Rotating Judges for Performance and Pleasure Highlight Changes in Panels

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration® has selected the judging panel for its 74th Annual Celebration to be held August 22-September 1, 2012.  Jennifer Bingham, Chris Bobo, Nathan Clark, Brent Grider and Joel Weaver will adjudicate the performance horse classes during the show.  Connie Waldo and Carol Smithson will join Bingham, Bobo and Clark to adjudicate the pleasure classes.

 “I am pleased that we have a panel that is both new to judging The Celebration® yet they are all experienced judges in their own right.  Additionally, we have selected panels that blend the best of the performance horses as well as the pleasure division, ” says, Doyle Meadows, Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®.

Bingham will be making her fourth consecutive appearance at The Celebration® while Clark will be making his third appearance.  Clark also judged in 2008 and 2010.  The remaining judges will all be making their first appearance at The Celebration®.  Albeit their inaugural time to judge The Celebration®, the group is hardly new to the show ring.

Weaver has previously judged The Fun Show twice, Bobo has judged The Fun Show once and Grider recently judged the Gulf Coast Charity Horse Show, managed by The Celebration® in 2012.  Waldo and Smithson have impressive experience in the judging of the pleasure division.  Waldo judged the 2010 International Grand Championship and Smithson holds the title of Chairperson of the SHOW Judges’ Committee.

 “I look forward to an outstanding Celebration for this our 74th year of conducting The World’s Greatest Horse Show.  It is a time when everyone comes together and supports the great Walking Horse and crowns another World Grand Champion®,” says Meadows.