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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSpeaking of collections\u2014at the field office of The Walking Horse Report, on the show grounds, Dr. Bob Womack could be found autographing copies of his new book, \u201cThe Echo of Hoofbeats.\u201d The industry collectible hardback sold for $12 and documented the history of the Tennessee walking horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While in other towns, teens were cruising the strip listening to \u201cSeasons in the Sun,\u201d \u201cBand on the Run,\u201d and \u201cSweet Home Alabama,\u201d Shelbyville teens circled under the grandstands to the rhythm of the Celebration\u2019s organist. Wafting country ham, doughnuts, cotton candy, and burgers punctuated the trail\u2014you could travel blindfolded and sense your exact spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vendors peddled popcorn and peanuts in the stands as the ushers stood ready to offer seating directions to any lost souls. Bugs played in the bright lights spilling onto the track. Back and forth go the streams of people, visiting one last time before returning to their home bases near and far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But tonight, the air is charged with change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the center ring, judges Benvis Beachboard, Robert H. Burris, Jr., Toby Green, A.R. Gordon, Jr., and Harvey R. Lefevers look over the grand championship class. The crowd\u2019s favorites are evidenced by the waves of cheers and clapping as each horse circles the ring. Although the hour is growing late, no one here is worried about the time. The breed is about to have a new world grand champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One standout entry is rider\/trainer Ronnie Spears and Another Masterpiece. In the Sept. 3, 1974, souvenir edition of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, Monte Arnold reported, \u201cThe favorite on most lists of contenders is Another Masterpiece, the big, black six-year-old stallion owned by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moore, [of] Monroe, Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rider Ronnie Spears claims his horse is \u2018real tough and ready for Celebration competition.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Spears wasn\u2019t just bragging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1975 Blue Ribbon magazine changed its 1948 tradition of using only a headshot or a stripped shot of the prior year\u2019s grand champion on its cover. The 1975 cover was a full shot of 1974\u2019s national grand champion, Another Masterpiece. The issue reported:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn his victorious year, Another Masterpiece completely dominated his division, winning in the aged stallion class and the grand championship with first-place ties on all three judges\u2019 cards in both classes. Another Masterpiece is a physically outstanding example of a champion Tennessee walking horse. He is a 7-year-old black stallion weighing approximately 1,250 pounds and standing 17 hands tall. He is considered by veteran horse show observers to be one of the breed\u2019s most natural horses and has proven he has the stamina to win against the toughest competition. It is rare for a horse his size to be considered a \u2018pretty horse,\u2019 but Another Masterpiece is one of the most physically attractive champions in years. Shortly after his two outstanding wins at the Celebration, it was announced that Another Masterpiece would stand at public service at the S.W. Beech & Sons Stables in Belfast, Tennessee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bobby Beech of S.W. Beech & Sons Stables said, \u201cAnother Masterpiece might have been a horse that was a groundbreaker. When you compare the 1973 world champion to 1974\u2019s, Another Masterpiece is so different and much better. He stepped higher and walked faster, which is the desired running walk, and he was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous\u2014a big, black horse with a little smile and pretty ears who was very attentive to everything around him. He changed the gait; made it better. He was at the forefront of what we have in today\u2019s modern horse, and he beat a good horse that year. Ebony\u2019s True Grit was second\u2014a good horse who became a world champion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the retirement ceremony a year later, Another Masterpiece left one last memory etched in the hearts of all in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beech said, \u201cHe came through the gate by himself, of course, with Ronnie Spears, who rode him around the ring. He did his three gaits, and they called him to the center ring and put a blanket of roses on him. Then the announcer said, \u2018Now we want to ask the owners, Mr. Moore and his family, to hand the reins over to S.W. Beech for him to stand at stud at his farm in Belfast. S.W., would you take the reins?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd my dad took the reins, took the saddle and other gear off, and led him around the ring, which took a little while because so many people were trying to get pictures of him. But when he got to the entrance gate, my dad stopped and parked him. Another Masterpiece stretched his head up as the announcer said, \u2018So long, Another Masterpiece. We thank you for being here tonight.\u2019 The horse threw his ears and his head up and nickered. The crowd of over 20,000 went crazy, and cold chills ran up their backs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So one last time\u2014so long, Another Masterpiece. We thank you for the memories! GN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At the 1974 Annual World Grand Championship Show in Shelbyville, Another Masterpiece completely dominated his division.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-8043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-january"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/20221024_092936-653x1024.jpg\")
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