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Back in the Saddle
Back in
the Saddle
Article featured in The Show Ring Times Janurary 4, 2010 written by Joe Pfeffer.
“I’m
lucky to be around here today,” Marvin Ward said with enthusiastic
gratitude. “I feel a whole lot better. I was bitin’ at the bit to
get back on a horse the whole time I was in the hospital.”
This
was in early December, just days after Marvin emerged from nine tense
days in hospital. “He got pneumonia,” his daughter Amanda told
the horse world from her facebook post. “it developed into
pleurisy. He had a staph infection in July. That’s how it started.”
It’s
one thing to come back quickly from a serious, life threatening
illness. It’s something else to do it when you’re 78 years old,
an age when many have long been retired. Yet no one was surprised
when Marvin came back. The only surprise would have been if he’d
spent a long time convalescing.
And he
was as full of piss and vinegar as ever. He didn’t want to waste
time talking about his illness. He wanted to talk about the two young
horses he and Amanda are getting ready to bring out. The way he
talked about them was pure Marvin Ward: “I get the gaited horse.
Amanda gets the park horse.”
Few
Saddlebred trainers have had the kind of long term impact and shaping
influence on his chosen region that Marvin Ward has had on Georgia
and the Southeast. One that comes to mind is Robert H. Lewis, who was
one of Marvin’s early mentors. Bob Lewis has been putting his
unique stamp on the San Francisco Bay area and the larger California
scene for nearly 70 years. Marvin’s imprint on Georgia is more than
40 years on, but like California, it is impossible to imagine the
Saddlebred world in Georgia and the deep South without him and his
family.
His
life has been a straight, true, unwavering trajectory of working with
show horses. There is no evidence he ever thought of doing anything
else. He spent his early years near Greenville, South Carolina, an
area with a storied Saddlebred history. The Ward family was not
wealthy, and like many a traditional southern family they worked in
the cotton mills.
But as
Marvin’s daughter Angie tells the story, that was not for her
father. The family lived near the venerable Cleveland Park Stables,
which at the time was managed by Glen Lanning. At the age of 11,
Marvin began hanging around Cleveland Park. A couple of years later
he became, in effect, Lanning’s assistant.
Lanning
was a story in himself. A kind of illiterate genius, he had his own
way of working with horses. He knew exactly what he wanted, and had a
reputation as one of the most cantankerous men alive. He had the
saltiest of tongues and the meanest of tempers, but those who could
get along with him got a graduate education in horse training.
“Glen
could ride a horse better than anybody I knew of,” Marvin said. “He
didn’t tell you a lot, but he had great skill. I watched. I applied
what I saw and it worked. Glen was actually very generous. He gave me
a break most other trainers wouldn’t have. I was just a kid, and he
let me ride and break colts. I don’t know who else I could have
done that with.”
Marvin
pauses, then adds, “’Course, some people couldn’t put up with
the way he talked. If he seen you do something wrong, he’d lay into
you. Let you have it. But you could learn more from him than from
anybody.” Lanning trusted Marvin so much he had him take care of
what was at the time his best horse, Easter Parade.
Marvin
Ward has been associated with the Atlanta area for so long, it’s
hard to believe that, like most young trainers, he had his years of
wandering. After working for Lanning he spent 10 years in Miami, then
moved to Leeds, Alabama. His time in Leeds wasn’t long, but it
resulted in what may be the most important event in his life: a blind
date!
“The
man that owned the feed store in Leeds had a sister-in-law who wasn’t
married. Her name was Audrey. His wife fixed me up with her. We were
all going out together. At the last minute the feed store man and his
wife couldn’t go. Me and Audrey went out anyway and had a good
time. She knew nothing about horses. Even so, the blind date turned
into 43 years. We’re partners in everything. She never left my side
when I was in the hospital.”
The
next move was to California, where Marvin worked under Bob Lewis at
Silver Lining Stables. A big break came when he got the training job
at Turner Stables in Roanoke. There among others, he produced the
winners Havana Hijack, Jennifer Tuner Joyner’s amateur champion,
and Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats, Nancy Turner’s junior exhibitor
three-gaited horse.
