Merry Go Boy: A Tennessee Walking Horse Icon (1943–1969)

Merry Go Boy, foaled on May 4, 1943, became one of the most celebrated and influential Tennessee Walking Horses of his time. Known for his unmatched conformation, extreme nodding action, and perfect gaits, Merry Go Boy earned back-to-back World Grand Champion titles in 1947 and 1948, cementing his legacy in the breed’s history.

Early Life and Pedigree

Merry Go Boy was bred by Archie Wiser of Wartrace, Tennessee, and foaled on the Wiser Farm. His lineage combined some of the best bloodlines in the Tennessee Walking Horse breed:

Sire: Merry Boy, a highly respected stallion known for passing on exceptional gait and temperament.
Dam: Wiser’s Dimples, a mare whose influence added refinement and style to Merry Go Boy’s conformation.

Merry Go Boy was a striking black colt with a star and a near hind sock. As a young foal, he was purchased by Archie’s brother, Winston Wiser, for just $350. Even as a weanling, Merry Go Boy showed promise, winning the Weanling Horse Colt Class at the 1943 Celebration. Although he placed reserve to the weanling filly Frances Langford in the Weanling Championship, this was the only time he was ever defeated in his class during his lifetime.

Show Career Highlights

1944 Celebration

As a yearling, Merry Go Boy dominated the Yearling Colt Class and went on to win the Yearling Championship at the 1944 Celebration. His success attracted attention, and Elroy Mallard of Georgetown, Kentucky, purchased a half-interest in him.

1945–1946

By 1945, Merry Go Boy’s value had skyrocketed, with R.W. Norman of Salisbury, North Carolina, purchasing a one-third interest for $6,000. That same year, Merry Go Boy won the Two-Year-Old Stallion Class at the Celebration, setting the stage for his future success.

In 1946, he continued his winning streak by claiming the Three-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding Class and the Junior Stake at the Celebration. On the following night, he competed as a junior in the Grand Championship Stake, where he placed second to the reigning champion, Midnight Sun.

World Grand Championships (1947 & 1948)

Merry Go Boy reached the pinnacle of his career in 1947, when he won the World Grand Championship at the Celebration. He returned the following year to defend his title, becoming the 1948 World Grand Champion. This marked the first Celebration held on the new Celebration grounds, and Merry Go Boy’s victory solidified his place in history.

Conformation and Gait

Merry Go Boy was widely regarded as the ideal conformation model for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. The expression “As fine as Go Boy” became synonymous with excellence in both appearance and performance.

Nodding Action: Merry Go Boy was known for his extreme and rhythmic nodding, a characteristic highly prized in the breed.
Three Perfect Gaits: His walk, running walk, and canter were distinct, smooth, and performed with precision, earning him accolades for his top-tier performances.

Influence as a Sire

Merry Go Boy’s legacy extended far beyond his show career. He became one of the most influential sires in the breed, producing an impressive number of champions. Among his notable offspring were:

Go Boy’s Shadow (World Grand Champion, 1955 & 1956)
Go Boy’s Sundust (World Grand Champion, 1967)
Go Boy’s Royal Heir (World Grand Champion, 1968)

He was also the grandsire of Sensational Shadow, the 1971 World Grand Champion. At the 1960 Breeders National Futurity, 24 out of 46 ribbons were awarded to weanlings and yearlings sired by Merry Go Boy, a testament to his dominance as a breeding stallion.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1948, just before his second World Grand Championship, Merry Go Boy was purchased by C.C. Turner of Broadway, Virginia. Turner recognized the stallion’s value not only as a show horse but also as a sire who could shape the future of the breed.

Merry Go Boy passed away in 1969, but his contributions to the Tennessee Walking Horse breed remain unmatched. His descendants continue to influence the breed, and his name is synonymous with excellence in both the show ring and the breeding barn.

Summary of Achievements

1943: Winner of the Weanling Colt Class at the Celebration
1944: Yearling Colt Class and Yearling Championship winner
1946: Winner of the Three-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding Class and Junior Stake
1947: World Grand Champion
1948: World Grand Champion (first Celebration on new grounds)
Sire of 3 World Grand Champions and numerous World Champions

Merry Go Boy’s combination of beauty, talent, and influence as a sire ensured that his legacy would endure for generations. To this day, his name remains a hallmark of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.