Thanks Mrs. T- Bazy Tankersley’s influence on the Arabian Horse World
The legacy of Arabian horse breeder Bazy Tankersley, known to many in the Arabian horse world as “Mrs. T."
by Karen Prell
Once in a while an individual comes along who changes a very specific corner of the world and in doing so, changes life for the better for a lot of other individuals that they may have not even met. Like the ripples in a pool of water when a stone is dropped into it, the ripples continue long after the stone has gone.
Such was the influence of a remarkable woman named Bazy Tankersley, known to many in the Arabian horse world as “Mrs. T”. The Arabian horse world lost Mrs. T in 2013 at the age of 91, but like that stone dropped into the pool, her ripples continue to be felt even now, more than a year after she left us.
She came from the generation and upbringing of giving something back and trying to leave the world a better place for your having been here. While she was a known contributor to many causes, the creator of two schools, and a donator of millions in scholarship money, to many horse lovers world wide, just as important were her contributions to the horse world.
In 1963, Bazy Tankersley founded the Arabian Horse Owners Foundation, a charity to fund the needs of the Arabian horse community.
Bazy Tankersley’s Legacy
If the only thing Mrs. T ever did was the creation of Al Marah Arabians, that would have been a legacy to satisfy almost anyone. She had a keen eye and a great love for the performance horse. She could tell you what your breeding program needed and what it didn’t and if you asked her opinion, you can be sure it was based on solid knowledge and given to you honestly.
Her Arabian breeding program was based on the belief that not only did her Arabians have to look beautiful, but they had to actually be able to work at something. Her bloodlines are known the world over for horses of good temperament, gentle character and the fact that they are doing horses.
You will see them in every division of the show ring. From the Working Western division where they have to be quick on their feet and think independently in order to outsmart the cows they work so brilliantly, to the elegance of Dressage where grace and obedience to the rider are on display at the highest levels. Well into her 80’s Mrs. T was leading her horses into the arena to show (and win) at Halter as well.
Her honesty and integrity are legendary. Mrs. T was a visionary when it came to promoting her breed, the Arabian. She was one of the first to have a lease/buy program for her horses in order to make it affordable for beginners to get good horses to get started in the business of showing and breeding Arabians. She was a watchdog in protecting the legacy of the breed and a friend who offered encouragement to newbies just getting started. Mrs. T knew long ago that in order for the breed to survive and thrive, you had to introduce new people to the horses she loved so dearly.
Tankersley promoted the Arabian breed as a performance horse, testing her horses on the race track and in endurance riding.
Al Marah Arabians and beyond
The herd of Al Marah horses and their descendants represent a historical mark for any breed in that they are the longest privately owned herd in history. They have been in private hands for roughly 200 years. They started with the tribes of the Desert, found their way into the hands of the Crabbet Stud in England in the late 1800’s and when that farm was dispersed upon the death of its owner, it was Mrs. T to the rescue! She purchased and imported a large block of the Crabbet herd, and thus they remain in the safe keeping of Al Marah even after the death of the dynamic Mrs. T.
It is said that if you want something accomplished give it to a busy person. Nothing could be truer of Bazy Tankersley than that axiom.
For those of you who may be just discovering the Arabians that were so beloved by Mrs. T, you have only to take a road trip to Kentucky Horse Park and the amazing Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries. This over 8,000 square ft. museum is in very large part due to the vision and generosity of Bazy, and her ability to get others in the Arabian Horse community excited about educating newcomers and Arabian lovers alike. Here you can learn about the beginnings of the breed from its Desert foundations to today. Now as then, it remains a breed with an affinity for human companionship, high intelligence and unequalled beauty. I would add this museum to your list of “equine oriented road trips” as a must see for families or anyone with a desire to learn more about the breed.
A Personal Tribute to Mrs. T
There are many people who knew Mrs. T. personally, who have given tribute to this great lady and her legacy in far more eloquent terms than I. However, for myself, I had a brief glimpse into the generous person that she was on a very personal basis.
When I purchased my stallion Payback Nick Atnite, little did I know that it would give me an opportunity to receive advice from the legendary Bazy Tankersley.
Knowing that he descended from the Al Marah bloodlines, I decided to send her an e-mail to ask her advice on what lines would cross well with him and her opinion of breeding him to another horse that was of similar lines. Nick is a descendant of her immortal stallion Am Sea Captain.
I expected a stock e-mail back. That was not good enough for this dedicated breeder. She wrote me an actual letter back! In it she explained in brief about the family lines and more in depth about the genetics involved, how they worked and what could be expected of such a breeding. She ended by asking me to keep in touch and let her know what I decided and if I had any other questions, to feel free to contact her and she would try to help.
I can tell you at the arrival of that letter, and her kind offer of help to stay on the right track; if I wasn’t already a fan of Mrs. T, I would have been at that moment. In my 40 years experience in the horse world, there are not a lot of breeders who would have bothered to answer a small breeder. But Mrs. T. was a very different individual and believed in helping to educate everyone, whether it was going to put money in her pocket or not!
Bazy Tankersley with her son Mark Miller.
Happily for us all, not only did she leave behind a legacy of incredible horses, she left us an even more important gift.
Her son, Mark Miller will be continuing with the unbelievable herd she has left behind. He is every bit as much of a visionary as his mother, having created the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater, which closed after a quarter century of equine themed family entertainment, in Orlando Florida.
There are exciting things to come from Al Marah Arabians in the capable hands of Mark Miller, and I will be letting you know some of them in a future article.
Thanks Mrs. T! You were indeed a rare person in this world, and we could use more like you. You can rest easy, with your herd under the guidance of your son. More great things are yet to come!
About the Author: Karen Prell, aka "Triple Crown Karen," came from a very non horsey, working class New Jersey family and started riding at age three. With over thirty years experience as a riding instructor, Karen is passionate about developing beginners into confident riders and compassionate horse owners. A favorite expresion heard often by her students is "It's ALL about the horse!" A lover of all things "horse," she is especially passionate about promoting the retraining of retired Thoroughbreds and adoption and rehoming of unwanted horses. Her ultimate dream would be to see the US Equestrian Team mounted on these great reclaimed athletes. Her career in media focuses on the everyday equestrian adventure and how a horse lover of modest means CAN make a difference for even ONE horse.
