" Lonny ,” said Carol , " My granddaddy has an old two-horse trailer out back of his garage . You could use it to haul your two-year-old and the Junior , horse . I believe Daddy would pull it .” This appeared to be an answer to getting two more horses to the show and Lonny was grateful for the solution . He had put a lot of work on the little bay horse and had attracted quite a lot of unexpected attention . In fact , a top man in the business had come over from Middle Tennessee just to see him work . Somebody was doing a good job
of talking him up . The morning of the show . Lonny was all shook up . It was obvious to everyone that the pressure of the first time out for the Lonny Barnes Walking Horse Stables was rough going . He wanted everything to be perfect . Lonny was giving orders left and right
by Charles Barry Sanderson
Lonny talked to Beaumont , Texas , for almost thirtyfive minutes , acutely aware of the mounting charges of such a call and also aware that the man calling was obviously a man of means . When he hung up he said , half to himself and half to his wife , " How about that . . . 1 looked for a job for over six months and couldn ’ t find one . Just let me hock my soul to build a stable of my own and every ninety-day wonder in the horse business wants to hire me .”
As the last reminders of winter passed and spring came on strong , Lonny Barnes was hard at work with his horses and the multitude of problems of running a training bam . By early May he had nineteen horses in training , and two that were boarding . He thought he was doing pretty good until he called in an accountant to go over his books . Charging $ 100.00 per month for training , he was just barely breaking even , but he didn ’ t think that his new customers would pay more at the time . Another problem was transportation . He could only haul four horses to a show , using his old trailer and the one belonging to Red Larrimore , and some of his Amateur riders were getting hot to show their horses .
Deciding that he would just have to make the best of it , he called in his Amateur and Juvenile riders for a Saturday-morning session . Of the three , little Carol Jones , though only eleven years old , was the most experienced . She had shown in Pleasure Classes one year and last year had exhibited in Juvenile e- vents . Red Larrimore ’ s wife , Lucy , was going to try the Ladies Amateur events this year on the black mare and Dr . Bob Stepanovich wanted to show his nine-year-old gelding in open Amateur Classes , even though he couldn ’ t ride his horse but twice a week due to his heavy schedule at the hospital . " Well , folks ,” Lonny said , as he took his customary whittling stick out of his pocket and began to trim off pigtail shavings , " Our first show is next week-end . I wish we could have gotten ready sooner , but we just didn ’ t have time . I have checked the schedule of classes and it looks as if they will have a class for all of you . I plan to take Mr . Larrimore ’ s Junior horse and would like to take that little bay two-yearold stud if we have room .” to everyone . " Little Joe ! Make yourself a check list of everything we need in the tack box . We don ’ t want to forget anything . And be sure to put in both of those bits we have been using on Tiger Bay . You never can tell what a two-year-old stud will do the first time he hits the show ring . We may have to change bits before we go in .”
Little Joe was having the time of his life . He had worked around horses and stables all his life but had never been to a horse show . All the tack had been cleaned the night before . Carol Jones and her grandfather had stayed until 10:30 washing and cleaning every bit of leather that was going to the show .
Lonny ’ s wife , Helen , had gotten a babysitter for the boys and was doing everything she could to help . She picked up Lonny ’ s riding habit at the cleaners and had stopped by the men ’ s shop in town and bought him a new hat with a red feather . She wanted to surprise him just before he went into the show ring . Making sure that she had Lonny ’ s white shirt , boot straps for his jodphurs , and a nice tie , she neatly loaded everything in their 1961 Mercury station wagon . " Lonny , is there anything else you want me to do ?” she asked . Lonny , who was having quite a problem getting one of the horses into the trailer and had worked up a real sweat , snapped back at her . " Just shut up and quit bothering me , ” he said , realizing after he had said it that he was taking out his anger on the wrong person . Helen smiled , and went and satin the car .
As the caravan from Barnes Stables pulled onto the show grounds , they were escorted to a spot around back of the big vans . It wasn ’ t too good but they did have an open place to work their horses . All three trailers were lined up side by side and Lonny immediately started to work organizing their efforts . " Little Joe , you get the bay two-year-old and Carol ’ s Juvenile horse off the trailers . Helen , take this check and go enter our horses .” Helen was glad to have something to do and double-checked all the horses names and class before she left for the entry tent .
Lonny knew that this was one of the first , big onenight shows of the year and that some big-time trainers were there . He looked around at the big vans and
52 VOICE of the Ter . ne diking Horse