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In late September, Ada Keen and her horse, “Sheza Real Deal”, also known as “Angel”, won awards at the Western Dressage Association of America World Championship in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Ada “Kitty” Keen, winner of almost 100 championships and awards in 25 years of competition, added a few more awards to her resume, after she and her horse, “Angel”, placed third in the Amateur/Junior Intro-Basic Award and third in the Open Intro-Basic Award.

In these competitions, the horses and riders are judged on how well they perform in a variety of tests to reflect the movement of the horse, the harmony of the horse and rider, and the effectiveness of rider aids.

“Angel” is only five years old and only competing at the basic level, which is only one of the many levels of competition. “She isn’t quite ready for serious competition just yet”, said John Wright, Ada Keen’s father.

However, “Angel” might soon be a force to be reckoned with soon, as she comes from a long line of a historic breed.

It is said that all Tennessee Walking Horses are descendants of “Roan Allen”, the son of “Black Allen”. “Black Allen” is otherwise known as “Allan F-1”, a distinction later given to him as the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse.

“Roan Allen”, raised by James R. Brantley in Coffee County, started a legacy that would include the likes of “Midnight Sun” and “Strolling Jim”.

Brantley would be featured in a September 1939 issue of The Manchester Times, after “Roan Allen Jr.” would win the Get of Sire class at the very first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and the title of World Champion Breeding Stallion.

A photo depicts Brantley with “Roan Allen Jr.” in a barn that Brantley built in the early 1930’s. The barn is now owned by Ada Keen, who is Brantley’s great granddaughter. A similar photo was taken of Keen and her horse, “Angel”, in that exact same spot, 84 years later, likely symbolizing the legacy the horse carries with her.