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a cigarette. Dink and Dr. Greely leaned forward on the rail and almost in unison said, " Great!” Lonny spoke up as he watched for the judges in the lineup, saying, " Doc... I think we’ ve got a chance... I can just feel it 01’ BEAU is feeling great and everything is right”
As the trio of judges came around behind the third horse, Lonny went back out to BEAU GENTRY. He pulled the reins up around his horse’ s withers and draped them carefully. Stepping back, with no hold on the big stud, he whistled lightly and BEAU GEN TRY automatically struck a beautiful standing position. Dr. Greely hollered from the rail, " I told you I taught him to do that as a colt and he never forgot.... how about that, Lonny?” The crowd picked up his enthusiasm and a roar of applause greeted the judges as they cautiously reviewed this particular horse. Two of the three judges remained silent as they looked him over. The third man, however, eased by Lonny and quietly said, " Keep what you got- you’ ll be in there, all right,” and moved on without so much as a nod.
Back in the saddle and back on the rail! Seven horses, including BEAU GENTRY, were called to the rail for a workout. Lonny was cussing under his breath because he knew without a doubt that he had been called out with the culls. BEAU GENTRY always worked better in the flat foot walk after the first workout and when he hit the rail in a big, bold, strolling gait that made the other horses look like pleasure horses, the crowd picked up the issue. Cafccalls came from ringside... " Pull him in, yer honor... you know what to do.” From across the ring another man yelled, " If you’ re going to beat him, Judge, do it in the last workout.” " Pull him in- pull him in.” The judges paid no attention to the chiding from the audience. As the running walk was called, Lonny, in sheer disgust, gathered BEAU GENTRY up and called on him. He figured that if he was going to do anything, it had to be now. In a move that was later called " showboating,” Lonny drove his horse across the short turn and headed down the straightaway right in the middle of the track. He was in a class by himself and the crowd picked him up. As he neared the turn, with the grandstands coming apart, the judge sent the announcer word to pull him in. The crowd came to its feet as Lonny Barnes and BEAU GENTRY pulled onto the grass with the other exhibitors. With still another workout, or perhaps two, facing them before this night’ s work would be done, Lonny dismounted to let BEAU GENTRY get his breath for the second time.
Lonny was getting worried about his horse as he was called to the rail for a third workout. BEAU GENTRY was in good shape but he had definitely not been conditioned for such a grueling contest As they hit the rail in the flat foot walk, BEAU began to give in to the task at hand. His head was beginning to droop and he was nosing out in an effort to get air into his parched lungs. He tossed his head in an effort to " spit the bit” just as they called for the running walk. Lonny honestly didn’ t know what to do. He didn’ t like the thoughts of killing a fine horse but still, he knew he was as close as he would ever be to " winning the big one.” He gathered his mount
56 as best he could, noting that another horse was passing him on the inside still going at a fast clip. To his surprise, BEAU GENTRY " came to life” as the other horse brushed past. He stuck his ears up and, to the delight of the crowd, dug in with his back end’ forcing Lonny back in the saddle. As he came to the turn Lonny cut him to the inside of the other horse. The crowd roared with approval as BEAU GENTRY rounded the turn. His head was set but he was giving in to pure momentum and hung his nose out to the right, gasping for air. Lonny felt as if he was just " along for the ride” as he split the wind down the straightaway, with sweat draining off his forehead and into his eyes. He thought to himself, " This is all... there ain’ t no more.
Lonny was exhausted as he sat down on a tack trunk in front of his stable. There was a mass of confusion as Little Joe tried to cool out BEAU GEN TRY. Dr. Pelegrin, Lonny’ s veterinarian, had already checked the horse and assured everyone that he would be all right. Dr. Greely had assured Lonny that he thought Lonny had done a fine job and that they would work something out about the coming year.
Helen, Lonny’ s wife, eased her way through the crowd and sat down beside him on the tack trunk. She ran her hand through his duskencrusted hair and kissed him on the cheek. Lonny didn’ t look up. His wife knew what she wanted to say, but as she saw the tears in his eyes she just squeezed his hand. She wondered again if it was all worth it as she looked up at the ribbon on the front of the barn.
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW
October 23-29
9 Walking Horse Classes October 26-29 D. C. National Guard Armory
Entry Closing Date Sept. 27
JUDGE C. A.“ Charlie " Bobo
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT 1729 H. Street, Washington, D. C.
Phone Area Code 202 298-7607 or 298-8042
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VOICE of the Tennessee Walking Horse