Buckles Blog: Al G. Barnes 1923 Route Book #5

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Scan000010899, originally uploaded by bucklesw1.

Anonymous said...: My father always told me that his liberty horse education came mostly from Merritt Belue as a groom on the Barnes show and then as a young Wannabe [I guess the word apprentice would fit] along with Terrel Jacobs on the Christy Show, also with Belue and John Hoffman, so they were both involved with wild and domestic animals, that would serve them well in their respective careers. With Christy a young guy would do whatever just like Smokey, Rex and others around Ben Davenport. Seemed like once Belue got around Christy he would spend most of his career there, however we see him training for the new Cole Bros. [Adkins and Terrel] in wntrqtrs. that first year prior to going on the road along with John Smith. Terrel had veteran boss hosteler, Blackie Diller go out west and buy some 24 "yellow" horses, so those guys had their hands full that winter, but they still hired Cristiansen and his liberty act to "go on the road" and I don't believe Belue went on the road that first year out. But he was an excellent trainer to be sure. I believe his wife had worked with wild and exotics on Barnes before marrting him, hence her photo with the elephant and what appears to be a Houdi for some riding animal. Quite a picture. She would become his lifelong wife and partner and my Dad said was quite vocal about things.; 28 February, 2008 09:15
Anonymous said...: Looks like a "cut and paste elephant present on the right."; 01 March, 2008 14:05

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