1969 Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1969 November Voice RS | Page 17

next to the wall and thumbed through an old copy of
a horse magazine. He automatically stopped at a page
that was fairly well worn. It was the first full-page ad
that he had ever run in a horse magazine. He looked
at the copy across the top and studied the picture of
him and his horse. He tried again to determine just
how much the picture had been retouched and still
wasn't sure. He looked at the copy at the bottom.
"With trainer Lonny Barnes in the saddle, this out­
standing two-year-old bay stallion is bound for the
roses.” He smiled to himself and said aloud, "I sure
didn’t believe we had a chance.” Helen looked up
from her cooking and asked him about his remark.
Ripping through the magazine he said. "Oh, nothing
. . . I was just looking at an old ad." As he sat there,
slowly sipping his drink, he remembered with no little
pride his victory last year on BEAU GENTRY. It was
a great feeling to win the big one. He also recalled —
with some doubts — that he had been under more
strain as a judge at the world championships. He
would miss showing but would still break and start a
few colts of his own and judge some horse shows. It
would keep him in touch with the business and maybe
. . . just maybe . . . somebody would come up with
some solutions to the problems of the Walking Horse
business.
There was a small group at the barn the next morn­
ing when Lonny walked in the door. Two men from a
real-estate company were there explaining the merits
of the stable to two businessmen. Lonny walked over
and introduced himself. He answered a few questions
about the construction of the facility and told them to
go look at the house. He was already out and all it
would need would be a little paint in spots. As he
made another trip around the big barn searching for
anything that he might have overlooked, he noticed
a pickup truck coming up the drive. It was pulling a
horse trailer. Without waiting to see who was in the
truck, he went back to the house and checked with
Helen about the water and electricity. All utilities
had been cut off and the phone disconnected. They
had paid all but two small bills in town and he held
made arrangements to get a bank dralt at a bank in
the new town where they were moving.
The truck was loaded and the tailgate was closed
and secured. Little Lonny and Ralphy were in the
back of the station wagon and the year-old baby girl
was in Helen’s lap. As Lonny closed the door, Helen
said, "Well . . . it’s goodbye, horse business — hello,
world!” They both laughed and made small talk as
they waited for the truck to get turned around in the
drive. Lonny directed the driver to the gate and
pulled up in front of the barn. He rolled the window
down and addressed the real-estate salesmen. I ap­
preciate the good job you did lor me. II I ever come
back, I'll call you first.” As they both laughed, a
young man came running out the front door of the
barn. "Mister Barnes . . . Mister Barnes. Wait a min­
ute!” He came up to the car, stuck his hand out, and
introduced himself. He was in his early twenties and
had the look of confidence that one identifies with
young enthusiasm. "Mister Barnes, I sure wish you
had time to see my two-year-old. He goes just like
BEAU GENTRY and already people are saying he
can win the world championship.’ Lonny smiled and
said, "Well, of buddy . . . you get in there and light.
And don't let anybody tell you it can t be done, be­
cause I did it.” The young man swelled with confi­
dence and said, "I'm going alter that blue!
Send check or Money Order to:
JEWELRY
P. O. Box 1 188
Cleveland/ Tenn. 3731 1
P.O. Box 1188, Cleveland, Tenn. 3731 1
EQUIPMENT
c
P.O. Box 1188, Cleveland, Tennessee 37311
Phone [phone]
DECEMBER SPECIAL
R ooming
b\jl)artrai>p
Regular
Price
S3.98
Send check or money order — we pay postage.
Residents of Tennessee add 4% sales tax.
THE END
November, 1969
17