A Star Has Risen - Mac's Rising Rebel

Articles

My first exposure to the versatility horse was at the Celebration in the early 90's. I loved watching the horses compete and I knew I wanted my own versatility horse. I purchased Mac's Rising Rebel (Mac) as a yearling stud colt in 1996. He was immediately entered into TWHBEA's Versatility program. A few months after purchasing Mac, I was sent overseas for 3 years. Mac stayed in training with Lonnie Kuehn who taught him how to drive and showed him in versatility classes and as a model horse. Mac had his model points by the time he turned three. My goal was for Mac to achieve his Supreme Versatility Championship by the time I started breeding him.

Mac has been an ambassador for the walking horse since he was 2 years old. He was sent to The Michigan Stallion Expo & Horse Fair in 1998 and 1999 to represent the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed. In 1998 Mac won the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association High Point category for Versatility Driving. In 1999 Mac was the Walking Horse Owners Association High Point Plantation Pleasure Horse of the Year. In March of 2000 Mac proved himself against other breeds by winning the Open Triathlon at the Volunteer Horse Fair in 2000. Mac traveled to Denver in the fall of 2000 and won the North American Pleasure Walking Horse Spotted Horse Grand Championship. In 2005 Mac won the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association High Point awards for Versatility Driving and TWH Over Fences.

As a stallion, Mac spent many hours on the trail. He really loves the Big South Fork Area. On the trail Mac is well mannered and a steady mount. He really likes to jump obstacles. I am not nearly as excited as he is when we approach a fallen log and I will say "Step, step" and Mac jumps!
In 2000 Mac started breeding some of my mares. He now has offspring in Missouri, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee. His offspring are showing that they have what it takes to be future Versatility Champions.
In order to see what Mac was good at, he competed in almost every event. He enjoyed some events more so than others. One thing I noticed about Mac during competition was that he viewed competition as a partnership and wanted to be asked to contribute. His favorite classes are Obstacle Driving, Trail Obstacle and TWH Hunter Over Fence.

Mac has been semi retired since 2002 but in 2005 he came back to the show ring with a vengeance. Our friends Nathan and Jennie Jackson needed a versatility horse for their daughter Rebekah to show in the Youth Division. Mac was gelded in 2004 so he was able to be shown by a youth. Rebekah took over the reins in April and both of them were ready for the TWHBEA show in July. He earned his remaining 2 points in TWH Hunter Over Fence with Rebekah Jackson at the TWHBEA World Versatility show. This was Rebekah's first time in TWH Hunter Over Fence. Mac was very willing and I knew the horse would go over anything if Rebekah asked him. They had a clean round and took Reserve in the class. Rebekah won the Reserve Youth High Point awards at the 2005 TWHBEA World Versatility Show and the 2005 International with Mac.

Mac earned points in Model, Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Versatility Driving, Pleasure Driving and TWH Hunter Over Fences to win his Supreme Versatility Championship. In 2005 Mac won the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association High Point category for Versatility Driving and TWH Over Fences. Mac is a horse that likes to work and we are finding many new venues for his talents.

–Ida Marie Panella