Lots of horseshoers have famous clients. Some like to brag about them. Some keep quiet about them. And some keep them very close to their hearts and, if you ask, will share their memories. When that happens, it's special.
That's how it was with Lim Couch. Lim died on Saturday at the age of 75. Most people in the farrier industry know him as a past president of the American Farrier's Association, a quiet and dignified southern gentlemen who probably served more time and in more capacities to that organization than almost anyone.
Lim attended the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention every year with a veterinarian associate, and he didn't know many people there, so my booth was a place where he could visit with someone he knew. And tell stories.
In 1996, when Lim traveled to Great Britain to represent the American Farrier's Association at the Annual General Meeting of the British farriers' organization, he presented them a plaque with a set of gold-plated shoes from one of Elvis's horses. (Top that!)
It's funny that Lim and Elvis and the horses that brought them together have been in the news lately. There has been speculation about whether or not Elvis's Tennessee Walking horses were ever "sore" in order to compete. Priscilla Presley is vague about what Elvis did and did not know about what went on in the Walking horse world.
And Lim Couch certainly would never say anything that would incriminate his clients. He has taken Elvis's secrets to the grave.
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The pastures at Graceland still have horses in them and Lim Couch always seemed to be connected in some way with the horse operation on the famous estate in Memphis. |
Lim also ran a horseshoeing school. Mid-South Horseshoeing Academy, and a farrier supply store. He was someone with his fingers in lots of pies. According to an old article in the Mid-South Horse Review, Lim graduated from North Texas Horseshoeing Institute in Grapevine, Texas in 1966 and became an AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier in 1983, which would have made him one of the first to achieve that level.
I often wonder if horseshoers think they will be forgotten when they're gone but they've spent too much time with too many people. And they've told too many stories to people like me who don't forget a good story, or the people who told them, and never will.
Lim's official funeral was today, but some things and some people can never die. I'm very glad to have known Lim Couch.
This video does not mention Lim, but it is a tour of Graceland's stables.
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3 comments:
Thank you for this story, Fran. I know that Elvis look!
I have the distinction of being farrier for Elvis's good friend, Lance LeGault, for the last 15 years of his life. (Lance passed away Sept. 10, 2012.)
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/lance_legault_interview.shtml
Over the years -- oh I wish my memory were better to recall all the stories Lance told -- I heard all about Elvis, The Colonel, Johnny Rivers, The Duke (John Wayne), Leon Russell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and more . . .
He never mentioned Elvis's horses, but rather told of their riding motorcycles together through the Santa Monica Mountains (Malibu) area, in the 1960s.
According to Lance: "Nobody expected to see Elvis on a bike -- they expected to see him in a limmo. So we got to ride incognito -- nobody knew who we were. It was fantastic!."
In addition to his music, which he played alongside Elvis, Lance was a character and voiceover actor. His voice was recorded for the tours at Graceland.
It is truly amazing how close we farriers get with the people we work for. Lance always invited me in for food and stories, even after a long dusty day outside working with the horses.
Lance loved his Arabian horses and took excellent care of them. Also his many dogs.
He and Elvis shared a background from impoverished roots in the South. Elvis didn't trust ANYBODY -- that's why the Colonel watched after him so. And Lance was one of his few friends.
Sounds like Lim made it into the inner circle, through the horses.
Long live the horses, and those who love and care for them!
Dawn Jenkins, Frazier Park, California
Fran,
Thanks for referencing one of our past articles on Lim Couch in your blog. We'll have another coming out in our July issue. Also, enjoyed hearing your presentation at the AHP meeting.
Nancy Brannon, Editor
Mid-South Horse Review
Nancy, I was so excited that you were at AHP but I never had a chance to talk to you about this article.If you let me know when your article about Lim comes out, I will be sure to add a link to it here. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for visiting The Hoof Blog!
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