DAVID HOWARD had dreams of being a sportswriter. He did something few are able to do— he achieved that dream early in life thanks to the Chattanooga newspaper. Well ahead of the curve,he wanted to go on to study at the University of Tennessee for his college education. A legal battle between two competing Chattanooga papers left all interns, including David, out of a job. Then, investors approached David with an idea. They wanted to see more transparency in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry.
Investors knew that the fans of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry needed some kind of media that gave more of a look behind the curtain. A place they could look forward to the new horses, new trainers, and new winners every year, while also getting information, like the ties on the judge’s cards.
David and his family were becoming more and more involved in the Tennessee Walking Horse community every day. It only made sense to make the move to Shelbyville, Tennessee, the heart of the Tennessee Walking Horse world. The Howard family packed their bags and made the move. Soon, The Walking Horse Report newspaper would make waves in the horse community.
Today, Dabora publishes The Walking Horse Report for fans of the Celebration for free during the horse show events. It builds a connection between the visitors, trainers, and inspires integrity in the horse community. Every day during the events, they print a new publication explaining the events from the night before. On top of print editions in the arenas, they mail editions of the report all over the country to subscribers, spreading the world of Walking Horses far beyond the Tennessee border. The publication has had a hand in inspiring new riders to make the trek to Shelbyville, Tennessee, to maybe one day see themselves in the newspaper.
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication going to print. Families far and wide have stories and memories from the horse show because they have the newspaper to bring home. Even today, generation after generation is able to look at the same publication that winners before them did. Jeffrey Howard, a publisher for Dabora and David’s son, recalls when a young fan of the celebration was able to learn how to read thanks to the Walking Horse report. Now, Jeffrey and Christy, two of David’s children and now publishers for Dabora, hope to start a foundation in the honor of their father.
“He had a soft spot for people like him, people who couldn’t afford to go to school—who were hard workers and high- achievers,” Jeffrey said. “I think a goal for us and our company is to start some type of family foundation in his honor that will allow us to continue to give back to our community, the horse community—to help kids like our dad, who all they needed was a little break, and create something fantastic. It’s his company, we’re just running it.”
50 years after the first edition, the publication is going strong, ran by his son Jeffrey and daughter Christy, and is a staple in the Walking Horse community with fans and subscriptions all across the country. For the Howard family, the horse show changed their lives. And now, they’re a part of the horse show’s history forever. -GN
