Merry Walker was called "the greatest broodmare of all time" and was the only mare to produce two World Grand Champions: Rodgers Perfection and Go Boy's Shadow.

Merry Walker was foaled in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on June 18, 1939. The breeders were Harold H. Earthman, Sr., and his son, Harold Jr. She was black with hind socks and a star.

In September of 1941, Merry Walker was sold to John D. King of Texas for $500. Because black horses were not popular at that time, she didn't demand as much money as her flashy-colored counterparts. J. H. Thompson became her next owner in November of 1942. Mr. Thompson, the father of legendary walking horse trainer, Vic Thompson, captured fifth place with Merry Walker in the Four and Over Mare Class at the 1944 Celebration. Shown as Smoky Mountain Gal, Thompson entered the mare in the World Grand Championship that same year, and placed fifth again.

Having seen her performances at the '44 Celebration, Dr. Porter R. Rodgers of Searcy, Arkansas became the mare's next owner. He purchased her in 1945, although she was badly foundered by then, and paid $2,000 for her.

Merry Walker produced the following eight offspring:

Sun's Dark Lady #472325 (Sire: Midnight Sun) Winner of seven Celebration ribbons - 1950 - 3rd in Three Year Old Mares class 1950 - 3rd in Amateur Championship Stake class 1950 - 2nd in Owner-Amateur class 1955 - 5th in Amateur Lady Riders class 1955 - 5th in Amateur Championship Stake class 1956 - 1st in Amateur Judging class 1956 - 2nd in Owner-Amateur Lady Riders

Merry Earthman #530528 (Sire: Midnight Sun)

Go Boy's Shadow #540615 (Sire: Merry Go Boy) Two time World Grand Champion and winner of seven Celebration ribbons - 1954 - 2nd Two Year Old Stallions & Geldings 1954 - 2nd Two Year Old Championship Stake 1955 - 1st Three Year Old Walking Stallions 1955 - 1st Junior Championship Stake 1955 - 1st Grand Championship Stake 1956 - 1st Stallions Four Years Old & Over 1956 - 1st Grand Championship Stake

Anne's Merry #551107 (Sire: Midnight Mack K.)

Rodgers Perfection #551107 (Sire: Midnight Mack K.) World Grand Champion, winner of five Celebration ribbons, and sire of World Grand Champion, Carbon Copy. 1957 - 6th Two Year Old Championship Stake 1958 - 3rd Three Year Old Walking Stallions 1958 - 2nd Junior Championship Stake 1959 - 1st Stallions Four Years Old & Over 1959 - 1st Grand Championship Stake

Shadow's Sis W. #640433 (Sire: Merry Go Boy)

Dam of World Grand Champion, Mark of Carbon.

Sensational Sue R. #652733 (Sire: Merry Go Boy)

Merry Walkers Doll R. #652757 (Sire: Rodgers Perfection)

Merry Walker is the only mare to produce two World Grand Champions, Go Boy's Shadow and Rodgers Perfection. The fact that the two champions had different sires further illustrates the scope of Merry Walker's influence. In 1964, she produced a full sister to Go Boy's Shadow, Shadow's Sis W.

Shadow's Sis W. was bred to the Merry Walker grandson, Carbon Copy to produce the 1978 World Grand Champion, Mark of Carbon. Mark of Carbon carried the blood of Merry Walker on both sides of his pedigree.

Merry Walker herself was sired by the great Merry Boy, whose monumental impact on the Tennessee Walking Horse breed is evidenced through the offspring of his daughters. Merry Walker is one of five Merry Boy mares who produced six horses that won the World Grand Championship nine times. An interesting point about Merry Walker is that genetically, she was half Standardbred, with her dam, Earthmans Queen Mary, being from legendary ATR lines.

Conformation, pedigree, show record and progeny... Merry Walker was one of the greatest Tennessee Walking Horse broodmares.

MERRY WALKER TWHBEA #391238 DOB: 6/18/1939  DOD: Y COLOR: BLACK MARKINGS: BOTH HIND SOCKS, STAR.	MERRY BOY TWHBEA #350189 COLOR: BLACK SABINO	ROAN ALLEN TWHBEA #F-38 COLOR: CHESTNUT SABINO HEIGHT: 15.3H	ALLAN TWHBEA #F-1 COLOR: BLACK
			GERTRUDE TWHBEA #84 COLOR: CHESTNUT SABINO MARKINGS: FOUR STOCKINGS, BALD, MIXED MANE AND TAIL.
		MERRY LEGS TWHBEA #F-4 COLOR: BAY SABINO	ALLAN TWHBEA #F-1 COLOR: BLACK
			NELL DEMENT TWHBEA #3 COLOR: CHESTNUT
	EARTHMAN'S QUEEN MARY TWHBEA #391237 COLOR: BAY MARKINGS: FOUR FETLOCKS, STAR, SNIP.	DIRECTUM J TWHBEA #71 COLOR: UNKNOWN	CHAMBERTIN TWHBEA #11545
			ARGOT BELLE TWHBEA #11546
		ROMINA HEIR TWHBEA #10470 COLOR: UNKNOWN	UNKNOWN
			UNKNOWN

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