by Sarah Smith

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The final performance of the 78^th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration began right on time on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Official flag horse, Ranger T. Walker led the opening ceremonies. Mark Farrar was the announcer inside the big oval. Larry Bright entertained on his organ and photographer Shane Shiflet caught all the memories. Judges for the 11-day event were Chris Bobo, Nathan Clark, Ray Gilmer, Sam Sorrell and Leigh Stuart.

The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association presented Edgar Abernathy with the honor of 2016 Trainer of the Year and for the first time, a Pleasure Horse Trainer of the Year award was given. That honor went to Hannah Myatt.

The first class to take the track was the popular Lead Line Riders, Six Years & Under World Grand Championship. Making the ride under the spotlight was Sterling Woodruff aboard Shakes Little Midnight. Emily Woodruff led the team who also topped the competition at the National Trainers’ Show. Shake’s Little Midnight is a staple in the class and is owned by Gleghorn & Woodruff. Reserve in the class went to the 2015 World Grand Champions in the class went to Aaleah Ann Bell and and Rattle & Snap. Carson Cagle rounded out the top three in the large class.



After winning their qualifying class on Tuesday night, He’s The Lady’s Man and Maisie McSwain earned the title and continued their undefeated season in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies World Grand Championship. The team was also victorious at the National Trainers’ Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Woodbury earlier in the season. The Royal Dollar and Alex Blackburn were the reserve world grand champions in the division. Third went to A Bit Of Change and Dee Broom Yoder. A Bit Of Change was crowned a world champion on Monday Night with trainer Justin Harris riding.

The Park Pleasure World Grand Championship, a Riders’ Cup class was next down the chute. Making the trip to the winner’s circle was the multi-titled BB King’s Jazz with Mickey McCormick for Stephens & Womack. BB King’s Jazz was victorious in the class in 2015 and has picked up three additional world titles at this year’s Celebration. Reserve went to Top Recruit and Justin Harris for Bill and Darlene Harris. Darlene Harris and Top Recruit earned a world championship on the first Thursday morning. Also a 2016 World Champion, He’s A Dixieland Delight and Jeff Laughlin rounded out the top three for Vickie Penick.

Three-time 2016 World Champion, Etta James By TJB and Kathy Zeis made the ultimate ride to claim the Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four Years & Under World Grand Championship with the approval of all five judges. Carrie Martin rode the young talent under the spotlight on Friday evening. This win tops their four wins prior to the Celebration. Jazzanova and Kimberly Coult-Walden picked up the reserve world title. This duo is also a 2016 World Champion. Third in the class went to the new team of Jose’s Grand Muchacha and Allison Thorson.



Returning to the show ring and earning his second set of roses this year was He’s Starbucks and John Allan Callaway for Bud and Suzanne Moore. The team earned all the awards in the Show Pleasure Walking Horses World Grand Championship, a Riders’ Cup class. On Tuesday night, He’s Starbucks and John Allan Callaway were called to the winner’s circle to top their preliminary class. The duo was also victorious in both classes in 2015. Reserve went to Turnbow and Russ Thompson for Roger Emerick. Turnbow and Thompson were world champions on Friday Night. Clay Sanderson rode Entitlement to the third award for Jordan Howell.

After winning at the TWHBEA National Futurity last Wednesday night and again on Monday morning with Amanda Wright at the lead, Miss Belle Starr W. was purchased by Jacob and Brittany Baum. Tonight Miss Belle Starr W. was led to the Walking Weanling World Grand Championship with a unanimous vote of the judging panel by Beverly Lamp. Win Lose Or Draw, a two-time 2016 world champion earned the reserve world grand championship with Bobby Richards at the lead for Richards, Jones & Fikes. Third in the class of young talent went to I’m King Of The Ritz and Lynn Womack for Kevin Guess.

The Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings World Grand Championship spotlight ride went to Jose Miss Dolly and Lorie Riddley. The team was victorious in their qualifying class last Friday night and had early season wins at NCWHA Spring Show, North Carolina Ladies Auxiliary and Spring Fun Show. Reserve honors went to Miss Ebony Rose and Sudie Reed. Powerstroke’s Evening Star and Sherri Pollack picked up the yellow streamer.



Twelve entries answered the call for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Performance Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Continuing their undefeated season and topping off their win in the preliminary on Monday night, Ain’t He Grande and Suzanne Moore earned their spotlight ride with the approval of all five judges. Bud and Suzanne Moore own the talent. Reserve went to Drop A Line and Carrie Benedict for Benedict, Teel & Butler. This team was reserve in their world championship as well. Third went to Tiger Blood and Jacob Baum for Lisa Baum. Tiger Blood and Jacob Baum earned a world championship last Thursday night.

