1966-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1966 October Voice RS | Page 14

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(Continued from page 7)
After the horses were re-saddled, the long expected
workout was called. A select group of top contenders
were called to “take the rail to the left” and at this point
MAN OF RHYTHM was at his best. He was tough, had
all of his bloom left and proved what conditioning could
do. On this night, in this ring, MAN OF RHYTHM was
one of the true “great” Tennessee Walking Horses that
had ever shown in the Celebration ring. When asked if he
could have come back in the “big stake” the following
night, Boyd just laughs and says “I think we could have
and I feel as if we might have won it too. Like I said
before . . . our horse was injured on the night of the
Junior Stud Class or things might have turned out a lot
different”.
It was a popular though not unanimous decision of
the Judges in the Junior World Championship. It was a
long class and a hard class and only those contenders that
could “stay” were showing their best toward the end.
Did he get it on one great pass? Did he get it because
of the crowds consistent applause or did he get it because
he just kept getting better and better all the way? It was
a combination of things! MAN OF RHYTHM made sev­
eral spectacular passes in front of the big grandstand. The
crowd did pick him up during the last workout and he
did keep getting better and better. These are the marks
of a true World’s Champion and MAN OF RHYTHM
is that.
!
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WHAT NOW — IS THE QUESTION
“What now?” This is the next big question! Winning
this top stake class marks the first major win for Boyd
Hudgins at the Celebration. He has won many top ribbons
at this show before, and has even Judged it once, but his
1966 victory was by far the peak of his participation. His
program for MAN OF RHYTHM, will, of necessity be
geared to the World’s Grand Championship in 1967. He
is now the number one contender for the big stake next
year and this is a new role for Mr. Hudgins. He knows
that everyone will be “shooting at him and his horse”, but
he also feels that he has a great horse and that there are
few, if any, horses around that can beat him.
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In discussing his personal reasons for holding MAN OF
RHYTHM in such high regard, Boyd states that “this
horse has everything”. He is gentle and good natured. He
works hard and is a show horse all the way. He doesn’t
know what quit means and can give me that little bit
extra whenever I call for it. He is a beautiful horse with
excellent conformation and three perfect gaits. What more
could you ask for?”
Let us answer that question for Mr. Hudgins and Mr.
and Mrs. C. R. Hardage. “You could ask for the World’s
Grand Championship . . . and you will probably get it”.
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse