Horse farm specializes in easy riding Tennessee Walking Horses

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

August 23, 2001 -- Becki Drodz, co-owner of Wolf Hollow Farm and breeder of Tennessee Walking Horses in Lee County, says that there is a saying, "Ride one today...Own one tomorrow." That's how her dream started.

"We bought our first Walking horse in 1994. At that time, I was trail riding a lot, and I had a Quarter horse. I'd be out there on a trailride and I'd see these Walking horses and I'd say to myself that 'One of these days I was going to own a Walking horse,'" said Drodz.

Tennessee Walking Horses are a breed of gaited horses.

Gaited means that they are laterally gaited...versus diagonally... which makes them a smoother trotter rather than bouncing like other breeds, according to Drodz.

The unique, smooth gait allows the riders to enjoy activities without much effort and very little bouncing.

"Your head never moves. The horses are very appealing to people with bad backs or with achy bones, and their dispositions and temperaments are great for people who haven't been around horses a lot. They're great for beginners and the older generation," said Drodz.

Other gaited horses include the Peruvian Paso, Missouri Fox Trotters and Icelandic breeds, among others.

The Tennessee Walking Horse comes in all colors, according to Drodz. She said you can find black, white, spotted, chestnut, bay, gray, roan sabino, cremello, buckskin and champagne, to name a few. The average size is 15 Hands (H) to 16H, but can vary from 14H to 17H.

"We bought our first Walking horse as a trail horse. I sold my Quarter horse to get this Walking horse, and then Geoff (Brehmer, her husband) and I decided we wanted to start breeding horses. That's when we started out buying our mares.

"Little did I know about that dream I had of owning a horse, that one day we'd have 13...all Walking horses!" said Drodz.

While Drodz is from Kansas and Brehmer is from Michigan, each moved to Texas with their professions. Drodz is an RN, and Brehmer is with the high tech industry. Drodz introduced him to horses, and he is as hooked on them as she, according to Drodz.

"We started out with mares and babies, so it's been a process. We didn't go out and just buy a lot of older horses to buy and sell. During that process, we had some show horses.

"We started out strictly for showing, but we have diversified until we're showing some, but we're going into the trail, pleasure horses a lot more," she said.

Drodz has had horses since 1980, and said her sister and she shared a pony as a child, but never had formal riding lessons.

When she moved to Texas to work at Scott and White in Temple, she purchased acreage and bought her first horse as an adult.

"As soon as I moved, I bought my first horse. I had six acres up in Belton. She (horse) was half Arabian, one-quarter Quarter horse and one-quarter Thoroughbred, and she was for trailriding and fun. I had her for several years," said Drodz.

After a couple of job changes, she purchased the present property, Wolf Hollow Farm, eight years ago.

"We built up the horse ranch, first, before we built our house," she said.

Several of their horses have been winners at various shows, including the recently sold Rhapsody, who won the third place ribbon for Weanling Championship as well as third place in the Weanling Filly class at the Southwest Regional Walking Futurity near Dallas.

This show is attended by owners/breeders from Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana and includes between 150 to 180 horses in four classes, according to age.

"Our business is to sell horses. We breed for show horses and just trail, pleasure horses...nicely gaited, pretty horses...and trail horses for enjoyment," said Drodz.

"Our plan for the future is to breed to improve the bred and that means breeding the best to the best...and that's for show horses or trail horses...We just want an all around good horse, a good disposition and temperament and one that walks really good and is pretty and well built."

While she believes adults can learn to ride, children are "fearless" and can make much better riders with less effort, if they are introduced to horses at an early age.

"I think you're born a horse lover or you're not...it's in your blood," said Drodz.

You may reach the Wolf Hollow Farm at www.wolfhollow@bluebon.net for more information concerning Walking Horses.