By Mitzi Oxford

When you sit close to the rail at a horse show, you can sometimes hear the swoosh of the mane and flick of the tail and the four beat rhythm of a walking horse. But what if the sound ended there? Just imagine experiencing a show without either the announcer calling the class or the organist playing to the beat of the flat foot, running walk or rocking chair canter. Both have been part of the great walking horse show experience since the beginning. 

Just as the Tennessee Walking Horse has evolved over the years, so has professional audio equipment. You can see the difference in the ring, but now you can also hear the difference at the Cooper Steel Arena. As the Walking Horse Report reported in March 2024, the 35-year-old audio system received a major upgrade. 
“The redesign for Cooper Steel began as a need because it was outdated. We began the process, but then Covid hit, and the project got put on hold. The new system finally came to fruition earlier this year,” explained Scott Leonard.

Kim and Scott Leonard’s Professional Audio Designs out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, designed the new system, installed it and tuned it. Among other upgrades, it provides a separate control and a balanced sound between the ring and the Hall of Fame room. Film crews can now pick up audio directly into their cameras, and microphones are positioned around the arena to help you feel that you are in the middle of the action when you watch on-line.

The announcer’s sound is enhanced and with the new system, the organ music can be plugged in directly so everyone, regardless of where they are sitting in the arena, will be able to hear it at the same level. 
The importance of that achievement isn’t lost on either longtime horse show organist Larry Bright or the crowd who delighted in hearing his signature “Flat Walk Boogie” over the years.

“Good quality sound creates a continuity between the horse, rider and the crowd. It cements the entire show experience,” Larry said.

Kim and Scott Leonard understand the sound experience for walking horse enthusiasts because they are among them.

Adventures in sound and hoofbeats

Kim joined Professional Audio Designs in 1992.

“I was on the road working with the sound companies for U2 and for David Bowie when they were on tour that year,” she said.

It was the year Bowie released a boxed set called “Brilliant Adventure” and U2 hit the airwaves with “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses.” Perhaps there was something prophetic about the timing of both.

Her involvement in the walking horse business came soon after. In 1995, Kim got her first walking horse and started showing Lite-Shod Amateur Owned & Trained in Wisconsin with the help of long time TWH enthusiasts Dick and Nancy Baer and Pat Eames. She started showing as an amateur in the padded and pleasure horse divisions in 2000 in Kentucky. The horses may not have been wild, but the adventures in the show ring were brilliant.

Those adventures began with The Silver Bandit, under the training direction of Ray Burton and eventually Joel Weaver. The team appeared in show rings across the south including Woodbury, Belfast and Bethesda. The year 2002, brought blue ribbons at the International in the Park Pleasure Four & Under class, and the following year a world championship at the Celebration in the Park Pleasure Novice division. It marked the beginning of tying in the money over the next several years. 

Kim said Bandit was a “once in a lifetime” horse. He was kind and sweet, but LOTS more “go” than “whoa” and loved to show. Words can’t describe what it was like to ride him. Bandit passed away on July 24th this year, just shy of his 27th birthday.

She has also been blessed with another “once in a lifetime” horse, Mucho Pavo, under the direction of Tony Mercer.

“I begged Scott for Pavo for what seemed like years. His answer was ALWAYS – ‘we don’t need another horse.’”

On her 50th birthday, Scott surprised Kim with Mucho Pavo. “Ty Irby was instrumental in that surprise allowing Scott to purchase Pavo for me.” The favor is repaid as Pavo is now retired making little Pavo’s at Irby Farms.

Just as audio designers select only the best components for sound at a venue, the Leonard’s owned, raised and Kim showed The Silver Bandit’s offspring including Big Time Bandit, Stone Cold Bandit and Bandit’s Northern Lights.

Since 2014, they have had many horses with Callaway Stables, most recently, Reserve World Champion NV US, Therefore I Am, Noah Genda and Testify.

“We’re excited about our show horses this year. It’s been fun having three three-year-olds and a more rock solid, experienced horse that I can count on every single day. We’re also very excited about our newest addition, Fleury, a two-year-old park pleasure entry.”

Fleury joins World Champion and two-time Reserve World Champion Just Jose It, whos is under the direction of Ryan Gannon. Look for Kim and her horses to make a big sound at this year’s Celebration.

Kim currently sits on the International Board of Directors for TWHBEA as the Director from Region 2, which represents Wisconsin and Iowa. She considers it important to give back to a community that gives her so much on so many different levels. She also enjoys using her professional experience and creativity to collaborate for events and fundraisers on the Trainers’ Committee.

World class horses and sound
Just as the Tennessee Walking Horse is a unique breed, their company is unique to the audio design and installation industry. In one, you see the difference, in the other, you hear it. It takes a team of trainers, riders, owners, farriers, veterinarians and fans to support a ride into the winner’s circle. 

For Professional Audio Designs, it takes a diverse group with a range of backgrounds and experiences including audio engineers, educators, designers, programmers, event coordinators and musicians. They’ve designed and installed systems around the world and across the country. Think of it as electronic architecture.

“There are only a handful of companies that do what we do. We’ve worked in Australia and Belgium, and in many cities across the U.S.” Right after Celebration they’re back on the road to Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Like many who own and show horses, the success of the Leonard’s company, Professional Audio Designs, helps support their love for the breed. You may have “heard”, and in the case of their A/V designs, actually “seen” some of their expertise. It’s on display at the Wisconsin State Capitol, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Chicago’s Millennium Park or the beautiful Altria Theater in Richmond, Virginia, Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville and Kennedy Center for the Arts in D.C.

The new audio system for Cooper Steel Arena is now added to the long list of achievements for the Leonard’s company, resulting in world class sound for world class walking horse shows including the National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Money Tree Classic, Heart of a Champion, and soon daytime Celebration classes, and later the Celebration Fall Classic.

“We were happy to be able to use our skills to help fans enjoy those horse shows at Cooper Steel. The friends we’ve made in the walking horse business have become family, so this was very special to us.”

The company will celebrate their 40th anniversary in January. Cheers to many more!

To learn more, visit their website at www.proaudiodesigns.com.