Monty Wallen

[Horsecrazy2]

Just received very sad news that Monty Wallen was killed in a car accident this afternoon. He will be remembered as a great friend, talented horseman and a great prankster. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

[♥Gabrielle♥]

Oh no! I am so sorry hear this. The Wallen family is in my prayers also.

[BeccaKW]

Our hearts are breaking. This is our trainers brother. He was one hell of a man and one hell of a practical joker. . . . Can't believe this happened. . . We just saw him at the Tattersalls.

[sunridge]

Oh nooo!!!!! My dear old friend. He taught me to ride....

Mary

[vlayne]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I've been watching Monty on the circuit my whole life, and he's such a wonderful man. He helped me with my horse trailer a few years ago, without even knowing my name. A tremendous loss... my deepest condolences to everyone who will be missing him.

[lshiely]

What terrible news, my thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Wallen family and all of his friends. I was first introduced to Dick Wallen when I was about 10, and have met all of them through the years. He will be greatly missed.

[blackeyedgurl]

Such a shame! He will be missed, he was always good for a joke or just for being ridiculous! The show circuit up here won't be the same without him! My thoughts go out to his family and customers!

[StoneRidgeStable]

My heart goes out to the Wallen Family. There is nothing any one can say at a time like this. I am sure Monty and Tony Ray are joking around like old times.
~Laura Fulton

[Wind_Chill]

Makes me so sad to read this- I was introduced to Monty only once at the sale, but he always remembered me and said hello- I will always remember him telling my trainer with a perfectly straight face that he'd buy the horse I was riding through if 'that girl' came along with it... such a shame, he always seemed like such a nice guy.

[roseofwindhaven]

My thoughts and prayers go to the Wallen family and friends. I heard about Monty last night at the Royal. I watched John show a couple of nice babies that did well in the Breeders Challenge. I can't imagine having to show after getting such news.

[JustMyStyle]

Monty will be terribly missed on the IA/MN/Wisc show circuit. He was such a joy to be around & always made everyone smile! He was such a great person!

[Fargirl05]

To say that I am saddened and shocked would be an absolute understatement.

I am sitting here basically numb.

Monty, I will miss you SO terribly at the shows. All your teasing and distracting antics will NEVER be forgotten. I just can't believe that you won't be there. I wish I could put into words how difficult this is for me...I thought there must have been a typo. And unfortunately, at this moment I can't even begin to leave a tribute to you that would honor you as you should be honored. This is just one more tragedy that continues to remind me that I cannot take the people in my life for granted as you never know what tomorrow will bring.

This news is absolutely devastating and I know that the shows we both attended will never be the same without you.

Godspeed Monty and have one hell of a time with all the wonderful horses and trainers you'll be meeting.....this year has taken some of the best.

Say hi to Julie and Paul for me. Tell them I miss them and think of them all the time.

Courtney

[sdlbredfan]

I am so sorry to read this, and will keep his surviving family members in my prayers. On a practical note, does anyone know what kind of help is needed forthe family and for the horses that were in his care, whether he was at the Royal or en route, or if there is any thing any of us can do to help his family cope with horse care needs, (wherever they are) or other things?
Jeanie

[leoj]

I am somewhat new to the saddlebred world.
I met monty a few years back, and had a great conversation with him, he was quite a jokster, not affraid to mess with anyone.
One of my very first classes i showed in, i have to thank monty the most.
He was not my trainer, just a friendly guy at the horse show.
When my class was going on, my trainner was hollaring stuff for me to do, and pointing out things i need to change. This got me very flustered.
The second way of the ring, There was Monty, on the rail all by himself, and he said
" just sit up a little, and enjoy your ride. You aren't on a gaited horse"
I listened to him, and took that to heart. And got thru the class with a second place ribbon.
When i get nervous out in the ring, i replay what Monty told me, and all is well.
Monty will be missed alot. He was always a face you could count on almost anytime.
I still think he is was one of the very best trainers in the nation.
God Bless you Monty.

