Founding family thrives at Futurity

The Master of Blues was wearing the blues after winning first place in the weanling colt class at the TWHBEA National Futurity Wednesday night. From left are J. French Brantley IV, trainer Chris Richards, and owners Charles and Millie Brantley. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves)

It was Brantley who recognized the seeds of greatness in the horse and its potential as a foundation sire that led to today's breed.

Both James and his son, J. French Brantley, were instrumental in establishing the breed, and French went on to serve as the director and then president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. Black Allan, later renamed Allan F-1 to denote his status as the foundation sire, Merry Legs, Roan Allan and Midnight Sun are only some of the stars that owe their beginnings to the Brantley breeding program.

Trainer Chris Richards leads The Master of Blues, owned by Charles and Millie Brantley, on his victory lap after winning the weanling colt class at the TWHBEA National Futurity Wednesday night. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge]

The family tradition continues. At the TWHBEA National Futurity Wednesday night, James' grandson and French's son, Charles Brantley, watched some of the colts he's bred leave the ring with ribbons fluttering from their halters. One of those was The Master of Blues, the son of 2007 World Grand Champion Master of Jazz and out of Gen's Genieve, who won the weanling colts division. A short time later, the Brantleys, Charles and his wife Millie, had another colt, The Threat of Poison, win reserve in the yearling colt class. He would also go on to place seventh in the yearling in-hand extended gait class.

"I think people expect more because we've been in it so long," said Charles. "The Brantley family has been in every Celebration."

On the rare occasion the Brantleys haven't been here to show, they've been here as judges, a job Charles wouldn't want to take these days.

"Ain't got the eyesight anymore," he laughed.

In 1993, he received a Certificate of Appreciation for his support and contributions to the Tennessee Walking Horse Museum, as well as the inaugural Heritage Award from the TWHBEA. Charles was inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2001 was the first member of the Tennessee walking horse industry to be inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

The Brantleys have shown almost every style imaginable and still have some older horses in training, but the big emphasis these days is on showcasing their favorite product -- the colts.

"We do mostly breeding business now," said Millie.

And they still have plenty of help, and no fears that the Brantley name will be missing from the Celebration roll call in future years. Charles' great-nephew, J. French Brantley IV, is more than ready to carry on the family business and tradition.

"Because it is family," said the teenager, although loving the horses, he admitted, was a big part of it too.

It must be -- he was helping trainer Chris Richards lead weanlings and colts from the barn to the ring and back with one arm in a cast.

"Got thrown off a horse," he said, grinning. "But I'm still showing. I'll show Friday morning, a yearling filly, maybe a weanling filly too."

The Brantleys weren't the only Bedford County people to become winners Wednesday night. Julia Cole of Shelbyville's stallion All The Money took the two-year-old class and many more owners from the county won other ribbons.