Renee Montgomery – Batesville, Arkansas 

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION?
Physician that is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I also have done Emergency Medicine for 14 years.

WHERE DO YOU WORK?
I presently work for ARcare which is a non-profit corporation developed to provide affordable care to meet the primary medical and dental care needs to residents in rural Arkansas.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY FOR YOU.
Pre-Coronavirus, we saw patients all day. I do gynecology and primary care for ARcare. Since the Covid-19 pandemic we have added Telemedicine.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS AFFECTED YOUR JOB?
The two biggest changes were adding Telemedicine and wearing masks all day. We were initially providing education to patients about transmission and prevention and what to do if they got sick.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE HORSE BUSINESS AND/OR HOW ARE YOU RELATED TO THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE INDUSTRY?
I have been in the horse business for 58 years. When I was five and my sister Denise was three, my parents bought me a mare and my sister a stallion. They were in the pasture together and we always rode together! Our second set of horses were sold when I was 18. I did not have another horse till I was 40. I started showing at 42. I love showing and enjoy my horse friends. I also enjoy trail riding. I now have seven horses at my farm and two and a half in training.

DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE HORSES IN TRAINING AND IF SO WHO ARE THEY AND WHO IS YOUR TRAINER?
I have a new two-year-old colt, I’m Acquitted, that I absolutely love in training with Abernathy Stables. My three-year-old stallion, JFK’s Masterpiece, who is wonderful is with Bobby Hugh. Master’s PGA, at Bobby Hugh’s is shared with my sister.

TELL US ABOUT A SPECIAL HORSE RELATED MEMORY WHETHER IN THE RING, ON THE TRAIL OR AT THE BARN?
The most special moment was the first time I saw Jazz Talkin. Edgar Abernathy found him for me January 15, 2011.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE HORSE INDUSTRY?
This pandemic will pass. We will learn from this and be stronger than before. And HORSE SHOWS WILL START SOON!