Like some of the great horses in our breed, Remembrance’s Merry Snip’s has a life story that reads like a fairy tale. His tale starts off in the snow-covered kingdom of Vermont. Like a crown prince in a winter wonderland, he lived a quiet, sheltered life there for 21 years before coming to live at Westwood Farms in Virginia.

Snip was bred by Robert and Arlene Pralle of Williston, Florida. His sire, Sun’s Remembrance (1966-2004) was a proven producer of family mounts, successful show horses and several Supreme Versatility Champions. The black beauty earned the nickname “Saint” for his wonderful disposition. Arlene still refers to Saint as “the most amazing horse I’ve ever known.” She described him as “100% natural in his gait, flawless in his disposition, majestic in his appearance, and magnetic in his personality…He and his offspring come out of the barn walking without weight, chains or action devices.”

Snip in Vermont at under a year.

The sire of Sun’s Remembrance was the great Midnight Sun himself. Midnight Sun was the World Grand Champion in 1945 and 1946. Bill Harlin of Harlinsdale Farms said “Midnight Sun added a dimension that hadn’t been there before. He put a bold walk on. He identified the gait.” In the same vein, Bill states, “There’s been some disservice put on the horse by some folks – talking about him being ugly or being long headed. They just don’t know. He wasn’t ugly, he was bigger than some of them but he was not ugly. If you made him park and set his head up, he looked as good as any. If you didn’t, he looked ordinary. He was a pretty docile kind of horse.” Billy Taylor says of Midnight Sun, "in my opinion, (he) was the best and most consistent breeder of true gaited Tennessee Walking Horses."

At the distinguished age of 30, Sun’s Remembrance was bred to the good mare, Merry Nite Doll 88. The breeding combination of the Midnight Sun stallions bred to Merry Boy mares in years past was known as the "royal cross." Merry Nite Doll herself was purchased from Ray Corum Stables by the Pralles for just that purpose. Her sire and dam lines are full of exceptional mares that carry foundation lines. Mr. Corum was known for his belief that the mare was every bit as important as the stallion when breeding. He stated "In addition to the fact that the mare contributes one half of the genes, she also contributes and extra measure towards the intelligence and disposition of her offspring. In the foal's formative months, the mare's influence is supreme."

Merry Nite Doll was sired by the Corum’s stallion Merry Boy's F88, one of the last living sons of Merry Boy. Merry Boy's sire was Roan Allen F-38, not only a great show horse during his lifetime but one of the greatest foundation sires of all time. His dam, Merry Legs F-4, was not only a great show mare, as was her half-brother, Roan Allen F-38, she was considered to be the best producing mare ever born in the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. She produced 13 foals, six stallions and seven mares. She produced five stallions that became very popular breeding stallions, including the great Merry Boy. The other four were Merry King by Moreland's Pride, Major Allen and Bud Allen by Mitch F-5, and Last Chance, her last foal by Hunter's Allen F-10.

Merry Nite Doll’s dam, Stormy’s Ebony Doll, was remembered fondly by Donna Corum Perkins “Stormy’s Ebony Doll was one of our top broodmares. I believe she was shown some in some pleasure classes. I rode her quite a bit and she was a wonderful, sweet mare. My mom supported my dad and myself with the horses but wasn't into them like we were. Doll was one of the few horses that my mom claimed.”

Snip beside his dam.

Stormy’s Ebony Doll was sired by Go Boy’s Nite Storm, a direct son of Merry Go Boy.  Go Boy’s Nite Storm, foaled July 4, 1968, was bred and raised by Ray Corum Stables. His sire, Merry Go Boy, was considered to the model of perfect walking horse conformation. In his book, Echo of Hoofbeats, Dr. Bob Womack described Merry Go Boy: “The small horse stepped and moved like a fairy in a moon-lit glen, barely seeming to touch the ground, light, smooth, fast, and graceful without apparent effort. His hock motion was like a hydraulic action, smooth and velvety in operation. His way of going seemed to give one an illusion that he could still be walking right down through the years. Those who had the opportunity to see Merry Go Boy perform will not soon forget him." Merry Go Boy was the World Grand Champion in 1947 and 1948 and much discussion has been had regarding which was the better horse, Merry Go Boy or Midnight Sun. Go Boy’s Nite Storm was out of a mare named Midnight Peggy P, whom Mr. Corum often said, “paid for the farm.”

Snip beside his dam.

The dam of Stormy’s Ebony Doll was Ebony’s Co-ed (pictured at right with her colt, Red Haired Stranger.) She was a prolific producer, giving birth to her last foal at the age of 22. She also produced the popular breeding stallion, Red Haired Stranger, a plantation show winner who was also extensively trained in reining. Ebony’s Co-ed was by the great Ebony Masterpiece, 1962 World Grand Champion. Before his death at the age of 31 in 1987, Ebony Masterpiece become one of the breed’s most prolific sires, producing 5 World Grand Champions. Ebony’s Co-ed was out of a direct daughter of Society Man, a rare and highly sought-after bloodline. Though he wasn’t a World Grand Champion, Society Man was considered by some to have been one of the best walking stallions of all times.