Saddlebred Legend Lynn Weatherman Mourned
Friday, April 14, 2006
Lexington, Kentucky – Longtime American Saddlebred enthusiast and historian Lynn Weatherman died last night in his sleep at his home in Ohio.
Weatherman worked at the American Saddlebred Horse Association from 1985 to 2002 as editor of the magazine American Saddlebred and as the historian. Weatherman’s knowledge of pedigrees and bloodlines was legendary.
After graduating from Iowa State University while pursuing a degree in Animal Science, he answered an ad in Saddle & Bridle magazine and soon became a full-time contributor to the publication, thus beginning his years as a Saddlebred journalist. He married his wife, Judy, in 1963. After leaving the publication to work at the St. Louis suburban newspaper Community Press and managing a St. Louis equestrian facility, he returned to Saddle & Bridle in the early 1970s where his reputation as a journalist and a horseman really took off.
Weatherman Stables became highly visible on the Midwestern horse show circuit. After moving the farm to Kentucky and renaming it Warm Hearth Farm, Weatherman bred, developed or showed a number of top show horses, including multiple World’s Champion CHIt’s Time To Go, CHHayden Fox, The Revenooer, Lucky Piece, El Toro Fox, three-gaited pony The Artful Dodger, Chemistry, Elegant Example, and Five-Gaited Golden Palomino World Champion Gold Exchange, whom his daughter, Wendy Lewis, gaited, finished and showed to his title.
In 1985, Weatherman was asked by then Association President Judy Werner to be the editor of American Saddlebred magazine. Weatherman has interviewed nearly every top horseman about their roles and memories in the Saddlebred world.
In 1999, Weatherman received the UPHA’s Sallie B. Wheeler Distinguished Service Award.
No funeral service will be held. A celebration of the life of Lynn Weatherman will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to any of the following organizations:
The American Saddlebred Museum
The Animal Health Foundation, Dr. Donald M. Walsh, DVM
The Save Simmons Stable Fund, Bobbette Wilson
Saddlebred Rescue
Complete contact information for these organizations will be provided.
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