While Lynn has many equestrian honors from childhood on, she is proudest of her accomplishments as a breeder of fine Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. One of Lynn's Hall of Fame mares, Doc's Starlight, was the foundation of one of the finest cutting horse bloodlines. Her son, Gray's Starlight, named after Lynn's son Gray, has been in the Top 5 sires of cutting horse champions for several years. Another of Lynn's Hall of Fame mares is Delta, whose offspring are among the top Paint Horses, with son Delta Flyer (born at Lynn's Nashville home) being the leading sire of Paint cutting horses in the world. Another breeding program in the past years is around Rugged Lark, AQHA's Super Horse, and worldwide ambassador for the breed.
Rodeo Queen
In past years, Lynn has been a judge for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. At ten years old, Lynn won Reserve Champion in Horsemanship at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. At seventeen, she was Rodeo Queen at the California State Fair. In the Miss Rodeo California Contest she won the horsemanship and scholastic divisions, and was 2nd Runner-Up overall in the stiff competition. Lynn's daughter Lisa (an accomplished Nashville designer) was 2nd Runner-Up to the All American Quarter Horse Queen.
Foundation Quarter Horse Breeding
This is my "Valentine Gift" .... by "Rugged Lark" 4-time AQHA "Super-Horse, and international ambassador for the Quarter Horse.
Mom is by "Doc O'Lena", out of World Champion and Honor Roll Mare "Sugar Line", by SugarBars, and she out of an own daughter of Poco Bueno.
Ain't he somethin'????
What about those bloodlines???
World and National Champions
Lynn has owned and/or ridden eight World Champion horses and approximately two dozen National Champions, including: Lady Phase, National Champion at "Halter" and the VERY FIRST AQHA World Champion; Rode Skips High Bonnie, National Champion and World Champion in Amateur Western Pleasure; Rode Silk Worm, National Hi-Point horse in Western Pleasure and Trail Horse; Drove M' Lady Riker, National and World Champion in "Pleasure Driving" pulling a cart; Sugar Line, Hi-Point National Champion in the Reining Clas.
Breyer Horse Collection
Two of Lynn's horses have been immortalized as plastic toys by the Breyer Company: Lady Phase, as the model for "the Perfect Quarter Horse," and Skipter's Chief as the poster horse for Riding For the Handicapped.
Equestrian Competition
Riding cutting horses, Lynn won the National Celebrity Championship on Sugar O'Lena, a stallion she bred. Also, in 1999, the Chevy Truck National Championship, and in February 2000, the Australian Championship; on Cutters, the Atlantic Coast Championship, the Hawaiian Championship and the Arabian National Championship. Lynn won the Tennessee Walking Horse Championship, and has additionally won with Paints, Palominos, American Saddle-Breds, and has done concerts entirely on horseback at many State Fairs and national Competitions. She's ridden Olympic Champion Jumpers, Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos.
Lynn helped form the Special Riders Program in Tennessee, working with challanged children using horse or physical and emotional therapy. In fact, a favorite quote from Grace Anderson (Lynn's grandmother) is: "...there's nothing better for the inside of a kid than the outside of a horse.
Lynn has served on the Board of the NARHA and was active in getting Riding Events approved for the Special Olympics. She was coach and sponsor of the Tennessee Youth Team, and served as National Director in the Youth Committee of the American Quarter Horse Association.
More Cowgirl Doings
Lynn's was invited to participate at the "Cowboy Hall of Fame 2000" induction of Clint Eastwood, and be recognized for her "Heritage" Award", April 1. Prior to this, she performed the song "Wayward Wind" at the induction of her old friend and Hero "Tex" Ritter ... sung personally for Mrs. Dorothy Ritter.
End of the Trail
Lynn loves her acceptance as a participant in the "Cowboy" and "Western" Heritage of America, and treasures past performances with Roy and Dale ... and the incredible "True" story of her very favorite artwork.... "End of the Trail".
The "World's Fair" of l916 was held in San Francisco. The winning piece of Sculpture, "End of the Trail" was supposed to be cast into Bronze, and was portrayed in many news articles and recreated in "postcards". But with the outbreak of the War, available metals were all confiscated for the War effort. The Plaster pieces, including "Trail" were simply dumped into SF Bay. The artist died thinking that his Masterpiece was gone forever.
But, one day, a gentleman walking down the beach came across a sight later portrayed in the Movie "Planet of the Apes" (tho' the "image" became the Staue of Liberty). In the waves breaking on the beach a huge (30') sculpture suddenly washed upright, and brought the man to his knees. He enquired , and was told he could just "have" it! He retrieved the huge horse, with a slumped Native American astride, and had it transported to Mooney Park in Visalia, California.
It stayed there for nearly 50 years, getting a fresh coat of "whitewash" each year and being almost totally hidden from sight by trees and brush. But some people in the community did not want to see this Plaster piece of artwork destroyed by weather ... and the notified the "Cowboy Hall of Fame", thinking it just might be good enough to deserve preservation.
The "Hall of Fame" representative had to have a lot of underbrush removed to really get a look at this long-lost sculpture. But he was convinced that he'd found the "original" Artist's rendition of the now-famous "End of the Trail". After some heavy research, a "deal" was made, and the crumbling piece of "Plaster of Paris" was carefully de-constructed and transported to Oklahome City. It was replaced by a Bronze.
"End of the Trail" had to be carefully recontructed from the Artist's original drawings and small versions of the piece. Much care was taken to restore details that had literally been "washed away". It's said that the only reason this American Treasure still exists is that yearly coat of white-wash, which slowed it's deterioration.
Lynn Anderson may often be seen sitting for hours in the huge glass structure which now protects this Monolithic tribute to the fading Heritage of Native America. Most times, you'll see her in dark glasses, hiding her own "Trail of Tears".
Read more about The End of the Trail.
Dale Evans
The Dallas Morning News Editorial on 02/09/2001 was a wonderful tribute to Lynn's friend and fellow Cowgirl Hall of Fame member Dale Evans
Dale Evans: She became a role model off screen as well as on TV
For more than 50 years, she was half of America's most endearing western duo. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans rode into the hearts of generations of young people and never left.
Through scores of movies and a 1950s TV series that ran for six years, they delivered gentle lessons in how to be a straight-shooter, have an abiding faith, stand up for what's right and share a marriage based on mutual love.
When Roy Rogers died in 1998, the world lost the "King of the Cowboys." But it was Dale Evans who gave women a heroine who provided strength through her personal beliefs during adversity. Her death Wednesday ends a remarkable public career and personal life. Despite the birth of a Down syndrome child who died two years later and the loss of two other children in accidents, Ms. Evans maintained a faith that seemed to become more firm through each tragedy.
Years after the couple was making only limited appearances, Dale Evans continued to host a weekly show on a Christian broadcasting network and wrote spiritual books.
Although Roy Rogers drew much of the public's attention, Dale Evans' spunk and humor often caught late-night television show hosts by surprise.
When her husband was asked to recount a story about stuffing his horse Trigger so he could be put on display, Dale joked that she intended to stuff Roy and put him on the horse after he passed away.
Although her early career had little to do with the outdoor life she adopted, Dale Evans truly earned the title "Queen of the West" and a spot in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Fort Worth six years ago.
It's a good bet that somehow, somewhere, Roy and Dale are together again singing their signature theme, "Happy Trails to You."
Visit the Roy Rogers Web Site Here.
