Boots and Saddles 1937

Edward arrives at the Granville ranch

Following his father's death, Edward travels from England to the ranch in the Western United States with his solicitor, Henry Wyndham. Gene Autry and Frog Millhouse welcome him and vow to help him become a real Westerner. Wyndham hints that the Granville Ranch is deeply in debt and may need to be sold.

Neale pressures Edward to sell the ranch

Jim Neale, the wealthy rancher owed money by Edward's father, pressures Edward to sell the ranch to settle the debt. He warns that failure to pay could lead to a court action. His pressure inspires the plan to raise cash by selling the ponies to the Army.

Edward gains a new ally and a new nickname

Gene rescues Edward from a runaway horse, softening Edward's arrogant facade. Edward apologizes for his earlier behavior, and Gene decides he is a 'regular fellow.' They nickname Edward 'Spud,' echoing his father's nickname, and resolve not to sell the ranch.

Plan to raise cash by selling ponies

Edward and the others decide to raise cash by selling the cow ponies to the Army, instead of surrendering the ranch. The scheme shifts the focus from keeping the ranch intact to funding it through horse sales.

Horses rounded up and brought back

Gene and the crew prove their mettle by helping round up the horses and driving them back to the ranch. The successful roundup strengthens Edward's resolve to save the ranch and demonstrates their capability.

Road trip to Fort Wayne with a dusty trick

To arrange the sale, Gene and the others head along dusty roads in wagons toward Fort Wayne. During the journey, they dust a passing buggy that happens to carry Neale, Colonel Allen, and Bernice, setting up later complications.

Bernice recognizes Gene at Fort Wayne

At Fort Wayne, Bernice recognizes Gene when he visits Colonel Allen's quarters. Posing as a maidservant, she tells Gene that Allen is hard of hearing, which leads to misunderstandings and tension during the next day’s horse auction.

A race to decide the contract

With bids from Gene and Neale identical, Colonel Allen proposes that they each race twelve horses the next morning to decide who wins the contract. The plan hinges on proving which set of horses performs best under pressure, despite Neale’s schemes.

A night of sabotage and a barn fire

That night, Edward helps prevent Neale from serving a summons to seize their property, then a fire breaks out in the barn where Gene’s horses are kept. Gene rushes in to save the stock, while Frog recalls the incident to identify possible attackers.

The watch points to Neale’s man

Frog discovers that the watch found after the fire belongs to Joe Larkins, Neale’s henchman, linking Neale to the sabotage. The clue begins to unravel Neale’s scheme and strengthens the resolve to win the contract on rightful terms.

Gene wins the race and saves the ranch

Gene competes in the race with the horses he has left and overcomes Neale’s dirty tricks to win. The victory secures the contract for the Granville Ranch and keeps the operation from collapsing.

Larkins’ confession and the end of the feud

After the race, Larkins reveals Neale’s underhanded schemes, exposing the broader deception. Gene and Bernice put their differences behind them, and the ranch’s future looks brighter with the truth out in the open.