Dr. Sisk strikes a chord
By Mitzi Oxford

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it," is a famous quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off." The question isn't “What are we going to do?” the question is “What aren't we going to do?”

Like Ferris and many on the verge of adulthood, Andrew Sisk asked himself those same questions. Growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, he wanted to play football. His mother wanted him to be a preacher. After graduating from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, he joined the Air Force as a flight surgeon but also dreamed of being a fighter pilot. 

Eventually, his heart was in the medical field. After medical school at UT, he secured an internship at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis and then served his medical residency at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

“I came to Columbia, Tennessee, in 1978 because the hospital had the necessary amenities to support a more aggressive approach to surgery. I like it here. I made friends here. It is home,” said Dr. Sisk.

Whether through his years of performing surgery or his devotion to Tennessee Walking Horse breeding programs, Dr. Andrew Sisk has struck a chord, meaning his work has created a sense of connection. That includes resonating with patients, their families, medical partners and hundreds of owners and exhibitors who have connected with the horses his breeding initiatives have generated. He receives top-notch reviews for both endeavors.

What is Dr. Sisk going to do or not do?

First, he continued to fulfill his medical pledge to the best of his ability and judgement and respect the covenant of sharing his knowledge. He works for the benefit of the sick and remembers there is an art to medicine as well as science. He is committed to saving lives. That is a doctor’s oath.

After setting up practice in Columbia, he performed the first pacemaker surgery there. Dr. Sisk also helped develop a dialysis program and started laparoscopic surgery in his community, all before the specialization of medical procedures became the norm. After more than 40 years as a doctor, he maintains an office practice that includes office surgeries and facial skin care.

“I’ve received offers to join with area hospitals, but I’m not going to be owned by anyone,” he explained.

From the operating room to operating a breeding program

A friend took him to the Celebration in 1980. The winner that year was Ebony’s Mountain Man. He was impressed enough to buy a share of a horse from Mountain Man’s owner, Joe Tillett. The horse was Ebony’s Dude, who made an impressive show in Lexington in 1981 and was a contender for the TWHNC Grand Championship that year, although The Pusher ended up wearing the floral horseshoe.

“I ended up buying out the other owners, J.O. Williams and Dr. Ken Moore, then retired Ebony’s Dude to stud with S.W. Beech.”

The sire of Ebony’s Dude was 1962 World Grand Champion, Ebony Masterpiece. That heritage proved to be the beginning of Dr. Sisk’s love of the breed in more ways than one. The second horse he bought was Ebony’s Hostess from Billy Hale. 

It was a natural progression for Dr. Sisk to follow in Billy’s footsteps who was well known as an owner and breeder of multiple World Champion Tennessee Walking Horses including Ebony Masterpiece. Hale was later inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association Hall of Fame.
In 1983, Dr. Sisk bought Delight Of Pride. “I showed him once, but I just wasn’t good enough. I sent him to Billy Gray, and he ended up winning the World Grand Championship the following year.”

After his unanimous win in the preliminary stallion division and stake class, Delight Of Pride would stand at stud with Billy at Sand Creek Farms and sired almost 400 foals during his breeding career. 

“That is when we got going in the breeding business big time. We had about 50 mares, according to my wife Linda, maybe that was 50 too many, but those mares produced a lot of good colts. Delight Of Pride’s contributions were through the mares he was bred to, and his lineage produced many outstanding show horses. He bred like Sun’s Delight.”

There were many winners along the way, including World Champions, Papa’s Bar None, Pusher’s Country Girl, Mister Pushbutton, Wicked Walking Witch, Popcorn Sutton, Jimmer Fredette and Gunsmith.
“Not all are meant for greatness, but that is part of the breeding process.”

Unforgettable moments in the show ring

You might know Columbia, Tennessee, as “Mule Country”, but the Tennessee Walking Horse industry runs deep in Maury County. It’s the home of the Columbia Spring Jubilee, one of the most popular shows on the circuit, which has been around for 74 years.

Columbia is also home to five World Grand Champions, including Haynes Peacock in 1940 and 1941, Delight Of Pride in 1984, The Touch in 1993 and Gen A’Mighty in 2018.

Maury County is also the birthplace of J.T. Kelley who served as a State Senator for Tennessee and President of TWHBEA during the construction of the current headquarters building in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

Like the pictures painted throughout the history of Columbia, the snapshots in the life of Dr. Sisk’s son David are filled with unforgettable moments. David’s first Celebration memory was etched when Delight Of Pride was crowned World Grand Champion. 

“All three of us kids played sports, including my brother Adam, now a veterinarian in North Carolina, and Scott, who works for Ryder. We never missed a weekend show. Scott showed some, but when I turned 10 years old, I became a horse guy. I wanted to ride,” said David.

David’s first show horse was Mark’s Keepsake. That ride was followed by many others owned by the Sisk family over the years. Winning rides included Doc’s Highest Tribute, The G-Man, Plain Janes Delight, Pride’s Aerostar, Pusher’s Country Girl, I’m NRA, Popcorn Sutton and Gunsmith across the southeastern show circuit.
“Growing up, he always taught me to believe in myself, do the right thing and put others before myself. I’ve been fortunate to show many great horses with his guidance and support.”

A proud family

Dr. Sisk bases his decisions on buying horses and broodmares on ability, what makes sense and on his gut feeling. So far, it has served him well. Some of those same criteria have landed his son, David, as a judge for the sixth time at the Celebration this year.

As a proud father, Dr. Sisk says, “David is a hell of a judge. They like him because he isn’t influenced.”
Pride is also a sentiment shared by David for his dad. “My dad is my hero. Breeding and raising colts have been among his proudest accomplishments. Through his breeding programs, he has left his mark on the bloodlines of the walking horse industry.”

Dr. Sisk’s impact has not gone unnoticed. He joined the ranks of TWHBEA Master Breeders, a list that includes some of the greats like The Beech family, J.R. Brantley, Albert Dement and Harlinsdale Farm.

“Being named a Master Breeder was definitely an honor for me. There is a lot of history that everyone in this business should know about. I want to see even more people on that list who belong there.”

Ferris Bueller’s message is that life is short and precious, and it's important to take time to appreciate the small things, connect with others and embrace experiences. Dr. Andrew Sisk has done all that and left an indelible impact on the Tennessee Walking Horse for years to come.