Biographies

Allanna Lea Jackson

  Author, editor, horse trainer, house builder, musician, business woman, timber team worker... how do you describe such a versatile lady?

  Allanna Lea Jackson was born at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.  Her family returned home to the West when she was 3 months old.  She spent much of her childhood in Southern California, and finished high school in Arizona.

  She worked for a county park system, fried donuts for a bakery, and helped found an emergency medical system.  She plays clarinet in the White Mountain Symphony Orchestra.

    Meanwhile she trained her first Tennessee Walking Horse, Sacia's Pride, and gradually learned the methods shared in her first book, Back Yard Walkin' Training Tips.  By invitation from a magazine editor her column, Back Yard Walkin', appeared in various United States flat-shod Walking Horse publications from August 1984 - 1995.  Back Yard Walkin' appears in the Canadian Walking Horse News magazine and has been a regular part of that publication since January,1988.

  The first book grew out of the column and experience with Sassy.  It was written by request of The Walking Horse News publisher in Canada, but wound up in print in the United States under the Four Craftsmen imprint.

  Forced out of the bakery business by arm injuries, she became the office manager for Four Craftsmen.  Next horse book project was an update and reprint of Biography of the Tennessee Walking Horse.  Allanna wrote supplements, obtained endorsement from the author's family, and set type for the book.

  Several magazines meant to serve the Walking Horse owners whose lives center around non-show activities have folded.  Finally Allanna agreed to edit The Walking Horse Journal.  From its first issue the magazine has offered readers material found nowhere else.

  She combines the magazine and office work with such other activities as raising and training her own Walking Horses, assisting with her church's ministry at the local nursing home and serving as vice president of the White Mountain Symphony Orchestra after two terms as president..