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“The spatial memory comes in very handy in
breeding Arabian horses in that I have a strong
mental picture of what I’m to produce and can breed
toward that goal. Also, through the years I’ve tried to
hone that skill by making a quick visual assessment of
horses.” — BAZY TANKERSLEY, on her talent for space
visualization
“Bazy was a good friend of my grandfather, breeder
Ed Tweed, dating from her Maryland years, and a wise
and witty mentor to me. She spoke about having a
passion as the driving force in your life. Her passion for
the horse in her mind’s eye colored every occasion I
was with her, and overflowed into ideas for amazing
equine projects that sometimes included me. What an
honor! Over almost 40 years, I never left her company
without feeling enlightened, inspired, and privileged.”
— SHELLEY GROOM TREVOR
“At Al-Marah, a horse must have in this order:
Arabian type, good legs, a balanced silhouette (the
three-circle body, and as nearly square as possible in
length of body and height of body), a way of going
that matches the conformation (i.e., if he looks like a
western horse, he should move like a western horse;
same for English), and an enjoyable disposition. A
horse lacking these qualities will not be a part of the
Al-Marah program nor will it be sold as breeding
stock.” — BAZY TANKERSLEY
“Mrs. T recognized the importance of preserving the
breed’s history for posterity. Her efforts culminated in
2010 with the opening of the magnificent Al-Marah
Arabian Horse Galleries as an addition to the
Kentucky Horse Park’s International Museum of the
Horse. As might well have been expected, Bazy
Tankersley was the largest individual contributor to
the project. There is no way we can adequately state
our sincere appreciation for her generous support of
the Galleries or our deep respect for her as one of the
most significant persons of the past century, and we
take exceptional pride in the fact that the name
‘Al-Marah’ will live on for future generations on the
walls of the International Museum of the Horse.”
— BILL COOKE, DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE
HORSE AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
“I’ll never forget some of Mrs. T’s sayings: ‘Never talk
back to your boss unless your horse is saddled.’ ‘Never
let school interfere with a good education for your
child.’ And the one in her office, my favorite: ‘No good
deed goes unpunished.’” — DAVID TREXLER, TRAINER AT
AL-MARAH
“The most glorious part of my lifelong romance with
the Arabian horse is that the dream really is true. I had
imagined the beauty of these horses when I only knew
about them from books and pictures. I had reveled in
the vision of myself riding them only to find that it was
twice as exciting as I had imagined.” – BAZY TANKERSLEY
“Bazy’s leadership was hallmarked by steadfast
standards of integrity, honor, and vision. She was
equally dedicated to her philanthropy outside the
Arabian horse community. Her impact on education,
therapeutic riding, church, the environment,
endangered livestock breeds, and good citizenship will
never be fully recognized.” — HOWARD SCHENK, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, ARABIAN HORSE OWNERS FOUNDATION
“My mother dedicated the majority of her life to
preserving and improving one band of horses. The year
2014 marked the 200th year they have been a herd,
and I am the sixth person in only the third family to
have the honor of keeping them together. I have been
told they are the oldest, privately owned, continuously-
bred band of horses in the world.” — MARK MILLER
HERE ARE SOME COMMENTS FROM BAZY AND HER FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES:
WIT & WISDOM
In 1984, Bazy’s children decided her 50th year of Arabian ownership should
be celebrated, and they invited everyone who had ever owned an Al-Marah
Arabian to show up. The faithful gathered at the ranch for three days of
sharing memories, fun, a well-heated Bazy roast, previewing the AM Count
Pine movie, and new adventures. As guests wandered about the ranch, Bazy
wore a hat lettered “I’m their leader. Which way did they go?” Here is Bazy
with Jimmie Dean, her beloved long-time friend and mentor. When Jimmie’s
wife Thelma died, Bazy invited Jimmie to spend the winters at Al-Marah, away
from the snow and cold of Kentucky, built a house for him, and gave him a job
working with the apprentices.
AHW > 69 < 08.19
sharon
(sharon)
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