1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 July Voice RS | Page 28

a bench and yelled at the people in the hall. "Hey,
everybody . . . get one more drink and then gather
'round. I’ve got something I want to tell you.” Since
almost everyone had a drink, they immediately moved
in toward Lonny. He cleared his throat and said, "I
want all of you to know that Helen and I sure are
glad you came. You are all the best customers in the
business and we really appreciate all of you. The
reason I called you over here tonight is to tell you
something . . . really, I guess, it’s to ask you some­
thing. About a month ago I got a call from General
Hohan, manager of the Festival, and he asked me if I
would be a judge this year.” Immediately there set up
a hum of private conversations among the group and
Lonny raised his voice a little. "I told him I was hon­
ored and would think about it. Well, he called again
MTV
QMJJEST
OF
/V
BFFE
by Charles Barry Sanderson
A large crowd had gathered at the Lonny Barnes
Stables, and only a few
why they had been
invited to a barbecue in the miadle of the week. Helen
had called all their customers and asked them to
come if they could, and had told each of them that
Lonny had some things he wanted to discuss with
his customers. All but three of the people who had
horses in training with Lonny were there, and they
represented quite a cross-section of activity and in­
terests in the horse business.
Looking over his customers, Lonny turned to "Red”
Larrimore and said, "You know . . . the horse business
is the only thing I know of where people can get to­
gether and talk on equal terms regardless of their
background or financial standing.” Mr. Larrimore
laughed and said, "Yeah . . . look at Mr. Trapp over
there. One of the richest men in the Walking Horse
business, talking to old man Bragg. That poor farmer
has some of the best broodmares in the country and
Mr. Trapp’s money don’t mean a thing to him!”
Everyone appeared to be having a good time and
made frequent trips to M. L.’s bar. Martin Luther had
gone home and cleaned up for the party, and had
come back wearing a white shirt and a black bow tie
for his role as bartender. He looked real sharp as he
tended bar and was obviously proud of his job with
Lonny Barnes Stables. Helen was busy at a picnic
table that they had brought into the barn hallway,
and was making sure that everyone got enough to
eat. It was a good party in spite of the hot, sultry
air that hung over the countryside. Even with the
big fans blowing, it was still somewhat uncomfortable
until the sun went down.
Lonny was standing near the entrance to the office
talking to Dr. Greely. He glanced at his watch and
said, "Well, I’d better break the news to them and
see what reaction I get.” Dr. Greely slapped him
across the shoulders and said, "I believe it will go all
right. Go ahead and tell them.” Lonny stepped up on
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last week and said that I was one of the last six on
the list and he had to know something by this coming
Friday. What should I tell him?”
Several hours had passed since they had left the
barn and Lonny was just standing and looking out
the window. It was a bright night and the moon’s
piercing sun-lit glow was casting deep shadows over
the countryside. He could see his mares and colts as
they moved about in the silver light. A slight mist
rose from the ground ... it was a pretty sight. Every­
one had left and Lonny still wasn’t sure about his
final choice. Almost to himself, he said, "I wonder if
I made the right decision?” Helen, who was just turn­
ing off the television as the last strains of the national
anthem faded away, said, "Well, you certainly gave
everyone a chance to say what they had to say.”
"Yeah ...” He added, "But I never thought people
were so selfish!” He remarked that the customers
with the best horses . . . the ones that really stood a
chance of losing something . . . were the easiest to
deal with. It was the others that gave him trouble.
Helen put her arm around his waist and said, "Com’-
on — let’s go to bed . . . Judge!”
Two weeks had passed and Lonny hadn’t heard
from General Hohan. Since this thing had come up
about his judging the Festival he had gotten some­
what used to the idea. He liked the prestige of being
a judge for this "world series” of the horse world, but
he was genuinely concerned about some of the things
he had heard in the past. He was busy washing a
horse when Helen came running into the barn. She
yelled, "Lonny . . . Lonny! The postman just came and
you got a letter from the Festival!” Lonny dropped his
water hose, wiped his hands on a towel, and said,
"Well, let’s see it.” Helen stood fidgeting as Lonny
slowly took out his pocketknife and slipped it along
the sealed edge of the envelope. He removed the let­
ter and opened it. Helen moved in so she could read
Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse