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Owned by Susan Arthur Gordon of Orange County, California, Gen's Armed and Dangerous was bred by B.G. Alford, Jr. of Oxford, Mississippi. First owned by Claude Crowley, Thompson purchased Gen's Armed and Dangerous as a colt after seeing him at the Walking Horse Trainers' Auxiliary Show on the Celebration Grounds. He then sold him to the Gordons. Normally a prospect at the end of a lead strap would be a chancy proposition, but Thompson could see the future in this particular colt. He felt there were no limitations as to what the horse could do, as long as he as a trainer could do his job, and do it well. A native of Hartsville, Alabama, Thompson grew up in Woodbine, Tennessee and although his family enjoyed going to horseshows and often encouraged Thompson to join them, he had other interests ...cars. At the young age of 17 he headed to California and opened an automotive shop. His interest in horses began while there when he traded his motorcycle for a horse, a Tennessee Walking Horse. My Midnight Melody was the horse and Thompson says that Walking Horses are the only kind he has ever ridden. In 1973 he began his training career, a career which 17 years later would lead him to a handsome, sorrel colt in Tennessee. Thompson had good stock to work with. Sired by Pride's Generator and out of Melana Ebony, Gen's Armed and Dangerous has a bloodline traceable to the foundation stock of the Tennessee Walking Horse including three World Grand Champions-Ebony Masterpiece, Merry Go Boy and Midnight Sun. The training went well and came easy according to Thompson. He describes Gen's as being just "about the most natural horse I've ever seen." As a two-year-old, Gen's Armed and Dangerous was the National Futurity Champion and the reserve two-year-old World Grand Champion. As a three year-old he received the World Grand Champion title, and in 1993 Gen's was reserve in the Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship. Thompson admits to not having Gen's ready for his 1993 Celebration showing, but he says he knew by June this year, if he could stay focused, Gen's was ready. The first Saturday night brought a reserve to the California pair. Thompson and the Gordons were pleased, but eager to get back in the ring. Thompson knew Gen's had more to deliver. He was right. As they waited and the spotlight searched for the victor the adrenaline was pumping for that first pair. Thompson caught the eyes of a good friend in the audience who smiled big and gave him the thumbs up. As Thompson once again looked at the other horses and their trainers one by one, men whom he looked up to and horses that he describes as the best in the world, the spotlight stopped. They were the first to enter the ring that night but the last to leave, and they left with their heads held high and the roses pulled close, for they were now part of an elite few and proud to be there. They were the first to enter the show ring for the final class of the 56th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. As the other 17 contenders entered the ring, the trainer and his horse waited under the star-strewn, black sky. He watched with a keen eye as each horse entered the ring one by one to the exciting cheers of the more than 28,000 fans in attendance. As the gate closed and the cheers began to subside he realized the opportunity that laid before him and his partner. When it was all over the waiting brought the spotlight to that very first pair, number 34 Russ Thompson and Gen's Armed and Dangerous. When Thompson and Gen's Armed and Dangerous were named World Grand Champion it was a first, not only for Thompson, but for the World Grand Championship title. It was the first time for a horse from California and trained in California to receive this prestigious award. With a percentage of him sold to Rising Star Ranch in January of 2006, he is now proudly owned by the Armed Group LLC which consists of June and George Brown of Hillsboro, TN, Debbie and Frank Eichler of Shelbyville, TN, Shirley and Charles Hulsey of Cullman, AL, Bonnie and Jim Moon of Lewisburg, TN, and Melissa and Jerrold Pedigo of Murfreesboro, TN. His owners are very committed to the walking horse industry and give Armed and his offspring tremendous support. Since making the ultimate spotlight ride in 1994, Armed has proved time and time again that he is extremely capable of passing on his championship traits. Listings of his World Grand Champion offspring are household names by those who frequent the show circuit. Horses such as Armed Red Baron, Fully Armed, It’s Billy The Kid, Cheatin’ Danger, Armed and Bulletproof, I’m All Fired Up, 2003 World Grand Champion The Whole Nine Yards, Armed and Trigger Happy and Gen. On the Run. At the 2005 Celebration alone, Armed offspring garnered more 1st and 2nd place ribbons than the offspring of any other sire in our industry. In addition, the total number of his offspring to earn 1st and 2nd place ties was greater than that of any other sire. Overall, Armed offspring walked away with 12 world championships and three world grand championships in 2005. His world champions included Amateur Owned and Trained Park Pleasure WC It’s Up In Arms, Mare and Foal WC Gen’s If Looks Could Kill, Youth 12-14 WC Absolutely Armed, Amateur Lady Riders on Geldings WC Cheatin’ Danger, Gelding and Youth 11 & Under WC Armed To Show, Amateur Park Performance Stallions and Park Performance Five and Over WC The Concealed Weapon, Model Mare WC In Vogue, Youth Yearling WC Honky Tonk Jessie, Novice Youth Park Pleasure WC Rodney Dangerfield, and Amateur Owned and Trained Lite Shod WC Armed Lady From Dixie. His world grand champions were Walking Mares and Geldings WGC Cheatin’ Danger, Western Park Pleasure WGC Armed And Trigger Happy, and Two-Year-Old WGC Gen. On The Run. Add to all that 13 reserve world championships and one reserve world grand championship and impressive is the only word to describe such a single Celebration record. Gen's Armed And Dangerous is standing at Rising Star Ranch |
