by Stephanie Morton

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - It was a beautiful evening for a horse show in Shelbyville, Tenn.The smell of the famous Lions Club donuts filled the air while the crowds filled the stands. Everyone was preparing for a wonderful evening of top quality horses. Hall of Fame member Bud Seaton exhibited Counterfeit Dollar for OK Walking Horse Farms. Counterfeit Dollar parked in on the North side of the ring this evening while Mr. James Wells of Spring Hill recited the National Anthem. The one and only Larry Bright tickled the ivories this evening and Mark Farrar Jr. was the announcer. Judges Jennifer Bingham, Derek Bonner, David Landrum, David Sisk and Sam Sorrell officiated this evening’s events.

To compete for the first world championship title of this evening were the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Walking Geldings. Six top entries made their way into the big oval to compete for Call Judge Landrum and his cohorts. It didn’t take the crowd long to pick out their favorites and cheer them on in blue ribbon fashion. Taking the first world champion title of the evening was Cadillac’s Bum and Addie Harris for Salt Lick Farm and Addie Harris of Salt Lick, Ky. Cadillac’s Bum and Harris took top honors earlier this season at the Spring Fun Show. Reserve honors went to Willie Twilight and Luke Callicutt for John Callicutt of Seagrove, N.C. The pair have claimed a top honor at the Christmas In July horse show earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was Gangster’s Hitman and Cohen Abernathy for Claudia Gribble of Byhalia, Miss.

Ten talented young geldings answered the gate call for the Two-Year-Old Walking Geldings class. Judge Sisk served as the call judge for this class. Taking the unanimous world championship title all the way back to the Bluegrass state was Cottonwood Gin and Ryan Blackburn for Corey & Harr of Gray, Ky. Reserve honors went to Olympic Aftershock and Brock Tillman for Stephanie Gordon Roy of Orange, Calif. Rounding out the top three was Loose And Lucky Doc and Tyler Baucom for Alan Riddley and Kayla Baucom of Shelby and Monroe, N.C.

Making their way into the big oval next were the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses, Riders 70 Years & Over. Larry Bright filled the air with “Nothing Could Be Finer, than to be in Carolina,” as these 11 top horse and rider teams took the rail to compete for championship honors. The crowd quickly picked their favorite pair and cheered them on as they competed for the honors and title of world champion. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge for the class. The honor, title and glory of being crowned world champion went to Miss Ebony Rose and owner Sudie Reed of Jasper, Ala. This team has also claimed top honors at the National Trainers’ show earlier this season. Reserve honors went to Bee Bee King and Mary Medina for Elizabeth Whitney of Darien, Conn. Bee Bee King has claimed top honors earlier this season at the National Trainers’ show. Rounding out the top three was Lethal Nightshade and Benton Pitts for Benton and Gay Pitts.



Seven top entries answered the gate call for the Lite-Shod Walking Horses class. Judge Bingham served as the call judge. These top contenders made their way around the ring to the tune of “Country Roads Take Me Home.” Cheers and whistles were heard throughout the grandstands as spectators picked their choice for champion as the exhibitors made their way to the lineup. Called from the line up to accept the blue ribbon victory pass was the team of Simple Lee Dangerous and Chris Helton for Kara Graham of Niota, Tenn. This talented horse has already claimed another world championship title earlier in the week with Kara Graham.  Reserve went to Lil Wayne and Jeff Laughlin for Jeff Gillespie of Tazewell, Va. Lil Wayne has taken top honors at the Red Carpet Show of the South earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was La Patrona and Joe Lester for Kyle Bush.



An exciting class of the A division Three-Year-Old Stallions class filled the ring next. Judge Bonner served as the call judge in this highly competitive class. The crowd clearly had their favorites as the horses went on reverse. Taking home the honor and title was the winning pair of Uptight Jose and Josh Watts for Don and Lucky Collins of Shelbyville, Tenn. Uptight Jose add this victory to their previous reserve finish at the Petersburg Lions Club show earlier this year. Reserve honors went to Really Coach and Todd Claborn for Fred Allred of Jamestown, Tenn. This talented young stallion has a previous win this year at the Cumberland County show. Rounding out the top three was Titleist On Parole and Gary Martin for Patty and Dickie King.

Another exciting class of Three-Year-Old Stallions steadily filled the big oval, all in hopes of becoming the next world champion. Eight talented young stallions answered the gate call in the B division, which Judge Landrum served as the call judge for. The Land Shark and Justin Harris claimed the blue ribbon award in this highly competitive class for Larry and Pam Russell of Pontotoc, Miss. This talented stallion also claimed Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions World Championship last year. Reserve honors went to Gen-A-Mighty and Charlie Green for Mike Floyd and Larry McCroy of Columbia and Summertown, Tenn. This talented young stallion took reserve honors in the B division of the Two-Year-Old Stallions class last year. Rounding out the top three was I’m Joe Boo and Brock Tillman for Jerry Jones.