It was
in the winter of 1973 that Marvin and Audrey Ward made the move that
would set the course for the rest of their lives. In the midst of one
of those unique Atlanta ice storms, more terrifying than any northern
blizzard, they moved to Claramere Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia. “Bad
beginnings make good endings,” co-owner Sara Bagen said later. She
could hardly have known how accurate the statement was.
Marvin’s
tenure at Claramere helped put the state of Georgia on the
Saddledbred and road horse map. “You could always tell when
Claramere arrived at the shows,” Angie Ward says, “bringing its
endless convoys of trucks and trailers filled with Marvin’s show
string.”
Champions
included the Saddlebreds Duke of Crebilly, Shot Of Fire and Spring
Valley Gamecock, and the unique roadster Nan Eyre: “There’s never
been a horse that could trot a turn in a small ring as fast as he
could.”
Even
in the dazzling Claramere string certain horses stood out. One was
Lucky Commander, who called on all the techniques Marvin had learned
from Glen Lanning years before. Marvin Ward was the only trainer who
could not only get along with the notorious stallion, but bring him
to the winner’s circle. Another was the spectacular three-gaited
champion Sultan’s Symbol, whose breathtaking performances often
brought crowds to their feet. Most satisfying of all for Marvin was
Marilyn Bagen’s amateur five-gaited horse Gung Ho. He almost died
at Louisville the first year they took him, but two years of what
Angie calls “love, patience and hard work” brought him back to
become Claramere’s first World’s Champion.
Claramere
closed its doors in 1979. It was time for Marvin to open his own
training barn. Near 50, he was beginning the most important phase of
his career, when he would become a central force in his region,
helping consolidate the booming city of Atlanta and its sprawling
surrounding area as a major center of the Saddlebred world. 1980 was
his first year operating his own stable at full power, so this year
is its 30’th anniversary. The Wards have been at their present
location in Alpharetta since 1994.
The
list of winning horses trained at Marvin Ward Stables over the last
30 years would fill an encylopedia of top Saddlebreds and roadsters.
Among the winners are Canterbury Commander, The Valet, Palomine’s
Royal Heir, Manhattan Lullaby and Talk Of Victory. Range Rover and CH
Spring Valley’s Sweetheart went on to become World’s
Championships. If you ask Marvin what horse has been his favorite
since he struck out on his own he’s likely to mention Dynasty.
“I
bought him off the racetrack,” he says. “I took him right to the
winner’s circle in Tampa. Nancy Noble owned him, sold him to Sam
Brannon. He became Amateur World’s Champion.”
The late 70’s-early
‘80’s was a crucial time in Georgia. Its two most important shows
were getting underway. One was Southeastern Charity, which Marvin
helped start. He has never missed a show, not even when he suffered
heat stroke two days before the start. Marvin and Audrey were more
instrumental in founding the Pro-Am Benefit Show, which kicks off the
season for many exhibitors both in and outside the Southeast. Pro-Am
traditionally starts at the end of March. It’s a bracing experience
for northerners, still digging out of winter, to come down south and
feel spring already in full flower. Either Marvin or Audrey have been
on the board since the founding. The 2010 show is dedicated to them.
In the
early ‘90’s Marvin helped start the career of Martha’s
Highlight, who went on to be Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure
World’s Champion. For the Duane Goodman family he had such horses
as Supreme Summer, CH Gemma, No Jacket Required and the junior
exhibitor five-gaited champion The Magic Hour. During the past five
years he’s worked such champions as Carmel Delivery, Quinlan, Walk
This Way and Worthy’s Can’t Touch This. There has been no
slowing down.
As
Marvin and Audrey’s business was growing, so was their family. They
married in the mid-60’s, and their two daughters, Angie and Amanda,
were born not long after. The Wards raised their daughters much as
they conducted other parts of their lives: they were integral to the
scene from the beginning, included in all the activities, yet allowed
to develop their lives and careers as they saw fit. You won’t hear
either one say her only option was to train horses. And both, as
Marvin puts it “ran away” in their youth.
They
ran away to the world of radio, specifically in its country music
variety. One is still at it, but credits her parents with her success
and sees them often. The other, after a 10-year stint with Clear
Channel in Nashville, came home to stay. That was Amanda. More and
more as the years go by, she is becoming the vital center of Marvin
Ward Stables.
