ing race. The sun beat down mercilessly. The coarse had been terrifically difficult, up and down hill. Most of the contestants had dropped by the wayside after the first few miles. Word had been relayed back to the grandstand as the race progressed as to who had dropped out, and positions of those remaining in the race, but for the last ten minutes or so there had been no word. And now, here was Peterthe favorite, entering in the lead. But, one glance and one could see the race had taken its toll. Here was a man showing complete exhaustion. He wove from side tr side, staggering onward, in a caricature of a jog trot, actually traveling no faster than a baby taking its first steps could walk. He was covering twice the distance necessary with his uncontrolled staggering pace. Only the presence of spectators at the sides of the track seemed to guide him. He was pressing forward, but like a blind man. And then he fell. A great sigh passed over the crowd. It was over. But no, he was struggling to get on his feet again. He waved off help. By the rules, he had to do it on his own. He made it. And up went a great cheer. Onward he came, slowly, painfully. He was approaching the end of the grandstand when he went dowr again, and regained his feet only to take a few steps and fall again. Three times he tried to stand. Three times he failed. And then, he started to CRAWL toward that finish line.— It seemed an eternity, but finally he crossed the wide front line in front of the grandstand and a mighty roar went up from the crowd. And Peters collapsed in the arms of his friend, the miler, Roger Bannister. Thir man was a true Champion if ever there was one. He had given his ALL, and he had come in first. Only later we learned that the line he had crossed was not the finish line for that particular race. It was another one only some ten feet ahead!
No one ever deserved a gold medal more than Peters. Yet, he uld be the first to deny he she 1 have received it. Because rules are necessary for any game, and rules are no good unless they are observed. In this instance, as in any sport, the loser, under unusual circustances, is not the“ loser” at all. With his superb display of courage and sportsmanship, a champion wins, in the eyes a hearts of the spectators. Today, J can’ t remember who won the gold medal in that race. He certainly was entitled to it. But, the distance run of the 1954 British Empire Games brings only one picture to my mind, that of a proud runner, brought to his knees, and then finally crawling toward victory, the epitome of British courage.
These two instances, while they show the exception to the rules, help point out the necessity for rules. It’ s necessary to have a standard, a goal to reach, that each can work on and strive toward. It isn’ t easy to climb a mountain, but the first thing you do is set your eyes on the goal and work toward it. It isn’ t easy to climb a mountain only to find when you think you’ ve at last reached the top that there’ s another jagged cliff towering above. But, if you don’ t get up that last jagged cliff, you haven’ t quite climbed the mountain, have you? And, it’ s because not many can make it to the top that the challenge to reach the pinnacle is so great.— The same mountain, with a chair lift for thousands of people to reach the summit while sitting admiring the view, with a hot dog stand at the top, isn’ t the same mountain at all.
We can make show rules suitable for each individual show, so the horses in each little community will have a good opportunity to win before the home crowd. Or we can get together, with representatives from all over the country and decide on definite, specific, well defined show rules for all our Tennessee Walking Horse pleasure classes. A good start has been made. Committees in California, Oregon, and Washington are actively working on the subject. It is important they get together, and help give us a National standard. For the most part, our judges are doing a good job. But they need more specific, uniform rules, and must be ever on the alert for infringement of rules.
And now we come to a“ Sore” Subject. The first show of this season in our part of the country saw a“ sore” horse who quite probably won the Blue with his performance, marked out of the ribbons entirely because of“ soreness.” This happened at a few other shows during the season. But, sad to say, there are still sore horses in there working, and some are being placed in the ribbons. When disinterested spectators from an audience walk around after the show to look at the beautiful winner and see a horse standing on three legs with one that“ looks like hamburger,” they wonder if that has to be done to all Walkers to make them show like they do. And, I’ ve heard the remark,“ If that’ s necessary, I don’ t want to see any more Walking Horse Stake classes. A bull fight is humane in comparison!”
This“ soreness’ thing is really a sore spot. It must be stopped. And the only way to stop it is to stop it for EVERYBODY. No exceptions. No excuses. It is important, and we’ U keep hammering away at it. What is fair for one, is fair for all. What’ s unfair for one is unfair for all. The penalties for infractions of rulds should be severe enough, and enforced without fail, or the rules themselves may come to mean nothing at all. Even more, every one working, training, or riding a horse should make himself, or herself, a committee of one to see this is done. Don’ t pass the responsibility onto the Judge. Just see to it no horse of your enters the ring sore, or anywhere near sore. Sure,“ you’ ll do it if the other fellow would.” Well, he’ s just waiting for you to do it first. Our judges have shown they are becoming more aware of this problem. This year they’ re given some“ warnings.” Next year they may pass out a few more“ tickets.”“ Warning” time is over.
So, a Happy New Year to you! And may all the soreness around your barn be in your own seat, which more riding, a hot bath, one of the“ buffered products,” or vour own special pet cure, may eliminate in“ the wink of an eye.”
JANUARY, 1965 45