These are the two men of the three men who greatly influenced my young life with horses in Osceola, Iowa. I just found this treasure of information of Osceola, Iowa residents! I’ve been searching for information about Austin Smith for years and years. This fell into my vision today! Enjoy…
Recipies for Living by Fern Underwood
Osceola was known in the mid-century just past for at least two breeders and trainers of Palomino horses. One was dentist, Dr. E. W. Paul, whom Mickey referred to as one of Osceola’s most visible citizens. “Wearing an elaborate costume, he rode a Palomino horse with a decorated silver saddle draped with glittering trappings in many Rose Bowl parades. One of Dr. Paul’s clients was movie and television star, Roy Rogers.” The other was Austin Smith, about whom Mickey wrote (slightly altered):
Austin Smith is remembered by (his grand children) as “a very gentle man” and “very humble.” These are their memories of this nationally known trainer and showman of dressage horses, which are horses that perform under inconspicuous control of the rider.
Austin Smith’s American Saddle Bred dressage horses were trained to high-step, kneel, march, sit, stand on two legs, and dance. They could Spanish trot, and trot in place. (Many of his horses) were headline performers at the major horse shows throughout the country. His ‘”Lucky Strike” performed for Ringling Brothers Circus for two years including performances at Madison Square Garden…
Austin Smith became one of the nation’s most sought after trainers. He turned down an offer to go to California to work for movie and television star Roy Rogers. (His) performing horses were featured on television and Fox Movie Tone. Austin Smith was named to the coveted Iowa State Fair Horseman’s Hall of Fame in 1962…An article in the Des Moines Register quoted (him) as saying, “The strongest tool in training is the kindly word and a pat. Horses, like children, have different dispositions. It does no good to beat a child for something it doesn’t understand. The main problem is getting across to the horse what you want it to do.”