by Sarah Smith
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – After a fun filled day competition resumed at the 78th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration inside the big oval promptly at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, with Ranger T. Walker presenting our Nations Colors. Announcer Mark Farrar introduced show officials including judges Chris Bobo, Nathan Clark, Ray Gilmer, Sam Sorrell and Leigh Stuart.
Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-14 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings were first to take the track to vie for top honors. Making their way to the winner’s circle and collecting their fourth win of the season was Jose’s Delightful Pusher and Lilly Riddley for proud dad, Alan Riddley. A Cloudy Sky carried Nathan Oliver to the reserve title for Darrell Oliver. The team won last month at the Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Third in the class of young riders went to Versace’s Dollar and Alexa Compton.
Fifteen Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses were next on the schedule. Taking home all the honors was Lisa Baum and Eye On The Title. Eye On The Title picked up wins at the Spring Fun Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and The International before adding this world title to his lengthy list of accomplishments. Reigning World Grand Champions Designer Champagne and Kimberly Coult-Walden walked their way to the red award. The team has already been crowned world champions once during the show. Dos Equis and Liz Gassaway were third in the large class.
Picking up her second world championship of the show in the English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years & Under, Riders’ Cup was Etta James By TJB. Carrie Martin was at the reins for Steve Zeis for the unanimous win. Kathy Zeis directed the reigning world grand champion to the winner’s circle on Friday morning. Jazzanova and trainer Jeff Laughlin earned reserve honors for Kimberly Coult-Walden. Jazzanova and Coult-Walden were crowned world champions on Wednesday morning. Talkin’ Dirty To Me and Hannah Myatt were third in the class for LaMar DePoyster.
Larry Bright played “The Stars Fell on Alabama” as Jannie Chapman rode Dollar’s Bright Star to the Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings World Championship. This team were crowned world champions at the 2014 Celebration. An American Threat and Lynn Hickok rode to reserve honors. Bill Callaway directed An American Threat to a world championship earlier in the week for Ridgemont Farms, Barbara Corbett and Lynn Hickok. Closing out the top three was Hot Dollar and Sheri Dietz Ward.
Next up was the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings. Seventeen-year-old Olympic Bronze carried nine-year-old Jack Kail on the winning ride. Olympic Bronze is owned by Kail & Howell and made two winning performances prior to this win. Reserve in the class went to Inception and Maxine Beasley. Third in the exciting class was Golden State and Chet Lowman.
Riding out of the novice division with top honors in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Show Pleasure Walking Horses was Alexis King riding She’s Ritz’s Gold Coin. The champion is owned by Bob Bills of Cornersville, Tenn. The team won earlier in the season at their hometown at the Cornersville Lions Club Horse Show. Riding to the red award was Mariachi and Sherry Bonner. Mariachi is owned by Betty Corlew and won earlier in the season at the Putnam County Horse Show with RM Kellett aboard. Richard Mitch directed Santana’s Storm to the third award for he and Sarah Mitch.
Repeating their 2015 win and claiming a unanimous world title in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 15-17 Years on Walking Ponies was Rammer Jammer and Lily Catherine Holland. The duo found themselves in victory lane two other times this year. Reserve honors went to the new team of Ricky Ricardo and Will Cole. In their first outing earlier this month Ricky Ricardo and Will Cole won at the TWHBEA-Belfast show. Third went to ACC and Jaclyn Compton. This was their first performance of the season.
The talent-packed Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions were next to the ring. Earning approval from all five judges was reigning World Grand Champions, A Bruce Pearl and Lisa Baum. The pair topped the competition at the National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and the Red Carpet Show of the South. Reserve world championship honors went to Epic and Meghan Davis who were victorious at the Spring Fun Show in May. Rounding out the top three was The Lone Star Legend and Karen Bean for she and Bill Bean. The Lone Star Legend carried Charlie Green to a win at the WHAA Summer Classic.
After spending her youth years heavily involved in the Walking Horse Industry and only returning recently, Katie Holt Dishman found herself in the Celebration winner’s circle after riding Labeled A Parolee to the win in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses. Lindy Holt is the proud owner. Second in the large class went to Pushin’ Some Black Jazz and Donna Byard for Shelli MeHaffey. Rounding out the top three was Nite’s Dynasty and Alex Sinden.
Be My Baby was both an open and amateur World Champion Three-Year-Old Mare in 2015 and now she’s added the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings Division A World Championship to her resume that already boasts five other wins in 2016. Owner Robert Deutsch was in the irons to earn this world championship. Amanda Wright and I’m A Mastermind earned the second award. The team won earlier in the season at the Walking For Cancer Horse Show. 2014 Two-Year-Old Amateur Mares World Champion Steele Grey and Josh Wright wrapped up the top three.
Winning her third world championship of the night was Lisa Baum and this time it was aboard This Is Jazz in the B division for Owner-Amateur Riders On Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. The team earned top honors at the Mississippi Charity Horse Show and the Manchester Lions Club before claiming this top honor. Eric Lackey and Color Coded rode to claim the red streamer. Color Coded earned wins at the National Trainers’ Show and Spring Fun Show. Third went to Miss Jimmy Mac and Alex Blackburn.
Cazadores and Tamara Hader enjoyed happy trails as they headed to the winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses. The team had early season wins at the Mississippi Charity, Gulf Coast Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and Belfast-TWHBEA. With five 2016 blues, Habanero carried Jason Myatt to the reserve world title for Deborah Myatt. Third in the class went to multi-titled Line Item Veto and Rachel Jernigan-Teague.
For the third year in a row, Dr. Jim Baum and Unreal made their way down victory lane in the Elite Owner-Amateur Gentleman Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings. All five judges agreed on the win. All the way from Riverside, Calif., Jim Heiting and Hammer On Parole rode to the red award. Third went to The Gambino and Wayne Putman for Wayne and Gail Putman.
Eight entries answered the gate call for the Four-Year-Old Walking Stallions, Canter, Riders’ Cup. Making the final victory pass on Sunday night was Uptight Jose’ and Josh Watts for Dale Watts. What a way to make a season debut! Jose’ Cold Chills and John Allan Callaway earned the title of Reserve World Champion for LaRue McWaters. Third in the class went to Marty McFly and Casey Wright for Joe Fostek.
The last morning session of the 78th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration will start at 9 a.m. on Monday Morning. Monday Night will be dollar night.