(1991-2007)

Masquerading, a 16-hand, black roan stallion is no stranger to the Celebration's winner's circle.  He captured the titles of Amateur World Grand Champion and preliminary champion in 1997 under the direction of Dee Dee Miller Sale with a perfect possible total of ten first place judges' votes.   He is the fourth horse in Celebration history to accomplish this fete, following World Grand Champions B. Major Wilson, Ebony's Mountain Man, and The Pusher C. G.   Out of Pusher's Morning Star and sired by Eb's Black Charger, 1986 Reserve World Grand Champion who carries the bloodlines of World Grand Champions Ebony Masterpiece and Threat's Supreme, Masquerading's pedigree reads like a who's who of the Tennessee Walking Horse world.

Masquerading was bred by Bobby Bishop of Brodhead, Kentucky, who later sold half interest in him as a yearling to Willis "Snuffy" Smith of London, Kentucky.   He received his early training from Burton before he was purchased by the Miller family as a mount for daughter Dee Dee.

The only time he was shown as a two-year-old, the eye-catching young horse brought home a blue ribbon. He ended his three-year-old year with a win in the three-year-old Classic at the Kentucky Celebration.  Masquerading was moved to Knox Blackburn's Franklin, Tennessee, facility in the spring of his four-year-old year, and under his guidance, the stallion captured several wins and improved with each outing.  With amateur wins at the Trainers' Show, Walking Horse Trainers' Auxiliary, Germantown Charity Show, North Carolina Championships, 1997 Amateur World Grand Champion, 1996-1997 Amateur Stallions preliminary World Champion, he was also voted

• 1996-1997 Amateur Horse of the Year,

• 1996 National High Point Amateur Stallion Champion by the Walking Horse Owners' Association, and

•  Walking Horse Report's Readers' Choice Amateur Stallion for 1996-1997.  

The stallion proved that he could handle open competition when he was chosen Aged Stallion Champion at the Spring Fun Show in 1997.

Following the 1997 Celebration, Masquerading stood at stud at Bridlewood Farm in Shelbyville.  In April of this year, due to the stately stallion's popularity in the breeding domain, the Millers opted to campaign him for the coveted World Grand Championship.  He was returned to Blackburn Stables the first week of June where he began training full time, also upholding his breeding commitments through the middle of July. His only show before the Celebration was at Lewisburg where he won the Championship Stake.

The class had been exciting with 13 stallions from four preliminaries entering the show ring. A final workout was called with six entries. This added to the crowd's exhilaration which, in turn, seemed to cause each entrant to reach a little further for the victory at hand.  Masquerading, the seven-year-old stallion owned by the Gilbert Miller family of Richmond, Kentucky, made the performance of his life to win the industry's most prestigious title.  Earlier in the week, he had scored an across the board victory in the Aged Stallions, Division A Class.

Blackburn, the 31-year-old Franklin trainer, says that getting the horse into show shape was not hard for him.  He says Masquerading is very talented and has unbelievable stamina.   For the young Blackburn, his ultimate dream came true on a once-in-a-lifetime horse.  Masquerading is now retired to stud at Glen Oaks Farm, operated by Ricky Womack, in Murfreesboro, TN."

We are sad to report that 1998 WGC Masquerading passed away this morning, July 5th, 2007 at UT Knoxville after surgery to correct a sudden intestinal ailment. WGC Masquerading stood at Womack Stables at Glen Oaks Farm in Murfreesboro.   Rest in peace!

----- Original Message -----
From: Spottdhorselover@aol.com 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 4:45 PM
Subject: Masquerading

Hi! I LOVE your site! I ride Spotted Saddle Horses, but I've always liked Walking Horses, too! I don't know if this would be counted as a story about Masquerading, but I wanted to tell you anyway. I have a Spotted horse by Masquerading, Masquerading K-Gen, and he is AWESOME!!! He's a 4-year-old triple registered Walking-Spotted horse, black roan, and 16 hands. He is a World Beater! He was the 2-year-old NSSHA Amateur horse of the year, and the 2 and 3-year-old Lite Shod Amateur World Champion in the NSSHA. We bought him from Ronny and Kelly Summers in Dayton, Tennessee, and he is now located at Winning Gait Farms in Pikeville, Tennessee. I showed him one time this season, in Chattsworth, Georgia, at the Murray County SSH Georgia Championships. I took first in the Juvenile 12-17 Lite Shod class, and I've never had so much fun in my life! You should see him drop down in the back end and pick his front feet up over knee-high!! I'm proud of him, and I'm proud of Masquerading! I'm enclosing a picture of K-Gen with this email, and I hope you like him! Once again, I love your site!

Sincerely,
Amanda Flynn
P.S, This isn't the best picture of him, but believe me, if you could see him in action, you couldn't tell the difference between him and Masquerading!

----- Original Message -----
From: SISTERSHUGARBAR@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2006 10:21 PM
Subject: (no subject)
Hi,
We are an older retired couple, that have recently purchased a filly sired by Masquerading. Her name is aptly registered as Masquerading's Darling and she is his cameo. She is three years old and a beautiful offspring of a wonderful World Grand Champion. At present, she is enjoying being a "young girl" and learning all of the qualities of just being a horse. We have shown her once or twice last year as a 2 year old, winning ribbons.
"Darlin" has the unique ability to either "walk" or "rack" depending on how we shoe her. At present time, her ground training continues. We hope to have many wonderful years with her here at Double H Stables. We also have the privilege of owning the stallion, Tower of Power, out of the Power Associates. He is a phenomenal stallion, who is 25 years old, still showing and still standing at stud.
Papaw and I would enjoy hearing from anyone who has an offspring of Masquerading. We truly love our herd and we love people. When I get our portfolio completed, I will send in pictures of all of our "gang".

Cecil & Lois Hawkins
Double H Stables
Old Fort, Tn

I am a detective with the Clarksville Police Department in Clarksville, Tennessee.  I am also a member of our Mounted Police Unit where we are lucky and blessed enough to have 9 beautiful Tennessee Walkers and one of them happens to be an offspring of the great Masquerading.  His registered name is Masquerads Born to Boogie and he is a mirror image of Masquerading.  Since he is a police horse now, he is known around the barn as “Trooper”.  He has such a sweet and lovable disposition, but when his tack is being put on, he knows its time to go to work.  Though he is not following in his father’s hoof steps, Trooper is definitely carrying on the great tradition and mystique that his bloodline has set in motion.  Masquerading is living on in our hearts and minds in a different arena; law enforcement.  Who woulda thunk it?!     

Thank You,

Michael Patterson
Detective Michael Patterson
District 3 Criminal Investigations
Clarksville Police Department
(931) 648-0656 ext.3005

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Michael,
That is a great story - can we put that on Masquerading's page?  I think it is so important for people to see how versatile this breed is and how kind and sensible they are.  We deal only in pleasure and trail type Tennessee Walkers as there is no demand for the "big-lick' show horse here in Texas - and if someone does want one, they are going to TN to buy it.  I have not known many police horses but I do remember a number of years ago when Ross Perot bought a bunch of nice Tennessee Walkers and donated them to the New York City police department as they were having a problem finding good horses for police work.

Keep up the good work with Trooper - everyone needs to hear his story.

Mary Ellen Areaux
Walkers West
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----- Original Message -----
From: Patterson, Michael
To: Mary Ellen Areaux
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 10:06 AM
Subject: RE: Masquerading offspring

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