[SmartAlex]

I met Monty awhile back at Tattersalls. He had the horse "CH No Jacket Required" which at the time was named Winnavegas. My family and I were wandering around the barns and came across this big, stunningly gorgeous bay standing in the aisle being tacked up. Well, that horse was close to my ideal looking horse, and we twittered away like only four women in love with a horse can. He was very friendly and offered my sister a ride, but she shyly declined. Well, you don't have to ask me twice to ride a horse like that.
He let me ride that gelding up and down the warm up aisle (to show him off with a lady rider of course). I was on cloud nine. He even came looking for me the next day to do the same. He gave me one of my most memorable horse experiences and I will never forget the thrill. Any horse he put through TSE was always perfectly broke and presented in the most professional way. We will very much miss seeing him.

[5gait]

Does anyone know where memorials can be directed?

[5asbs]

I, too, am very sad about Monte's passing. I bought a horse he had in training 14 months ago. He was a magnificant trainer!!! I had the great fortune of stalling next to him a couple of times at horse shows. He was so entertaining. A fun loving competitor who was always willing to share good advice. I will miss him a great deal. I actually remember his last words to me. He jokingly called me a "horse thief" as he pulled away from a show with one less horse in his trailer, the horse I bought after much negotiating:)

They broke the mold when they made Monte.

[Horsecrazy2]

A memorial service is planned for Nov 26, 2008 in Sioux City, Iowa. As to the horses in his care, they are being taken care of. I will post info as it becomes available.

[ChSkyWatch]

The last time that I seen Monty was at Tattersall's last month, and I fondly remember him and 3 of his brothers (Monty, Rick, James, and John) all standing there joking with each other. I remember thinking if I only had a camera!

Eric

[Horsecrazy2]

Horse shows will not be the same without him. To mom and I, Monty was more than a trainer, he was a true friend. Many times he was on the rail helping us out, even when we didn't have a horse in training. He always had an encouraging word. As in "He was just showing his show horse ways" when the darn horse didn't walk/stand/do anything right in the Country class. No one made a horse look as good as Monty did, and he made it look so easy.
And God DID break the mold after he created Monty.
He will be missed.

[albert]

work has keep me away from the outside world for the last 3 days - so I was very sad to read this. prayers for the family - he will truly be missed.

[asb_own_me]

A memorial service is planned for Nov 26, 2008 in Sioux City, Iowa.

We will be watching for more memorial arrangements. I know there are a lot of folks in and around the area who would like to go and pay their respects.

Monty, you will be missed....

[wildsong]

Monty's memorial service will be Wed., the 26th, at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City--a funeral mass at 11am.

The family has requested no flowers, however at this time they have not named a specific memorial. They suggest "Monty Wallen Memorial Fund" or you can wait to see what they choose.

You can mail sympathy cards to any of the family members or to Dick & Marilyn.

Marilyn's birthday was yesterday--

[Klopfk]

My condolences to the Wallen family and friends. I did not know this gentleman,but now come to realize through this thread that I was actually talking to him at Tattersalls. He sounded like a wonderful person who had a many friends.



Kris - Goosebumps Mom

[sdlbredfan]

He was, as all of the Wallen sibs were/are, a very gifted rider. No offense is meant by omitting listing the others, but I have often thought that he and Robb in particular were especially a pleasure to watch ride, for the way they could stay out of the horse's way and let the horse do its thing as if showing off for the sheer fun of it. (So do the others, but those two always popped into my mind first in that regard.)
Jeanie

[Princess Georgia]

I am so sorry to hear of Monty's passing. I, like others, just saw him a few weeks ago at Tattersalls and in his typical "Monty" fashion, had a smile on his face and was surrounded by his many friends. I also used to love watching him ride. He and Rick could ride a horse with the most quiet of hands. Just a joy to see.