Angie
is ensconced in her career as a disc-jockey at WTQR in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, a country music powerhouse. She remains close to her
family. There’s a remarkable story about her that illustrates just
how close she is to them, and how deep a part of her life they are.
In
1999 Angie Ward was nominated for the Country Music Association’s
prestigious Personality of the Year award, which she won at the
Awards ceremony in 2000. It was one of the high points of her life.
But on the same day as the nomination ceremony in Nashville, her
father was inducted into the Southeastern Charity Horse Show Hall of
Fame. Angie chose to read her father’s induction speech rather than
go to Nashville. It’s impossible to imagine greater respect for a
parent and his accomplishments.
Amanda,
meanwhile, was in her own executive position in radio. At the same
time, she was more involved with horses than her sister. Around the
time of her father’s induction, she made the big decision: she left
radio to come back and work at the stable. In classic Ward fashion,
she’s never looked back. Skilled in public relations, Amanda
informs the world of goings on at the stable even as she trains,
instructs, takes horses to shows.
It was
because of Amanda that the Saddlebred fraternity knew of Marvin’s
illness almost as soon as he did. There’s no doubt that the
thoughts and prayers of hundreds helped buoy the family’s spirit at
the darkest time, and helped Marvin pull through to better health
than he was in before.
As
Ward Stables enters it’s fourth decade it’s going as strong as
ever. Maybe stronger. Marvin, Audrey and Amanda are a smooth
functioning team, with father and daughter sharing training duties
while mom teaches. The customers are an enthusiastic bunch who
themselves feel part of the family.
Brenda
Cormier is one of these. Her comments are typical: “All
of us love Marvin. He can seem rough, but he’s really gentle on the
inside. You can hear him yelling on the sidelines at a show. Then you
go home and you can hear him talking to horses in the stalls. He’s
a very caring man. The horses come first. He’ll be riding down the
aisle and the horses in the stall will come to the door and want to
go over to him. They love him. And he can ride the tail off of
anything.”
Brenda
is a transplant from New England. She started riding in her native
Connecticut at the age of 12. “I wanted to ride hunters and
jumpers, but the woman I took lessons from had Saddlebreds, and I got
hooked”. She has the pleasure horse Rock Ripper in training, and
finished off the 2009 season with a win at Southeastern Charity. A
young woman with two sons, Brenda sees Marvin as a role model,
especially after his remarkable comeback from serious illness in his
late 70’s. “I want to be like him when I’m 90,” she said.
“That’s what’s going to keep me young.”
Other
customers include Hannah Swanson, daughter of Daniel and Sonia
Swanson of Canton, GA. Hannah started riding eight years ago with
Marvin and Audrey. 2009 was her first year showing Gigolo Joe in
Junior Exhibitor Park. They won the ASHAG Juvenile High Point title.
Hannah’s little brother Jack tags along for lessons.
Greg
and Kim Elwell of Canton, GA have two horses with the Wards. One is
simply called Nightie. She’s a bay mare by First Night Out. The
Elwells’ son Jack won the Walk/Trot Only Pleasure division at the
Alabama Charity Horse Show. The Elwells recently purchased the junior
five-gaited prospect Fox’s Lucky Charm, by Fox Creek out of a
Caramac mare. Right on Jack’s heels is his sister Carson. She made
her show ring debut at the Fall Clemson Horse Show.
Another
ASHAG High Point Champion is Harlem’s All Eyes On Me, owned by Todd
and Candace Kimbrough Equine Holdings LLC of Austin, Texas. Candace
shows All Eyes On Me in amateur park. One of the more intriguing Ward
customers is Rhiannon Barreda of Savannah. Her riding career is
currently on hold because she is serving a tour of duty in
Afghanistan. She purchased Santa Cruz months before her departure and
made a few shows before she left.
Tripp
& Angie Matheny of Alpharetta—in the Wards’ backyard—own
Long John’s Hi Lite. Daughter Sydney shows. They gave an
outstanding performance at Alabama Charity to end the show season.
Sydney’s little sister Claire takes lessons at the barn. Melinda
Jenkins of Cumming owns the ASB Western pleasure mare Highpoint’s
Ultimate Lady. They won at the biggest southeastern shows, including
Blue Ridge Classic and Marvin’s old hometown show, J.D. Massey.
They are the ASHA Region 10 Western Pleasure champions.
