by Stephanie Rose

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - Jerry Harris of What A Horse put on a Tennessee Walking Horse Educational Seminar in the Calsonic Arena on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, at 9 a.m. Bobby Richards explained the history of the breed along with an explanation of the country pleasure, trail pleasure and lite-shod horses in English and western tack.

Laurie Toone, Evan, Mackenzie and Hunter Morgan, Connie Waldo and Allison Thorson exhibited their horses for the audience. Richards also brought a three-year-old gray mare for the demonstration. Farrier Woody Woodruff took her from a lite-shod shoe to a heavy shod and then to a performance shoe to show the animation that goes along with each shoe. Susan Shemwell rode the mare and used an English and western saddle.

Next were the versatility demonstrations. Lisa Warmels brought her horse, Repeat The Beat, for jumping. Victoria Bennett rode him. Next was the barrels demonstration, and Raelynn Scherff of Clearview Farm exhibited her horse around them. Jennifer Bingham did the reining demonstration on her spotted horse, Earnest T.

A western and English park demonstration was next, followed by the show pleasure horse, which was Straight Line with Jeff Green. There was also an Academy instructor and riders presentation by Leigh Bennett, followed by an equitation presentation. 2008 World Grand Champion Amy Nesius rode her mount Casanova for the crowd. 2008 World Champion Kaitlyn Rippy rode Command’s Mandy and Reserve World Champion and WHOA Highpoint Equitation winner Allison Thorson rode Time To Strut. Alice Klein is Nesius’s instructor and Leigh Bennett instructs Rippy and Thorson.

Following equitation, there was the presentation of performance show horses. Jason Day rode Reserve World Champion Fear Or No Fear. Day also rode World Champion I’m Armed & Lethal, who is a show pleasure contender. Brandon Stout rode Barbados, a four-year-old this season. Jeff Green presented American Keepsake, an amateur and juvenile mount of the Mike Davis family.

Six-year-old Nathan Oliver and 91-year-old Dr. W.H. Hill made wonderful exhibitions to show that anyone of any age can ride the Tennessee Walking Horse. For the grand finale, all the horses came out and went around the ring together.

Channel Four News, along with students from Tullahoma and people wanting to learn about the Tennessee Walking Horse, all came to take part in the Walking Horse Educational Seminar.