He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Jayne Tillman

[Ohmylawd]

There will be a memorial service for Monty in WI this Sunday, the 23rd at 6:00 pm at the United Methodist Church, 220 S. Main Street, Oakfield, WI. We are all so saddened over his passing and are thankful that there will be a service for him in WI.

[Sit]

I was so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with the Wallen family.

[ASBPunkin]

I couldn't believe it when I heard this yesterday....Rick Wallen used to be my trainer so everyone in the barn new Monty and we always saw him at the shows...

My heart goes out to the Wallen family :sad:

[midnight CappOcino]

My condolences to all of the Wallens. Monty was a very funny and nice man. He will surely be missed in the saddlebred world. We tip our hats to you an god speed Monty.

We will surely miss your smile in the midwest.

[teddys dad]

Sorry for the delayed response on this, but I was at the American Royal and didn't bring my computer with...

We all were shocked to learn of the passing of Monty Wallen. Monty, as has been said here many times, was a real jokester and character. I well remember him in his glory days riding his beloved Cherokee King! And how proud he was of Sue (Montgomery, his ex) and her accomplishments with Orchard Heights Ramblin' Rose.

In more recent years, Monty was stationed in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and operated at "Miller-Wallen" Stables owned by his then-partner Carol Miller.

He will be missed by his family and friends on the circuit. We have sustained too many losses in the horse business, in general, but specifically to the upper Midwest. Tony Ray back in March, Peter Archer in May and now Monty in November. All quick and taken too young.

For those of you who were not at the Royal, you'll be glad to know that Monty's passing was not without mention. On Wednesday night, at the start of the evening performance, Peter Fenton stepped outside the center ring and read a very nice tribute to Monty and asked for a moment of silence in his memory/honor.

I have a funny story to share with you about Monty and his "always being there" nature....a few years back, John Willis had a horse at the Signature show that he needed to get shown in the Pleasure Driving class and his driver was ill. I hadn't planned on showing anything at that show so I didnt have any clothes to show the horse, and time was limited. I had like one class to find someone close to my size who had their clothes with them and get changed and into the cart behind the horse.

Monty heard about this and volunteered the use of his riding suit. Well, I'm 6'3" and aboue 225, welllllll......I was able to get into Monty's shirt and riding vest and coat, and hat, but there was no way my long legs were going to get into his riding pants. So I just went with what I had. Brooke Jacobs was the judge. I ended up "Brendan/Incognito Monty" from the waist up...and in my shorts and tennis shoes from the waist down. I won the class. And have a photo of this interesting attire! LOL

[Fancy]

Monty was such a huge part of my life while he trained in Minnesota. As a child I went to the barn and rode nearly every day with him while he was at Hardwood Creek Stables and later Double H Stables. His smooth riding stlye and showmanship left quite an impression on me. I will always remember his willingness to share his knowledge with anyone and his ability to make you feel welcome and wanted. He was such a talented horseman and I will be saying many prayers for his family and loved ones. It's such a shame to have lost such an amazing horseman, wonderful teacher and good friend.

Goodbye my friend and Godspeed.

[teddys dad]

Today, I received a nice note from Linda Wallen, sister of Monty Wallen in the mail. Linda wanted me to thank everyone who contributed to Monty's memorial, sent a card, called the family, or acknowledged her brother's passing in any way, shape or form. She requested this be posted here on behalf of the entire Wallen Family especially her parents Dick, age 87, and Marilyn, age 85, the parents of that dynasty.

[wildsong]

After the services, the family invited everyone to the barn for some social time. First thing 87-year old Dick did was pull out his current trick horse and have Jeanne (youngest daughter--should also have been a trainer!) put it through its paces. Just incredible natural talent in that family.

[BeccaKW]

Jeanne is an amazing horse person and just a delight to be around. She's truly a character, just like the rest of the family. My husband and I are close to many of the Wallens with James as our saddlebred trainer. I truly hope Monty knows how much he is missed. There isn't a moment that goes by that we don't feel his presence. . Especially because we are such comedians. . we always seem to find ourselves says. . "Monty would have loved this!!!"