It’s been an exciting week for Maroon 5 and Dr. Jim Baum. The first week of the Celebration, Maroon 5 was purchased by the Baums and carried Dr. Jim Baum to a world championship on Tuesday night. On the final night of the Celebration, Maroon 5 and Dr. Jim Baum earned a unanimous vote of the judges and became the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship. Hey Tomcat and Carol Lackey, also world champions earlier in the week earned the reserve world title. Rounding out the top three was Jamaica Gin and Jannie Chapman.



Honey Badger and Lily Catherine Holland earned a three-peat in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Trail Pleasure Walking Mares of Geldings with a first place vote from all five judges. The team also made the trip to the winner’s circle in their preliminary class. This was the third world grand championship ride for Holland who also top the Juvenile Stake and the Youth Ponies World Grand Championship. Reserve went to Dark Picture Show and Alexa Compton. The team has walked their way to three reserve world titles at this year’s show. Third went to A Rain Delay and Evan Gleghorn for Gelghorn & Teel. A Rain Delay and Taylor Gleghorn made their way down victory lane last Friday morning.

The Two-Year-Old Walking Horses World Grand Championship was next on the schedule. Riding from the line up and under the spotlight was Jimmy Choo and Jimmy McConnell for Bill and Karen Bean. Sired by the Bean’s He’s Slim Shady, the team won their qualifier on Monday night as well as early season wins at Chester County, Woodbury Lions Club and Gallatin Memorial. Reserve in the class went to French Gin and Ernest Upton, the A Division Two-Year-Old Stallions World Champion. Also a Two-Year-Old Stallion World Champion, Von Miller and Herbert Derickson rounded out the top three.

For the second consecutive year and with the approval of all five judges, Roscoe Jenkins and Susan Coleman earned the title of Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite-Shod Walking Horses World Grand Champion. The team won earlier in the season at the Gulf Coast Trainers’ Show and won their preliminary class last Thursday morning. Two-time 2016 world champions and a world grand champion on Thursday night, La Patrona and owner Dale Steinmetz were the reserve world grand champions. Third in the class went to Flash Of Fortune and Jacob Duke.

The Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Horses took their turn around the big oval next. Riding to the winner’s circle claiming all the honors was Mr. Trump and Taylor Walters. The team earned wins at the Gulf Coast Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Money Tree Classic and Red Carpet Show of the South before making their way to the Celebration. A King Thing and Lorraine Rosbury rode to the reserve world title. They won their preliminary class earlier in the week. Rounding out the top three was The Land Shark and B
Benjamin Bowen.



With wins at the Spring Fun Show, WHAA Summer Classic, world championships on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and a world grand championship on Thursday night with Allison Thorson, Fuego returned to the Celebration oval with Allison Thorson and Liz Gassaway sharing the riding duties to win the Amateur-Amateur Trail Pleasure World Championship. Reserve went to 2016 world champion, Juan Carlos with Lisa Weaver and Kyle Bush. Wayne Westbrook and Barbara Civils took turns aboard Jose’s Firecracker to round out the top three in the large class.

Earning a unanimous world grand championship in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses, Canter was I’m Mayhem and Susan Coleman for Dowell & Coleman. The team won earlier in the year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Cornersville Lions Club. They were Five-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champions in 2015 and Four-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champions in 2014. Reserve in the class went to Led Zeppelin and Abby Fox who were world champions in the division just four nights earlier. Third went to Jose’ It Ain’t So and Benjamin Bowen.

Larry Bright welcomed seven contenders to the ring to compete for the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship. Making the ultimate ride under the spotlight with a unanimous vote of the judges was Honors and Larry Edwards for Keith and Dan McSwain. Honors won the B Division of the Aged Stallions class last Saturday night and had early season wins at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Christmas In July shows. Honors was the 2012 Four-Year-Old Stallions World Champion and Four-Year-Old World Grand Champion. In 2011, Honors was the Three-Year-Old World and World Grand Champion. Reserve world grand champions were He’s Shady In Black and Jimmy McConnell for Richard Donner. The duo won the A Division of the Aged Stallions class last Saturday and topped the competition at the Columbia Spring Jubilee in June. Owner Richard Donner rode the champion to the winner’s circle at the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival. Jose’s Power Broker and Keith Blackburn were third in the class for Dan and Susan Erwin. Jose’s Power Broker made victory passes at the Woodbury Lions Club and the Smoky Mountain Classic.

With the final victory pass made by 2016 World Grand Champions Honors and Larry Edwards, the 78^th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration came to a close.