By Sarah Gee
©Voice, May 2006

Jackie Whatley’s involvement with Tennessee Walking Horses began with a gift from her late husband, J.W. She recalls, “Back in 1965, my husband and I were involved in racing Quarter Horses and at a sale J.W. saw this horse go through at a nice running walk. He purchased it for me and that was the beginning of my involvement with walking horses.” Since that day in 1965, Jackie, a longtime resident of Tampa, Florida, has thoroughly enjoyed everything the Tennessee Walking Horse has to offer – from breeding, to trail riding, to showing.

In 1973, Jackie attended her first Celebration with good friends Lois Drouge and Mary Jane Palmer. It was her first visit to middle Tennessee and she was impressed. She relates, “What I remembered most was the beautiful horse farms scattered all through the scenic rolling hills of the region. I was also struck by the people, they were all so friendly and easy going.”

A couple years later, Lois Drouge sold Jackie her first broodmare. The mare, a Spirit Of Midnight mare, had already produced the popular show ring contender Ebony’s Valiant Son. Her arrival on the Whatley farm sparked Jackie’s interest in horse breeding and since that time she has consistently maintained between five and 10 broodmares. Of her interest in breeding, Jackie states, “I’m very interested in the breeding aspect of the industry and have, together with my friend Paige Edwards, attended two breeding management courses at Colorado State University. I’ve also taken courses at the University of Florida and at TSU.”

Since 1985, Jackie’s broodmare interest has centered around one mare, Breakdance. She purchased Breakdance in 1985 from Carl Edwards & Sons Stables. The mare carried her to one top five and two top 10 finishes at the 1985 and 1987 Celebrations before being retired to the breeding barn. Breakdance then produced both Gen’s Breakdance and Generator’s Raindancer. Jackie directed Gen’s Breakdance to an Amateur 15.2 & Under Mares Reserve World Championship and Generator’s Raindancer walked away with a Two-Year-Old National Futurity Championship. Breakdance also has two well-known grandsons, Amateur Three-Year-Old WC and RWGC Cash’s Blackjack and Show Pleasure RWGC Dances With Wolves. Since the late 1980s, Jackie’s broodmare band has consisted primarily of Breakdance descendants.

Jackie began showing walking horses in the early 1970s. She has had horses with a number of trainers including Carlton Pitts, Larry & Gary Edwards, David Landrum, Vicki Self, T. Tommy & William Harris, Allan Callaway, Sammy Day, Wayne Conkle, and Bill Bobo. When asked to describe her most memorable show ring moment, she answers, “That would have to be showing Pushover’s Spotlight to the 1999 Amateur Novice Reserve World Grand Championship under the direction of Sammy Day.” Privileged to have a number of memorable horses, Jackie’s string has also included Eb’s Red Baron, Manners of Senator, Gen’s Fan Dancer, Cash’s Twilight, Skywatch’s Copper Coin, Josette, and Ozone Clone. Currently she has great hopes for her Bill Bobo trained three-year-old Oh Manhattan and her Florida based park performance contender Dancing With Cash. She also enjoys showing and trail riding a pleasure horse that she has in training with Wayne Conkle in Bushnell, Florida.

An attorney by trade, Jackie is board certified in real property and concentrates her practice in commercial real estate and business law. She is currently serving as president of the Tampa law firm Gibbons, Tucker, Miller, Whatley, and Stein. Jackie’s keen mind has kept her in demand as an officer and board member of a number of our industry’s organizations. She has served nine years as a director from Florida for the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association^SM (TWHBEA^SM). She has also served as Enforcement Vice President for TWHBEA^SM. Closer to home, she has served as the president of the Florida Walking and Racking Horse Association.

Discussing the horse that has captivated her for so many years, Jackie relates, “I think it’s the great temperament and easy way of going that keeps me coming back. I just love to ride, whether it be on the trail or in the show ring.” When asked how the industry has changed during her years of involvement, she replies, “The industry has grown and the horses have become more versatile. The horses have improved tremendously, both the performance horses and the pleasure horses, in both conformation and ability.”

From breeding, to showing, to trial riding, Jackie Whatley is a true Tennessee Walking Horse enthusiast. She has experienced and enjoyed everything our great breed has to offer and she has gone out of her way to serve and support our industry. Our breed simply could not prosper without quality, well-rounded individuals like Jackie Whatley.