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 As was the case
with many upper-class Southern families, the Overton's engaged in the
breeding of fine horses. However, not until 1929 was Travellers Rest
devoted solely to breeding one type of horse. Jacob McGavock
Dickinson, Jr. (great-grandson of Judge John Overton) purchased
Travellers Rest and established one of the largest Arabian horse farms
in the U.S. Because Arabians are one of the oldest known breeds,
Dickinson carefully researched pedigrees and corresponded with
breeders in the Middle East to locate the purest stock. His efforts
led to international recognition as a breeder of Arabian horses for
“sport and pleasure.” In 1946, Dickinson moved his family and the Arabian horse farm to California. However, the Travellers Rest
Arabian horse breeding tradition continued in Tennessee through his
daughter Peggy Dickinson Fleming. In 1953, she established a
Travellers Rest in Columbia, Tennessee and bred Arabians until 1991.
Many Arabian horses in Tennessee and elsewhere can trace their
pedigree to Travellers Rest Arabians. |
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