Intro
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:16 am
I'm a lifelong horsewoman. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, not far from Fat Jones's stable. Dad had a herd of ponies for pony rides and movie work.
I learned to ride from Dad, a slew of other horse people and our equine friends. One was Dad's smallest Shetland, who managed to buck me off most everyday. I'd march back up our dirt street and catch Prince again, ride him back up to the wash just to get bucked off again. I suspect I finally managed to ride him past that spot because I'm not still trying and getting bucked off.
Gene Autry was my first boss. He hired me to ride for Nancy Gilbert in The Buffalo Bill Jr. series. I was eight. Ace Hudkins, owner of the Hudkin Brothers Movie Stable, was my father's friend and used our ponies when a pony was needed. We owned the pony used in the Mickey Mouse Club and the pinto used in the Annie Oakley series, to name a couple. Ace is the one who introduced us to Gene Autry.
Les Hilton, trainer of Mr. Ed, who also worked at Fat Jones stable, lived across the street from us. I was lucky enough to assist him with various routines for Ed. Ed's TV mother was our palomino gelding, Nicker. He was given to us in his 20s. A former parade horse, he was already skinny. We never did get much weight on him. Les worked on the set with various movie horses boarded at Fat's place, including Flicka and National Velvet. He trained and was the only person who could work with Black Diamond, who was famed as the wild stallion seen rearing and galloping across the plains in numerous movies. He had a steel door on his stall so he couldn't get out and attack people, but with Les, he was as mild as a baby.
Because of my work with people like Les and my father, I was welcome in all of the local movie stables, including Fat's place, As I reached my teen years. I also began showing quarter horses. There's lots more to tell, but that seems to be long enough. Oh, one more thing: Dad was a friend of Fats and his brother, Buck, (not the movie star). Buck once told me he'd wanted to open a pony track but couldn't because the Kemsley brothers had all the best locations: 18 in all.
I learned to ride from Dad, a slew of other horse people and our equine friends. One was Dad's smallest Shetland, who managed to buck me off most everyday. I'd march back up our dirt street and catch Prince again, ride him back up to the wash just to get bucked off again. I suspect I finally managed to ride him past that spot because I'm not still trying and getting bucked off.
Gene Autry was my first boss. He hired me to ride for Nancy Gilbert in The Buffalo Bill Jr. series. I was eight. Ace Hudkins, owner of the Hudkin Brothers Movie Stable, was my father's friend and used our ponies when a pony was needed. We owned the pony used in the Mickey Mouse Club and the pinto used in the Annie Oakley series, to name a couple. Ace is the one who introduced us to Gene Autry.
Les Hilton, trainer of Mr. Ed, who also worked at Fat Jones stable, lived across the street from us. I was lucky enough to assist him with various routines for Ed. Ed's TV mother was our palomino gelding, Nicker. He was given to us in his 20s. A former parade horse, he was already skinny. We never did get much weight on him. Les worked on the set with various movie horses boarded at Fat's place, including Flicka and National Velvet. He trained and was the only person who could work with Black Diamond, who was famed as the wild stallion seen rearing and galloping across the plains in numerous movies. He had a steel door on his stall so he couldn't get out and attack people, but with Les, he was as mild as a baby.
Because of my work with people like Les and my father, I was welcome in all of the local movie stables, including Fat's place, As I reached my teen years. I also began showing quarter horses. There's lots more to tell, but that seems to be long enough. Oh, one more thing: Dad was a friend of Fats and his brother, Buck, (not the movie star). Buck once told me he'd wanted to open a pony track but couldn't because the Kemsley brothers had all the best locations: 18 in all.
You’ve certainly had great connections. 
Loretta Kemsley and 
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