Abernathy Stables is a full service Walking Horse barn in Byhalia, MS. It is a training, show and sale barn, and also provides horse transportation services. Abernathy Stables has distinguished itself from other Walking Horse barns in the area by becoming one of the premier barns to start young horses.
The barn consists of 50 stalls, outdoor and indoor arenas, 10 crossties, one wash rack and three drying crossties. The indoor arena is completely enclosed, so trainers Edgar Abernathy and Jerry Woodlee can work throughout the winter. It is customary to start the colts that will be two-year olds in the winter, and the enclosed arena is necessary to do this during the cold months.
The colt-starting program is facilitated by the layout of the barn. In recent years the barn has had 30 or more colts to break in one season. This can only be done with the best employees and superior teamwork. The large number of crossties provides an area where the colts can be rotated from the saddling area to the arena to be ridden, to the wash rack, to the re-blanketing area. During a busy year, trainers step from one colt to the next, giving the horses the individual attention that they need. The young horses are only ridden a few minutes each time in order to not overtax their young bodies, but natural talent for the show ring is usually immediately apparent.
The colt-starting program has been a success because the trainers are experienced enough to know within a month or so if the colt is destined for a padded performance class, a flat-shod class, or the life of a pleasure horse. After they are started, some show colts continue their careers at Abernathy Stables and some go to other barns closer to their owners. This winter they started only 14 colts, which reflects the trend that is prevalent in other breeds of horses. The trend is to cut back on breeding because of the glut of unwanted horses that are a by-product of the recession. Responsible breeders don’t want to add to that unwanted population. Of the fourteen colts started this season; eight are still in training, a percentage higher than normal.
Usually over three quarters of the colts started are sold as pleasure horses or field trial horses. These horses don’t have enough natural “step” to make show horses, but their smooth gaits and great minds make them ideal for many people’s needs. More people are buying gaited horses, in part, because baby-boomers are getting older. Most people agree that the flat-walk is easier to sit than the trot. Buyers are demanding naturally gaited, sound horses, and Abernathy Stables delivers.
Abernathy Stables has success, partly because of the way they market the colts. Every year the barn hosts a “Colt Preview Party” during the latter part of January. Owners and trainers from regional barns are invited to bring their colts to be seen by potential buyers. Sales are usually made during the day, but there is always fun at the party, which includes a cookout, a D.J., dancing and lots of socializing.
Successes from last year’s colt-starting program include Bad Economy, who won the World Grand Championship in the two-year old Amateur division at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Vinson and Kail, long time customers at Abernathy Stable, own Bad Economy.
The barn is also a place to nurture young riders as well as young horses. The barn’s young riders brought home blue ribbons from last year’s National Walking Horse Celebration. The Eleven and under Juvenile Division was divided into two parts. Lauren Brady on Twisted Chief took one blue ribbon, and Maggie Kail on Free to Score claimed the other blue. Maggie and Free to Score showed in the championship class and were the Reserve Owner Amateur 11 & Under World Grand Champion. Their ribbons and keepsakes from these classes adorn the new barn office.
Bringing home blue ribbons from the Celebration Open Divisions was Jerry Woodlee, who rode Silver Shiraz to the 2010 Specialty Mares and Geldings World Championship. The most prized ribbon in the barn is not a blue. In 2009, Edgar Abernathy rode Cadillac’s Bum to a fourth place in the “Big Stake” class at the Celebration, proving that he had trained the fourth best horse in the world in 2009.
The success that Abernathy Stables is enjoying may be due to Edgar Abernathy’s decision to “go big” several years ago. In 2006, he made sacrifices to add the larger barn and indoor arena. He knew he had to have it to become a world-class barn, and to surround himself with talented people. Edgar hired Bryan DeBerry as Assistant Trainer, whom the MS Horse Show Association later named Assistant Trainer of the year. Edgar, then barely 30, persuaded veteran trainer Jerry Woodlee to move from Shelbyville and join Abernathy Stables as Co-trainer. This combination proved to be magical as Edgar has been named Mississippi Trainer of the Year every year from 2007 to 2010. Edgar’s smart decisions and dedication to sound horses have proved the basis for a winning philosophy.
Visitors are always welcome at Abernathy Stables, but “open house” night is Thursday night, when owners with busy work schedules can ride their horses and plan for the upcoming show weekend. Join Abernathy Stables on Facebook or visit them on Jason Way in Byhalia, MS.
