By Mark McGee | Photos by Shane Shiflet
What’s your pleasure? Thursday morning at the 85th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was all about pleasure horses with 11 of 12 classes featuring Park Pleasure, All Day Pleasure, Lite-Shod, Trail Pleasure or Country Pleasure in Cooper Steel Arena.
Both entries answered the gate call by announcer Travis Olinger in the Model Pleasure Walking Stallions class to start the morning. Handler Robert Nelms guided Back In The Saddle Again to the World Championship for owners Lisa Teel of Fayetteville, Tennessee and The Jake Jacobs of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was the fifth consecutive win for Back In The Saddle Again this year. Mr. LLC was second with Laurie Toone at the lead for Brandon Tate from Athens, Alabama. Derek Bonner called the class.
401K proved to be a good investment for Pam Betts from Union City, Tennessee, in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four and Five-Year-Old All Day Pleasure Walking Horses class as the unanimous winner. Fifteen of 16 program entries competed with Leah Boyd calling the class. 401K has earned five blues in 2023. My Sweet Caroline NB was ridden to reserve by owner Elaine Kapinos of Hempstead, Texas. Failure To Appear walked out with a yellow ribbon with Amanda Manis aboard for Gary and Carolyn Pope of Taylorsville, North Carolina.
Two Gunns LLC was in the winner’s circle for the third straight year in the Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Five & Under class. Patrick Thomas was in the irons for Champion Stables from Longview, Texas. Reserve honors in the class went to The Mexican Mafia ridden by Ryan Gannon for Amy Mays of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Jazzed Up Lady tied third with Howard Hamilton in the saddle for Lisa Baum. Nathan Clark was the call judge. Kiss This Girl with Jonathan Baskin riding for Nic Linder of Smithville, Tennessee, was the Futurity winner in the class.
It’s A Knight To Remember had a morning to remember with Lisa Fisher riding to the winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. Also owned by Jeff Fisher and Corbin Parker of Franklin, Kentucky, It’s A Knight To Remember has 11 earned an impressive blues this season. Reserve went Nacho Business with Karen McGee Harnden of Fayetteville, Tennessee, aboard for the Phyllis Langley and Karen McGee Harnden partnership. Third went to A Knightime Menace with Vickie Moore from New Castle, Virginia in the saddle. The top three entries in the class all ride under the direction of Joe Lester Stables. All 15 program entries competed with David Sisk calling the class.
Silverback put on a top performance in the Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four & Five-Year-Old, Optional Tack class to win the World Championship with Hannah Myatt riding for co-owners Katy Granus of Bowling Green, Kentucky and Kathy Anderson of College Grove, Tennessee. Silverback also won the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class Wednesday morning and has earned seven blues this summer. The red streamer went to He’s A Knight Rider with Joe Lester in the stirrups for Russ and Andrea Coleman from Grapeview, Texas. The Crow MH tied third with Kyle Elliott on board for Madeline Heaner of Roswell, Georgia. Kenny Smith was the call judge in the class.
Derek Bonner was the call judge in the next class. It was She’s Never Been Kissed that walked her way to unanimous top honors in the Amateur Owned and Trained All Day Pleasure class with Kimberly Walden riding for she and Perry Walden. The duo has won 10 blues this season. Fuego was reserve with owner-rider Allison Thorson Newman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The yellow ribbon was awarded to Martinis At Seven and Maggie Moore of Christiana, Tennessee aboard for owners Moore and Earhardt.
Sweet Walking Matilda lived up to her name for owner-rider Margo Urad of Shelbyville, Tennessee in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. Sweet Walking Matilda has earned five blues this season. She’s Venomous and Kelly Querrey of Needville, Texas, struck for a red ribbon. Party Mode tied third with Emily Woodruff riding. Leah Boyd was the call judge with nine of 12 scheduled entries in the ring.
Chrome Curb Appeal and Timothy Parks rode to the winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. Owned by Rushing and Parks of Dickson and Woodbury, Tennessee. A Sterling Honors earned the reserve world title with Bo Robbins of New Albany, Mississippi, aboard. Line Up walked away with a yellow streamer with Hensley Hammond riding for Norwood and Woody of Reidsville, North Carolina. Nathan Clark called the class with seven of 10 expected entries competing.
Nine of 10 slated entries entered the ring in the next class to work for their chance at a World Championship title. Judge David Sisk called the class. Cobra Kai fought off all challengers for the blue in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class with Amy Spinelli riding for she and Ruth Spinelli from Union Grove, Wisconsin. Crypto and Kaitlyn Rippy were reserve for owner Andy Rippy of Gallatin, Tennessee. Quesadilla tied third with Sherri Pollack riding for S & P, LLC.
In their first show of the year, I’m Real Bad was real good with Patrick Thomas riding to unanimous top honors for Champion Stables of Longview, Texas, in the Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack (included Futurity nominated Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure Mares, Geldings and Stallions). Kenny Smith called the gaits from center ring. Tying second was It’s On with Laurie Toone aboard for owner Brandon Tate of Athens, Alabama. Marvel Mystery received the third award with Chris Zahnd in the saddle for Doug Quire of Pleasureville, Kentucky.
The Red Light District, a classic horse, was ridden to the World Championship by Ashlyn Avent of Shelbyville, Tennessee, in the Amateur Owned and Trained Trail Pleasure class. The team has earned six blues in 2023 as well as a reserve world title on Wednesday morning. Eight of 11 program entries entered the ring with Derek Bonner as the call judge. Suiza and owner Allison Thorson Newman of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, earned the second place award. Jazz & Everything was ridden to third by Darrell Collins for The Collins Family from Brodhead, Kentucky.
In a debut performance, Bodie and Darren Gray of Orlando, Florida, closed out the morning classes with a unanimous blue ribbon win in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class. Twelve of 13 scheduled entries made the gate with Leah Boyd calling the class. Second was Mind Your Business and Dr. Shana Hughes of Russell Springs, Kentucky. Vivian finished with a yellow ribbon with Amanda Manis aboard of Shelbyville, Tennessee.