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.
Wilson's Allen Roy Wilson Wilson Allen Repeat The Last Wilson Allen Haynes Peacock Slippery Allen Fulton's Wilson Allen Victor Allen Wartrace Miller's Wilson Allen Strolling Jim The G Man Wilson's Allen's Replica Hill's Wilson's Allen Sir Maugray Wilson Allen Again Wilson's Allen Jr Wilson's Allen's Sunset Gold Wilson Allen's Dictator Frank Wilson Gold Bond King's Wilson's Allen Red Warrior Top Wilson Wilson's Allen's Boss Man Wilson's Allen's II Wilson's Allen's Order Billy Wilson Fisher's Wilson's Allen Governor Wilson Hi-Boy King of Haven King of the Alamo Limestone Wilson Midnight Sun Skipper Son Midnight Ebony Masterpiece Ebony's Senator Ebony Mountain Man Ebony's True Grit Another Masterpiece Ebony's Bold Courier Dr ElmerKiwanis Club hosting annual event Black ChargerIn Memory of Masquerading Talk of the Town Midnight's Major B Major Wilson Midnight Mack Rodgers Perfection Perfectionist's Carbon Copy Shades of Carbon Mack K's Handshaker Shaker's Shocker Handshaker's Delight Sun's Quarterback Triple Threat Threat's Supreme Sun's Jet Parade Setting Sun Sun's Gunsmoke Drug Dealer The Pusher Sun's Delight Delight Bummin Around Black Go Boy Sun Go Boys Black Fury Motown MagicNever Dunn Pride of Midnight Pride's Design Flashy Pride Pride's Gold Coin Coin's Hard Cash Pride's Royal Master Mind Games Pride's Generator Gen's Major General Gen's Armed and Dangerous Gen's Fable A Jazz Man Generator's Santana Generator's Silver Dollar The Skywatch Pride's Jubilee Star Pride's Sundance Star Pride's Jubilee Encore Pride's Secret Threat Pride's Genius The Revelation A Command Performance He's Puttin' on the Ritz Pride's John Grey Another Grey JohnThe Touch draws crowd of horse fans to Bishopville event Pride's Dark Spirit Dark Spirit's Rebel Delight of Pride Pride's Final Edition Wilson Dean Wilson's Ace Wilson's Allen Winchester Wilson's Allen's Echo Wilson's Flight Allen Society Man
Pedigree
Pedigree of Wilson's AllenSireRoan AllenBlack Allan*Allendorf*Onward*Alma Mater*Maggie Marshall*Bradfords Telegraph*Truman Pollock mare*GertrudeRoyal DenmarkArtist(unknown)Ball IIBullet Jr.BallDamBirdie MessickBlack Allan*Allendorf*Onward*Alma Mater*Maggie Marshall*Bradfords Telegraph*Truman Pollock mare*NellieWalking Dan AllenMajorMartha WashingtonMinnie ReadyHal SummerReadys Stonewall
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