1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 March Voice RS | Page 59

(Continued from page 12)
They had gathered up all the blankets and gear that
they could tie on. After locking up the truck, Lonny
patted M. L. on the shoulder and shouted, "Mount ud
boy . . . we re going for a ride.” The young ground
man jumped on the back of the mare that was next
to last in the line. Lonny climbed up on the big old
show mare in front and, turning his light behind him
to check his stock, clucked to her. "Get up, mare .
com’on . . . here ...” The big mare lowered her head
and snorted. She moved off slowly, unsure of her foot­
ing, toward the left in front of the truck. Lonny gave
the mare her head, letting her go wherever she want­
ed to. The other horses in the line soon caught on to
what the game was all about and, with a minimum of
pulling and commotion, they soon settled into an easy
walking gait set by the lead mare.
Lonny kept his flashlight handy but didn’t use it
unless the going got too rough. It soon became ob­
vious that they were not anywhere near the road
and were, in fact, in open country. The mare carried
them up a steep bank, and Lonny and M. L. had to
dismount and drive the horses up, slipping in the two-
foot snow that piled in drifts around them. Turning
to check his helper, Lonny saw him slip into a ditch.
"Whoa, mare,” he said. "M. L. . . . you all right?”
The boy yelied back, "Yes, sir, I think so, although
I can’t feel nothing.” They got back on the horses
and moved steadily through the deep snow for about
fifteen minutes, when the mare suddenly stopped.
Lonny turned on his light and noticed a wire fence.
Dismounting, he took a pair of pliers from his pocket
and cut the three strands. After moving the horses
through, he wired the fence back and they proceeded
on their way.
After what seemed like an eternity, the horses be­
gan to get nervous. They began to snort and whinny,
and suddenly the big mare stopped again. Lonny
flashed his light around and with a great deal of de­
light yelled, "Hey, M. L.! Look-a-here! There’s a barn
over there.” The boy jumped down and ran through
the snow toward the beam of light. He kicked the
snow away from the door and yelled back, "It’s a
bam, all right, Mister Lonny . . . come on, let’s get
inside!”
It was ten days later when Lonny Barnes and
young Martin Luther rounded the road leading up
toward their own home stable. The young boy smiled
and said, "Mister Lonny, I sure am glad to get back
home.” Lonny laughed and said, "Me, too, M. L.! I
just hope we can explain to Helen and Dr, Greely
why we brought that old show mare back with us.
They pulled up to the end of the stable and stopped
the truck and got out. Lonny went around to the side
of the truck and with loving hands unloaded an old
show mare that was wondering what was going on.
He eased her down the ramp, and she put her head
into the wind and snorted the same way she had
when she carried them into the blizzard that dark
night some seven hundred miles away.
Lonny turned to see Helen come driving up the
road. He handed the lead line to M. L. and said,
"Carry her in and feed her well.” The boy said "Yes,
sir, Mister Lonny.” When Helen got out of the car
she kissed Lonny and, after hugging his neck, said,
"What are you doing with that mare, Lonny. He
put his arm around her waist and said, Com on,
Mama . . . I’ll tell you all about it!”
(Continued next month)
March, 1968
1st ANNUAL CORN BELT
WALKING HORSE
FUTURITY
Nominate Your Mares and
Stallions Early!
Nominations Close May 15, 1968
Show to be held in conjunction with
the National Dairy Cattle Congress
at Waterloo, Iowa on Sept. 25, 1968.
For entry blanks and information
CONTACT
MRS. JEANNE HELTIBRIDLE
Route 1
GRUNDY CENTER, IOWA 50638
Phone [phone]
TEXAS WALKING HORSE ASSOCIATION
MEETS TO PLAN 1968 ACTIVITIES
President Jim Sears of Houston, Texas summoned
the membership of the Texas Walking Horse Breed­
ers’ Association to a called meeting at Nacogdoches,
Texas on February 10, 1968. The response was over­
whelming, with a majority of members present upon
a few days’ notice.
The purpose of this meeting was to outline a unified
approach to the 1968 program of the club, and a pro­
jection of activities which would fulfill that decided
program. We, the membership, realize that in the past
the association has lacked aggressive and cooperative
action which would have made the Tennessee W’alking
Horse one of the foremost breeds in our state. Our
challenge is to have an active association.
The key word of this year’s program is "Promotion.”
The association plans to promote the Tennessee Walk­
ing Horse as a show animal by the addition of four
extra shows during the show season.
The association also has taken into consideration
the large number of people we are missing from our
membership because we have failed to provide a pro­
gram of interest to the owners of pieasure-type Wsilk­
ing Horses. A study of this problem will be made in
order that all Walking Horse activity be reflected in
our membership.
Dr. J. B. Landress of Garland, Texas reported to
the membership on the Walking Horse Futurity held
each year during the Texas State Fair. State Fair
officials have come to look upon this futurity as a
permanent addition to the Fair horse show, and urge
its continuation and growth.
59