Noel Swaney on Faustiana horse at age 4 in 1952
The Maryville Daily Forum, May 6, 1952, Page 3. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-lester-swaney/196860875/
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON–Leslie No’el Swaney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Swaney, passes on Our Hostess, one of the horses trained by his father.
Leslie No’el Swaney
The Maryville Daily Forum, November 13, 1976, Page 7. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-obituary-for-l/196865696/
Leslie No’el Swaney, 28, Royal Oak, Mich., formerly of Maryville, Special Accounts Underwriter 1 for Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Companies No. 840, died at 8:40 p.m. Friday in a hospital at Royal Oak, where he had been a patient since Nov. 2, undergoing major surgery Nov. 9.
He was a native of Maryville, born Dec. 21, 1947, and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Swaney. On June 2, 1969, he married Connie Lynn Dillon in Lee’s Summit, who survives.
He graduated from Maryville R-2 High School, Northwest Missouri State University, and the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, where he taught and completed his doctoral dissertation. He had been employed for two years as an underwriter for Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Companies at Kansas City prior to being associated with the company at Royal Oak. He was a member of the Greenfield Presbyterian Church, Berkley, Mich. Besides his wife and parents, he is survived 1 by his grandmother, Mrs. L.E. Taylor, Maryville. The body will be brought to the Price Funeral Home, where funeral arrangements are pending. The family suggests donations to the Cancer Fund.
Lester Swaney Finds Life’s Work Training Show Horses
The Maryville Daily Forum, May 6, 1952, Page 3. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-lester-swaney/196860875/
Following his apprenticeship, Lester Swaney, manager of Faustiana Horse Farms, owned by F.M. Townsend, has gone to great heights.
Mr. Swaney gained most of his influence by working with Colonel Nent in the show circles of the Midwest for many years, and, in turn, has helped a number of young men make names for themselves as show horse trainers.
Horses Compared With Children.
He was born and reared on a farm east of Pickering, where he was in constant contact with his father’s horses.
After becoming quite interested in horses as a young lad, Mr. Swaney decided he would make horse training his life’s work. Many grand champion ribbons and excellent performing horses have been among his rewards and accomplishments. “Training a horse is a big problem,” he states. “They are like chil-no two are alike. An individual study must be made of each horse during training.” Mr. Swaney also chuckled, stating that each horse he had would furnish material for a book. One of the most prominent people ever to buy horses from Faustiana was the movie star Bob Burns. Mr. Swaney took the horses to Los Angeles, where he then showed them to Mr. Burns.
The breed of horses he works with is Registered American Saddle Horses, better known by most people as show horses.
Son Also Likes Horses
It is Mr. Swaney’s job to raise the Farm’s own horses and train them. and then sell them to buyers who go on from there. Every horse he has shown has been “educated” and developed by himself.
Lady Babett Faustiana Genius, Lullaby Lane, Festivity, Hour of Charm, and Oak Hill Chief are a few of the fine horses he has trained. Each was the grand champion in its field, some having won national fame. An offer of $50,000 for the Oak Hill Chief was refused by the owner.
Leslie No’el Swaney, Mr. and Mrs. Swaney’s four-year-old son, takes an active interest in his father’s work. He has attended horse shows every year with an older horse and trainer at the Faustiana
Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Townsend, working with show horses from his early career experience. H. Tapp, who was prominent, has been since he was an infant and always delights in trying to pick out the horse he thinks will be the winner. No’el has already ridden several horses. His parents bought him a pony yesterday so he can start riding by himself.
Summer Show Plans
Mrs. Swaney, nee Miss Leola Taylor, shares her husband’s interest in his work. Both she and her husband have been leaders in the Northwest Missouri Horse Show Association since its inception.
Mrs. Swaney has served as the organization’s secretary for the past several years.
The family of three plans to start summer showings of the horses in about a month. Mr. Swaney says that he has one of the best groups of horses he has had together in a long time, and intends to capture more grand champion titles this summer. He has held his position at Faustiana for 13 years.
Jokes Comparing Racehorses to Show horses
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What do you call a racehorse at a dressage clinic? — Lost.
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Why do show horses make terrible gamblers? — They always want perfect form, not perfect odds.
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How do you tell a show horse from a race horse at a party? — The show horse critiques the hors d’oeuvres; the race horse is already at the finish line.
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Why did the racehorse get jealous of the showhorse? — Everyone was complimenting its posture.
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What did the show horse say to the race horse before the competition? — “Look pretty, then leave fast.”
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Why are racehorses bad at ballet? — They keep sprinting through the pirouettes.
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How do show horses apologize? — With a bow. How do racehorses apologize? — By arriving first and saying, “Sorry, I beat you.”
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Why did the show horse bring a mirror to the track? — In case the racehorse wanted a lesson in elegance.
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What’s a racehorse’s favorite part of a show? — The warm-up — it’s where they get to practice running away from perfection
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Why did the show horse win the argument? — It had better points of reinforcement
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What’s a racehorse’s favorite compliment? — “You’re fast.” What’s a show horse’s favorite compliment? — “You’re tasteful.”
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How do show horses text each other? — With perfect punctuation. How do racehorses text? — In all caps: GONE.
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Why don’t race horses like art galleries? — Too much standing around. Why don’t we show horses like racetracks? — Too much running around.
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What did the judge say to the racehorse? — “Nice speed, shame about the turnout.”
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Why did the show horse refuse to join the relay? — It didn’t want to hand off the spotlight.
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How do you spot a confident racehorse? — It’s already planning the victory lap. How do you spot a confident show horse? — It’s planning the entrance.
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Why did the racehorse get a makeover? — It heard the show horse was coming to town.
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What did the show horse call the race horse’s haircut? — A breeze-through.
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Why are show horses great at small talk? — They always have a polished line. Why are racehorses great at exits? — They always know when to leave.
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What did the racehorse say after the runway walk? — “Nice trot, now watch me bolt.”
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Why did the trainer hire both? — The show horse taught manners, the race horse taught urgency — together they made a well-rounded commute.
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Why did the show horse break up with the race horse? — The racehorse was always running away from commitment.