With these and other
customers, a picture emerges: Marvin Ward Stables is an extended
family. The people who ride there consider themselves more than
customers. Since all three trainers are nuclear family members, and
since the barn’s #1 cheerleader is another family member, it’s
easy for everyone to fall right in.
Jan
Henderson may be the most striking example of this family atmosphere.
Jan says she’s been showing horses for 45 years. Like many people
in this part of the world, she started with Tennessee Walkers,
trained by none other than Boyd Hudgins. When she was still Jan
Pennington the late Helen Crabtree used her as an authority on
Walking Horse equitation for the revised version of her classic
Saddle Seat Equitation. Jan’s formative Saddlebred teacher was
Anne Neil at Blythewood Farm.
Her
Western Pleasure horse High Concept won the Working Finals at St.
Louis, and placed reserve three times in the overall Shatner finals.
For
Saddlebred performance horses Jan and her husband Jim have long been
customers of the Wards. Everything they do seems an integral part of
the operation. Jan had several good years with the ASB Show Pleasure
champion Talk Radio, winning top ribbons throughout the Southeast.
There couldn’t have been a more aptly named horse in a family who
boasts one of America’s top radio personalities. “Angie came up
with his barn name,” Jan says. “It’s Mike—for microphone.”
The
Henderson’s current project is the four-year-old park pleasure
prospect Don’t Say That. He’s a big bay colt by WC Night Of
Roses, out of a mare by WC Harlem Globetrotter. Jan is excited about
his prospects for 2010. But to her, the most interesting thing about
him is his name. In that name lies perhaps the true secret of what
makes Ward Stables unique, what gives it a caring presence beyond the
horses, the customers, the wins at major shows. Jan tells the story
of her grandson Jay:
“Don’t
Say That is one of Jay’s favorite sayings. He has to have a lot of
procedures, difficult painful, so he often says ‘Don’t say that’
when someone tells him he has to have another. We got the colt in
early November and immediately renamed him.”
Jay
Love is a sort of unofficial mascot of Ward Stables. Amanda posts
continuing bulletins and pictures of him on facebook, so the whole
Saddlebred world knows who he is.
In
2008 Jay was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He was a
year-and-a-half-old. “After his first surgery they said he had a
50-50 chance,” Jan says. “It’s the kind of tumor that tends to
come back even after they remove it. Jay’s had a lot of
chemotherapy, radiation. Right now he’s great—last MRI was good
and clean. But we never know when there’ll be a recurrence.”
When
the Wards talk about Jay, you’re sure they’re talking about a
beloved family member. Marvin treats him like a grandson. “Jay
loves the horses,” Jan says. “New York Fire—that’s Jay’s
horse. He’s ridden him in lead line. Jay’s special to a lot of
folks. He’s got a lot of big supporters. A lot of people keep up
with him.”
It’s
almost as if Marvin and Jay were cut from the same cloth.
Seventy-five years separates them, but they both have struggled with
serious illness and been helped by their love of horses and the love
of horse people for them.
The
future of Ward Stables looks bright. At present the entire staff is
family, and there’s every indication it’s going to stay that way.
“When I quit, looks like she’s gonna step right in my shoes,”
Marvin says of Amanda.
He
describes his daughter much as he describes himself: “She never
quits learning. Every day you can learn something new. Amanda learns
an awful lot just from watching. She took over 100% when I was sick.
I’m so proud of her I can’t stand it. A lot of people who’ve
worked for me couldn’t do half what she does.”
For
all that, “Uncle Marvin,” as he’s known throughout the
Saddlebred world, is still the boss. “Next year,” he says, “I
get the gaited horse (Fox’s Lucky Charm). Amanda gets the park
horse (Don’t Say That).”
It may
be best to let the family’s professional talker have the last word:
“The people I admire most in the world are my parents,” Angie
Ward says, “because they are successful, honest, hard working
people and they taught me to be the same.”
That’s
the reason the Ward family has prospered for so long, and will do so
for many years in the future. | 
Marvin
and Audrey Ward have been married 41 years! They have two daughters,
Angie and Amanda. Marvin gained his love for horses at a
young
age while grooming at a stable near his home in Greenville, South
Carolina. Audrey is originally from Leeds, Alabama. The Wards
moved to Georgia in 1972. 
