By Mark McGee

It was a pleasurable Thursday morning in Calsonic Arena as all 12 classes on the second day of the 84th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration featured pleasure horses. 

Special guests in attendance were local first grade students from Learning Way Elementary School.
The Model Pleasure Walking Stallions class opened the morning session with three of four entries answering the gate call from announcer Travis Olinger. Throw Me A Curve and Laurie Toone struck out the competition for owner Brandon Tate from Athens, Alabama. Sired by Ted Williams, Throw Me A Curve and Toone are two-for-two in blues this year. Back In The Saddle Again was guided by Robert Nelms to reserve for owners Teel and Pittman. Godspeed and owner-handler Allison Thorson Newman received a yellow ribbon.

John Wick tied first in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four & Five-Year-Old All Day Pleasure Walking Horses class with Renée Stasiewicz aboard for Scott and Renée Stasiewicz from Dousman, Wisconsin. John Wick, sired by Honors, has two blues in 10 classes in 2022. 401K paid off for owner-rider Pam Betts to claim reserve. I’m Charles Dickens wrote a third place finish with Amanda Manis in the irons for Holt and Manis. Nine of the 12 program entries were in the ring.

Two Gunns LLC came out blazing to win the Lite-Shod Walking Horses Five & Under class for the second year in a row. Patrick Thomas was riding for Champions Stables from Longview, Texas. Sired by General Gunn, Two Gunns LLC has four blues in seven classes this show season. The Mexican Mafia placed second with Ryan Gannon in the irons for owner Amy Mays. The yellow ribbon was presented to Deals For Real and rider Jonathan Baskin for owners Jerry and Becky Myatt. The class also included Futurity nominated three-year-old lite-shod mares, geldings and stallions. All seven entries made the gate call.

The Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Pleasure Walking Horses class was the largest of the morning with 18 of the 22 programmed entries competing. Zendaya with owner-rider Connie Everett from Christiana, Tennessee, aboard took top honors. Zendaya, sired by The Whole Nine Yards, won its first blue in six outings in 2022. BP’s Captain Jack Sparrow sailed to reserve for owner-rider Sarah Thomas. A Knightime Menace was third for owner-rider Vickie Moore.

King Mojo had his mojo working hard with the first unanimous win of the morning in the Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four & Five-Years Old class. Hannah Myatt was riding for owner Kathy Anderson from College Grove, Tennessee. It was the second blue of the Celebration for King Mojo. Kathy Anderson guided him to first Wednesday in the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class. Nacho Business won a red ribbon with Bailey Momb in the saddle for co-owners Phyllis Langley and Jason and Shana Hughes. Daddy’s Home DH received a yellow ribbon with Jessica Mast on board for Wayne and Debbie Simons. Eight of the 11 original entries were in the ring.

Owner-rider Allison Thorson Newman from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Fuego won the blue in the Amateur Owned & Trained All Day Pleasure Walking Horses class. Fuego, sired by Jose’ Jose’, was showing for the first time this year. Priviledged was reserve with co-owner Maggie Moore riding for co-owner Jim Leek. I’m Charles Dickens won a yellow ribbon for the second time of the day with Amanda Manis on board for Holt and Manis. Thirteen of 16 horses were in the ring with 12 remaining for final judging. 

The Maiden, with owner-rider Dale Steinmetz from Louisville, Kentucky, tied first in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses class. The Tiger Lily claimed reserve with Jordan Howell in the irons for South Ridge Farms and The Jordan Howell Family. Just A Sweet Magnolia was third with co-owner Bob Lawrence in the irons for co-owner Carroll Hutto. Seven of eight entries showed.

Title Line and owner-rider Abby Farmer from Nickelsville, Virginia, are Celebration novices no longer with a blue ribbon ride in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Park Pleasure Walking Horses. Sired by The Titleist, Title Line has five blues in seven classes in 2022. Lined With Silver Dollars and owner-rider Cole Nelson walked out with a red ribbon, while Chrome Curb Appeal and Timothy Parks were third for co-owners Rushing and Parks. Ten of 14 entries made the gate call. 

Shipwreck sunk the rest of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses competition with a first place tie with owner Dr. Shana Hughes from Russell Springs, Kentucky, aboard. Sired by Indigo Who, Shipwrecked has seven blue ribbons in eight classes this year. Big Booty Judy walked away with a red ribbon for owner-rider Darren Gray. A Knightime Menace and owner-rider Vickie Moore tied third. The class had perfect attendance with all nine entries in the ring.

I Am Splish Splash THF won the Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses class with Jonathan Baskin in the irons for owner Travis Hale of Walling, Tennessee. I Am Splish Splash THF, sired by I Am Jose’, is a perfect five-for-five in blues in 2022. The class also included Futurity nominated two-year-old park pleasure mares, geldings and stallions. Prissy Miss Cash, ridden by Laurie Toone for owner Jerry Knotts, was second. As the highest finishing Futurity nominated entry, they received a blue ribbon from TWHBEA. Strawberry Kentucky Shine, with Ryan Gannon on board for owners Shady Partners LLC, earned a yellow ribbon. Six of the 12 program entries answered the gate call. 

For the second year in a row My Black Cadillac rode to the blue in the class for Amateur Owned & Trained Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, making it the second blue of the morning for owner-rider Allison Thorson Newman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The performance also earned the second unanimous decision of the judges for the day. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, it was the first show of 2022 for My Black Cadillac. Sweet As Strawberry Wine tied second with Amanda Manis riding for Manis and Pope, while I’m Big Bad John KW was ridden to third by co-owner Hayle Machal for co-owner Tree Top Stables. Nine of 11 entries participated in the class. 

He's Off The Wall and co-owner and rider Tim Brooks from Hot Springs, Arkansas, won their debut of the season in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses class for co-owners Phil and Holly Dunivan from Petersburg, Tennessee. He’s Off The Wall was sired by The Dixie Lineman. Skip The Line and Kimberly Walden rode to second. She co-owns the entry with Perry Walden. Must Be The Whiskey was third with co-owner Rachel Teague on board for co-owners Laci and Lakelyn Mathews. Fifteen of 17 entries answered the final gate call of the morning.