Nine classic horses answered the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses, Classic Horses 15 Years & Over. Judge Sisk served as the call judge for this class. This is a special class to many, to show just how long the lifespan is of the coveted Tennessee Walking Horse. Taking home top honors in this exciting class is the team of Sky Jam and Brittany Baum for Jacob Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. Sky Jam has enjoyed many career wins along with many reserve world grand championship titles. Reserve honors went to The American General and Sellers Veazey for the Monty Veazey family of Tifton, Ga. This talented aged horse has carried many riders to blue ribbon acclaim as well as several world and world grand championships. Rounding out the top three was Olympic Bronze and Gayla Kail for Kail & Howell.



Up next was the Park Performance Walking Horses, Four Years & Under class. Two entries made the gate call for this class where Judge Sorrell served as the call judge. Making their way to the blue ribbon was the team of Wee Wee Man and Link Webb for LD and Tammy Austin of Hickory, N.C. This world champion pair has also claimed top honors at the Putnam County Fair, Marshall County Horseman’s Association and Fentress County Fair shows. Reserve honors went to Absolutely Ritz and Bill Callaway for George-Ann Pratt of Shawnee Mission, Kan.

One team of Owner-Amateur Novice Lady Riders on Novice Walking Stallions will be novice no more after this evening’s performance. Eight highly talented teams answered the gate call to the big oval to compete for Call Judge Bingham and her cohorts. After the cards were tallied, it was Jose’s Star Attraction and Carole Baxter who are novice no longer! This talented team has taken top honors at the Spring Fun Show earlier this year. Reserve honors went to Joe Pa and Tonya Strickland for Brian and Tonya Strickland of Easley, S.C. Joe Pa has claimed top honors at such prestigious shows as the National Trainers’ show, Spring Fun Show and Christmas In July show earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was Holyfield and Sherry Bonner for Marla Bertram.

Five talented teams entered the big oval for the Four-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings Canter class. Judge Bonner served as the call judge. Claiming the title was the team of Coach’s Cheerleader and Michael Wright for Elliott & Holmes of Pontotoc, Miss., and Sikeston, Mo. This talented mare has claimed top honors at such venues as the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and Columbia Spring Jubilee earlier this season. Reserve honors went to Nevermore and John Allan Callaway for Dr. Barbara Moersch of Jacksonville, Ala. Nevermore has claimed top honors at the Gulf Coast Charity, Manchester Lions Club and Fayetteville Blue Ribbon shows earlier this season. Rounding out the top three was O Glory At The Ritz and Gary Edwards for Elaine and Keith McSwain.

Nine talented entries made the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses. Judge Landrum served as the call judge for this class. Taking top honors in this highly competitive class with a unanimous decision was the new team of Lined Up At The Ritz and owner Lisa Baum. Lined Up At The Ritz is enjoying an undefeated season this year with win at such prestigious venues as the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Money Tree Classic. Reserve honors went to BB King’s Jazz and Mikki Eldridge for Stephens & Womack of Grayson, Ky. Earlier this week BB King’s Jazz added another world championship title with Jackson Stephens. Rounding out the top three was Tijuana Tex and Darden Gladney for Gladney Farms.

Five top contenders answered the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Mares. Judge Sisk served as the call judge for this exciting class. The spectators certainly had their favorites picked out as the class went on the reverse. Whistles and applause filled the air as these talented lady riders took the rail at a flat walk. Taking the honors and the title of world champion was reigning World Grand Champions Jose’s Dulce and Meghan Davis for Shamrock Farms and Mike Davis of Cincinnati, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn. Reserve honors went to Powerstroke’s Evening Star and Sherri Pollack for S&P LLC of Saratoga, Calif. This talented pair has claimed top honors at such venues as the Spring Fun Show and Mississippi Charity show earlier this year. Rounding out the top three was A Private Benjamin and owner Dee Broom Yoder.



The last class of the evening, the Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, was one of the biggest of the evening with 11 entries. Judge Sorrell served as the call judge for this impressive lineup of horses and riders. The crowd cheered on their favorite teams while Larry Bright serenaded the show grounds with, “You Are My Sunshine and Rocky Top.” Claiming top honors in this class of highly competitive horses was the team of Turnbow and Russ Thompson for Roger Emerick of Hillsborough, Calif. This talented team are the reigning Show Pleasure World Grand Champions. Reserve honors went to She Has Status and John Allan Callaway for Allan Callaway of Shelbyville, Tenn. This pair add this to their earlier season win at the Spring Warm Up show. Rounding out the top three was Hello, Hello and Jonathan Watts for Darden Gladney and Deborah Williams.

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