was braided , saddled , bridled and booted , all ready to go . “ Joe . . . you arc a life-saver . You even got the right boots on her .” “ I ain ' t all dumb , Mr . Lonny ,” he said as ie handed Lonny the reins .
So far it had been a good evening for the Lonny
Barnes Stables . He had tied third in the filly class an reserve in the mare class and his gelding won the junior
class in good fashion . His juvenile rider had tied fouith and the pony , thank God , had tied the blue with a good performance . Mr . Rutledge had worried him to death trying to get him to change the boots on his son ’ s pony before the class but Lonny held his ground , insisting that the pony could carry them and would do a lot better after he got warmed up . He did and he won !
It was almost 10:30 and Lonny was about shot . He was talking to Helen as they returned from the Walking Horse tack truck where he had just bought a new bridle and bit and some latex wrapping . “ Lonny ,” she said , “ this horse can ’ t help you . In fact all he will do is hurt you . You know all your customers will claim you are concentrating too much on one horse . And besides . . . if you should win it . everyone will say that Sutton Cobb made him and if you lose they ’ ll all say you ruined a good horse .” He answered , “ I know ... I know . But I just believe I can help him and get along with him . You know I ' ve always liked BEAU GENTRY .”
Ignoring the class in progress a crowd had gathered to see Lonny work the black horse . As he checked the reins to mount , Dr . Greely was busy giving him all kinds of tips . “ Don ’ t take too much hold of him now , and don ’ t push hint . Let him set his own head and you ’ ll get along all right .” Lonny^ looked down from almost seventeen hands up and said , “ I hope you know what we ’ re doing , Doc .” As Lonny gathered the reins and clucked to GEN TRY , he was amazed at the apparent stride of his horse . Each step with his back feet produced a jarring thud that he could feel all over . He thought to himself , “ Man oh man . . . what a horse .”
The crowd was staying for the stake class at this small hick-town horse show . There were eleven horses in the class and Lonny waited until every horse , had entered the ring before coming in on BEAU GENTRY . To a professional trainer there is nothing to parallel the feeling that you get when you enter the ring on a crowd favorite and you can feel the tension . There was a clamour , as some spectators had not heard that BEAU GENTRY was even on the showgrounds . As they worked the horses the right way ' of the ring Lonny knew he was not getting along too well . His horse , was a little bit out of time and just wouldn ’ t settle down . He worked well enough , however . and as they called for the reverse he stopped to loosen the curb chain . He noticed that GENTRY was angry with the new bit he had in his mouth and got an idea . He pulled in on the grass and asked for a time-out . Dismounting he unlatched the bridle cheek strap and let it down one notch on both sides . Taking up the curb chain one ring , Lonny mounted and the announcer called “ Riders take the ring on your right .”
“ It worked ,” he said to himself , as he could feel the difference already . With that , Lonny Barnes settled down to show his horse . There were obviously two or three professionals in there who wanted a piece of BEAU GEN TRY . As the announcer called for the running walk . Lonny felt a slight brush as another rider moved all too close to the inside , saying as he went by , “ You ’ re about out of your class , aren ’ t you , buddy ?” Old GENTRY sensing a challenge , showed something that even Dr !
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Greely didn ’ t know he had GENTRY didn ’ t like to be nassed and without so much as a hint from Lonny he suddcnlv stepped forward with a burst of speed . Lonny feeline the ambitions of his mount , decided to let him go and , gathering his reins to give him . something to brace against , he called on BEAU GENTRY They passed the judge in front of the crowd in a great , headshaking runnine walk that amazed owner and rider alike . The crowd came to their feet as they hit the turn with Lonny riding like he had never ridden before .
The announcer had to ask that all spectators please stay off the track so that the winner of the class could make a pass as he went out . As Lonny hit full stride with BEAU GENTRY on the straightaway he could see Dr . Greely and Helen at the gate . They ' were obviously pleased , and Lonny thought to himself , “ We may just have a chance after all .”
Little Joe was cooling out BEAU GENTRY and it looked as if everyone had come over to sec the big black stallion . He was covered from head to tail with a cooler and didn ’ t appear to be too concerned with all the fuss . Lonny was leaning against the truck talking to Dr . Greely when the judge of the show came up . “ Fellow , I don ’ t know you except by reputation , but you gave that horse one helluva ride tonight .” Lonny smiled and extended his hand . “ Thanks . Coming from you that is a real compliment ,” Lonny answered . “ Just one thing ,” the judge added , “ What did you do to him when you asked for a time out ?” Lonny smiled again . “ I ’ ll never tell ,” he said as he started loading up to go home .
f
FOR SALE
it 5 mares , all bred and some with colts by their side . jc Solid black mare by REX MERRY MAKER , foaled 1960 . A good pleasure mare for children . Has sorrel filly by j side by SUN DUST and bred back to INVASION . » Season is paid .
J
★ Chestnut mare , near hind sock and strip . Foaled 1964 . By MACK K and out of LAST CHANCE mare . Sorrel stud colt by side by GO BOY ' S SHADOW and bred back to INVASION . i
★ Blue roan mare by MIDNIGHT SUN . Foaled 1952 . j This mare has black colts each year . She is in foal j to MERRY GO BOY . ★ Black mare by GO BOY ' S SHADOW . Foaled 1956 . In foal to MIDNIGHT MACK K . j
★ Solid black three-year-old by MACK K . This mare will be bred for first time this year to INVASION . }
The following yearlings are fine looking show pros- j pects in every way . I would be proud to show these to j anyone at any time . They would have to be seen to do j them justice . j ★ Solid black stallion by MERRY GO BOY and out of the j
MIDNIGHT SUN mare listed above .
★ Dark chestnut filly by MIDNIGHT SUN and out of SHADOW mare listed above . She is loose and fine as can be . ★ Bay stallion by SUN ' S ROCKET GO BOY and out of a
SIR MAU GRAY mare . This colt could be just the one .
CONTACT MRS . BETTY CHAPMAN
la . Route 1
WILLIAMSTON , SOUTH CAROLINA Phone 803 / 847-7554 ]
VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Hoist