Famous Horses of Long Ago  

Famous movie star visits Longview Farm.

William Shatner of Star Trek fame riding his famous stallion, Sultan’s Great Day.  Joe Sysel is left.

Marsha St. Claire photo.

    

CLICK below on thumbnails for enlarged views.
Loula Long Combs out for a carriage ride.
Loula Long Combs out for one of her many carriage rides.  She often said there was nothing more relaxing than a carriage ride down a country road between the fields and through the trees.

   

“Captivation”
“Captivation”

Winner of the Harness Horse Championship at the St. Louis National Horse Show.  Owned by Mrs. Loula Long Combs.  Dave Smith, driving.

(Photo by Rounds and portion of article by E. Dee taken from “Sportoloque” magazine of November 1938)


That beloved exhibitor of Harness Horses, Mrs. Loula Long Combs, scored heavily in the Harness Pony Championship as was expected in this particular division.  Her two “Shuns” — “Captivation” and “Invasion”, captured the Championship and the Reserve.  In the Ladies’ Appointment class, Mrs. Combs had to be content with the Red, as “Woodsport” of the Bel-brook Farm, with Mrs. Harry Daniels driving, could not be denied the Blue.  We have yet to see anyone who can even approach the show put on by this handsome combination.  Their entrance into any ring unequivocally brings an atmosphere of dignity and aristocracy that cannot help but be admired.
 

“Chief of Longview”
“Chief of Longview” in Harness at St. Louis

Coming into the arena in harness at St. Louis, “Chief of Longview” was as stately as a colonial dancing master, the acme of pride and perfection whose every movement was grace personified.  The crowd was thrilled and experts were astounded.  Lonnie Hayden, who made the horse, was justly proud.

(Photo by “Painter” and portion of article by C. H. Leadbetter taken from “Sportoloque” magazine of January 1930)


Chief of Longview
Incomparable and Supreme
By C. H. Leadbetter

Beyond comparison with anything of the present decade and only to be measured with a few of the greatest performers of all time, “Chief of Longview”, owned by Mrs. W. P. Roth of San Francisco, stands today perfect in type and supreme in achievement.

As winner of three stallion championships and two grand championships against the greatest competition ever encountered at Louisville, “Chief” tops all others that have competed at the Kentucky State Fair.

As winner of two $10,000 stakes in one year, he may also claim unequaled honors, but it is his own glorious personality that shines most brightly and many of those competent to judge, who have seen him do something of his best work, hold no reservations when they pronounce him the greatest performer of all time.

Bred on Longview Farm, his sire “Independence Chief” by “McDonald Chief” by that other outstanding performer, “Rex McDonald”, “Chief of Longview” was foaled in Mexico, Missouri, in 1890.

Chief’s history as a show horse is so recent and sensational as to require no comment.  When he won the stallion and final stakes at Kansas City in 1925, beating “Miracle Man”, “Rexina Chief”, “Easter Star”, “Let’s Go” and a dozen others, he made a thrilling show that encompassed his sale for what still stands as the record price for a saddle horse.

“Chief of Longview”Since Lonnie Hayden came out and rode him at Los Angeles two years ago, “Chief” has been undefeated and unapproached, his quality, speed and highly masculine individuality carrying him through to the blue ribbon in spite of mistakes, due to an overabundance of spirit that sometimes makes it impossible to get him to settle down to his work after the fashion of which he is so well known to be capable of doing.  When he is going right, nothing of his time can approach him and when he is not, he is still “Chief of Longview”, impetuous and magnificent, still unbeatable through his flashing personality and general perfection of type.

Shown at St. Louis in fine harness, crowd and critics were thrilled by his majestic bearing and no one doubted but that they were seeing an astounding perfection of style and beauty.  “Chief of Longview” has stood in the spotlight with the few other truly great show horses of history.
 

Loula Long Combs' Horses "Captivation" on left, "Invasion" on right.
Mrs. Loula Long Combs pictured with "Invasion" on right, her manager, David Smith with "Captivation" on left.  After winning numerous events, both horses were featured in the Equine Hall of Fame, Official Horse Show Blue Book in 1939.

Photo by Carl Klein

 

An Original Carriage.  CLICK on picture for enlarged view.
An Original Carriage.
CLICK on picture for an enlarged view.


Longview Farm
(from “Saddle and Bridle,” December, 1943)

Recognition

RECOGNITION, brown mare by King of the Plain out of Glenavon Adore, by Irvington Autocrat (in repose).  This little mare is progressing rapidly and will soon be a stake pony of no mean ability.  A winner in single or pairs.

Click on pictures for enlarged views.

          Late in the season in 1943 Loula Long Combs and Manager Dave Smith decided to take three of their beautiful ponies to Memphis and St. Louis, and hence garnered a most en-viable collection of ribbons.  At Memphis the blue was won in every class, six of them to be exact, and at St. Louis they acquired the lion’s share also.

          Star of the stable is the beautiful bay gelding, Radiation (Stonehedge Crusader), a son of Habrough Swell and the champion saddle pony of past years, Chestnut Blossom by Hamilton Model.  Radiation won both open classes and stakes at Memphis and St. Louis, defeating such ponies as Cadet Commander, Cassilis Crystal, Glenholme Diadem, Glenholme Splendor, Skirbeck Flame, King’s Vanity, and others.  He is fit and ready and in 1944 will probably be out to defend his title.  His wins this year have entitled him to the crown of All-American Pony 12.2-13.2.

          A pony that we always predicted a brilliant future for, Stonehedge Ovation (Habrough Swell-Parkside Olive) was brought out again this year as a gelding.  He won the ladies’ single at Memphis and was second at St. Louis, and is fast improving.  Another year will make him one of the top contenders for the ladies’ single crown.  He is a beautifully modeled pony and a dark brown in color.

          Last year the stable brought out the brown mare, Recognition (King of the Plain-Glenavon Adore), and did real well with her.  This year she was even better (and really “piled it on”) in the classes she was shown and pressed the winners in the stakes un­mercifully.  Another year and she will be hard to defeat by any pony out.

Invasion

INVASION, bay gelding by Lord Ceylon.  One of the top horses of the past ten years and with many years before him.  After a year’s rest he is fit and ready for 1944 shows.

Click on pictures for enlarged views.

          Ovation and Recognition make one of the most perfectly bal­anced pairs brought out in a number of years.  They won both ladies’ pair classes of the season and this entitles them to the All-American Ladies’ Pair award.  In open pairs they are just as good, both going as one pony, crisp, lots of action, perfectly matched, and with loads of sparkle and animation.

          At home, getting their training, is the makings of another great pair, bright bays, under 13.2, beautifully matched.  One is a full sister to champion, Infatuation (by Quo Vadis, out of Carnation), and the other is by Quo Vadis out of Fashion.  When ready they should make a top-flight pair.  A third prospect is by Quo Vadis, out of Southworth Sunbeam (Southworth Quality-Carnation).  This trio is also slated for the winner’s bench when brought out.  Thus it can be seen that Longview bred ponies will be much in the picture in the future.

          In the horses, Invasion, the beautiful bay over 15.2 gelding, will be fit and ready, and it will take a mighty good horse to beat him.  He has had a good rest and will be “raring to go.”  Then there is a young chestnut mare, Canadian Bred, that shows world’s of promise for the under 15.2 classes.

          Also there is a young gelding, home bred, Citation, by Corona­tion, out of Hilden Dinah, that is taking to his work in a marvelous manner and the novice classes can expect his presence in a year or so.

          Longview Stable entries are watched for by spectators all over the country and everyone loves to see Loula Long Combs driving her horses and ponies.  This is a credit to her fine sportsmanship and showmanship and is acquired through long years of splendid work and ability to show the Hackney as it should be shown.


Allegheny Country Club Show
(from “The Rider and Driver,” July, 1940)

Loula Long Combs in “Good Form”

A WELL APPOINTED ladies’ driving equipage, driven by a lady in admirable “good form.”  Mrs. Loula Long Combs, owner of Longview Farm, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and her grand chestnut mare “Captivation”, 15.1, aged, winner of the Harness Championship, as well as many other classes at the Devon and Sewickley Shows.
Click on pictures for enlarged views.

Superlatives are in order in describing the eighteenth annual Allegheny Country Club Horse Show in the ring atop lovely Sewickley Heights, near Pittsburgh, June 6, 7 and 8.  Many new records were set and for the first time in years perfect show weather favored all interested.

Of prime importance, the list of entries was the best ever obtained by the show committee which was headed by Mr. W. C. Robinson, Jr., and included many names of nationwide prominence.  Many of America's outstanding ring performers in all divisions – harness, saddle, hunters and jumpers – were in close competition.

The attendance set a new mark for all three days and there were many new exhibitors.  The judging was of the highest order and everything moved with clock-like precision from the opening to the closing of the show.

Mrs. Loula Long Combs, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was a highly pleased lady when her aged Captivation was declared harness horse champion and winner of the $250 stake.


Roll Of Honor
(from “Your Pony” May, 1952)

In our feature page this month we picture the FIRST LADY OF SHOWDOM, Loula Long Combs, delightful and popular mistress of Longview Farms, Kansas City, Missouri, one of the most widely known exhibitors of horses and ponies the world has ever known, having shown abroad several times and in the United States and Canada for sixty or more years.

Mrs. Combs, daughter of R. A. Long, formerly known as the Kansas City Lumber King, has ever been a lover of all types of horses and ponies, having shown them in heavy harness and in roadster classes, and having raised and shown some of the best in saddle horses, breeding and selling the famous Chief of Longview, and others.  At the present time the farm and stable is confined to Hackney horses and ponies and is one of the strongest stables out in both divisions.  The talk of the last year is the pony mare, AFFECTATION, pictured below (same magazine issue), and is one of the ponies of the stable.

Mrs. Combs is also an author and her book, My Revelation, is widely read and enjoyed by all who have read it.  It deals with excerpts from her very colorful and interesting life.

We are very delighted to present here the latest picture of this delightful personality, Loula Long Combs.

Affectation

Affectation

AFFECTATION

Click on pictures for enlarged views.

This scintillating and brilliant Hackney pony mare is more than her name implies, for she not only “affects,” she “IS,” and that’s all there is to it.  A daughter of Creations King and out of the former winner, Cassilis Rana, this brown under 13 hand mare went through the 1951 season undefeated and met nearly all the great ponies of the decade.  She was compared to the immortal Eastertide, Highland Cora, King of the Plain, and others, by many experts, and there is no gainsaying the fact that she was the Pony of the year.  She, with her two half-sisters, Presentation and Possession, made a record that will be hard to duplicate.  She is being driven here by her manager and trainer, the popular David T. Smith, for her owner, Loula Long Combs, Longview Farm, Lee’s Summit, Missouri.