Interview with H.T. & Wilda Derickson

Partial Transcript: Can we start by telling me a bit about yourself; your full name, birthdate, and birthplace?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson talks about how he trains horses, shows horses, and breeds horses.
Mrs. Derickson talks about how she got into horses when she married Mr. Derickson. She then talks about how trail riding brought their whole family together. They still go trail riding at 79 and 80 years old. She talks about how she became the first female judge for walking horses.

Keywords: Equitation; H.T. Derickson; horse show judging; horse training; Rocky Mountain Horses; Sam Tuttle; showing horses; showmanship; Stanton, KY; Tennessee Walkers; trail riding; Van Bert Farms; Walking horses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When and how did you realize that you were part of Appalachia?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson speaks about how he noticed that the farther east from Lexington he went, the more poverty struck the area became. He states that he and Mrs. Derickson have always prided themselves on being from the foothills of Appalachia. Mrs. Derickson realized she was part of Appalachia when people from others states critiqued her accent.

Keywords: Appalachia; H.T. Derickson; horse training; Rocky Mountain Horses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: When did you start to understand what a mountain or gaited horse was?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson speaks of growing up with mountain horses. He tells a brief story about meeting Sam Tuttle who brought Tobe for him to breed.
Mrs. Derickson speaks about how she first understood what a gaited horse was at a St. Patrick’s Day parade.
They compare the importance of the horses now versus their importance in the past.

Keywords: breed characteristics; Gaited Horses; horse behaviors; horse care; horse conformation; horse temperament; horse training; Mountain Horses; Rocky Mountain Horses; Sam Tuttle; showing horses; Tennessee Walking Horses; Tobe

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Some people say that horses bring people together. Do you have any more thoughts on that?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson speaks about how horses brought his family together. He also talks about how he has made many acquaintances by going to horse sales and other events.

Keywords: H.T. Derickson; horse-human relationship; Rocky Mountain Horses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Can you tell me about when you first heard about the Rocky Mountain Horse Association?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson discusses his relationship to all the associations involved with Rocky Mountain Horses. He also speaks about how the horse registry and associations have changed over the course of his lifetime.

Keywords: H.T. Derickson; Rocky Mountain Horse Association; Rocky Mountain Horses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Some have said that a Rocky Mountain Horse is just a color. What are your thoughts on that?

Segment Synopsis: H.T. speaks about breeders breeding for the chocolate color and flaxen mane and tail. He goes on to talk about how he entered his horse into America's Favorite Trail Horse Competition.

Keywords: America's Favorite Trail Horse Competition; Austin, TX; breed characteristics; H.T. Derickson; horse breeding; horse training; Rocky Mountain Horses; trail riding

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: We’ve heard that the even-tempered nature of mountain horses may be a bit misleading. What are your thoughts on that?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson speaks about his experiences with horses of differing temperaments. They then mention that it just is not stressed enough how much these horses want to please their owner and how gentle-natured they are. Mr. Derickson speaks about his training methods and how he trained difficult horses. Mrs. Derickosn also speaks about her experiences with difficult horses.

Keywords: breed characteristics; H.T. Derickson; horse shows; horse temperament; horse training; Pro-Am Horse Show; Rocky Mountain Horses; spurs

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Do you think that your relationship or connection to horses has changed over the years?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson speaks about how his training methods have changed as he gained more of an appreciation for the horses. He talks about the first time he watched an unbroken horse be trained in a round pen. He mentions that he witnessed how gentle the trainer was with the horse.

Keywords: H.T. Derickson; horse round pen; horse training; Rocky Mountain Horses

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Where do you see the future of the Rocky Mountain Horses leading?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Derickson speaks about her belief that the breed is moving in the right direction to be one of the most popular trail horses. She sees this happening not only in the United States, but also in Europe. She mentions how their gentle nature makes Rocky Mountain Horses the perfect trail riding horse.
Mr. Derickson speaks about how Rocky Mountain Horses have allowed them to go to many places they would not have been able to go without them.

Keywords: breed characteristics; H.T. Derickson; Pleasure Horses; Rocky Mountain Horses; trail riding

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: It’s kind of rare to find people that actually knew Sam Tuttle, not just knew of him. Do you have any stories that were either passed down to you from relatives or first hand that you would like to share?

Segment Synopsis: Mr. Derickson tells a story about a friend of his that used to work for Sam Tuttle at Natural Bridge State Park. He mentions that Sam Tuttle would let people who did not have a horse ride Tobe.

Keywords: H.T. Derickson; horse breeding; horse gait; Horseback Riding; Natural Bridge State Park; Rocky Mountain Horses; Sam Tuttle; Slade, KY; Tennessee Walking Horses; Tobe

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Wilda, do you have any stories of when you were younger, of the horses or anything like that?

Segment Synopsis: Mrs. Derickson tells a story about her first experience with trying to ride a horse. She talks about when she was trail riding and the horse went to take a drink of water. The horse instead laid down in the water with her still on the horse's back. Mr. Derickson talks of when he realized how sensitive horses are. He also talks about when he changed to a new saddle for his horse named Blue on Black for America's Favorite Trail Horse Competition.

Keywords: AHA beach ride; America's Favorite Trail Horse Competition; Blue on Black; H.T. Derickson; horse training; Sam Tuttle Award; trail riding; Water Glass Competition

Subjects: