses for pleasure riding or for show. The goal of Happy Hill Stable is to provide excellent service for its customers and humane, sound training for its horses.   FIRST DAY UNDER SADDLE This colt was recently purchased from John Feltner of the reknowned, Starland Farms.  We are happy to have him here at Happy Hill, and today is his first day to feel the saddle.  Grandson is up and the Master is close by. UNDER THE SADDLE The 70 foot round pen is the next step for horses that are just starting under saddle.  It is used mainly for the safety of the rider. Some young horses feel insecure in large spaces and the round pen can offer a sense of security to them, as well.   This Missouri fox trotter gelding has already had ground training, and now its time to feel the saddle and rider.  This is also where Dub brings horses to start their canter. GAIT WORK This handsome bay boy was brought in to get an "adjustment".  Like many contemporary TWs with champion performance show horses in their background, CT liked to pace.  Pacing is fine for the horse, but not so fine for the rider, so Betty brought him to see if his gait could be improved.  Dub made some adjustments in tack and rode, rode, rode.  We are happy to report that after going home, Betty took him on a long ride with her group, and he did great.  CT just gaited up a storm and much more to her liking!   LOOKING FOR POTENTIAL  This photo was taken a few days after this horse arrived at Happpy Hill.  He is still underweight at this point, but his natural, deep striding gait was evident in spite of his condition and recent history.    Within a few months time, Dub had conditioned him and fine tuned his gait.  Hill's Secret Weapon is now earning a reputation as an outstanding show horse, earning blue ribbons in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Tennessee.  In his first two full show seasons, he has won two National Grand Championships, a National High Point Championship and a Reserve High Point Championship.  Take a look at this horse as he makes a victory pass at the 2008 National Championship Horse Show in Murfreesboro, TN.  Off season, he passes the time rough housing with his best bud, Furlough, and the rest of the pasture horses.  He occasionally makes a trail ride, just to keep him tuned up.                     PREPARING TO SHOW This nice mare came to Dub to get conditioned for the show ring.  She was a little on the pacey side and out of shape, but came around soon enough.  Here she is with husband in the saddle.  Although he won't be in the show ring, he couldn't resist taking her for spin.  Lookin' good Brian!!! SHOW OFF Dub loves nothing more than training and showing a great horse.  Here he rides Billy Baker's, Walking Tall, at the East Texas Spring Classic.  They placed first in speed racking. Thanks to Bonnie Smith for the photo. And thanks to Billy for the ride!