SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was the first evening performance of the 76th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. In the Celebration tradition, Counterfeit Dollar and Hall of Fame member, Bud Seaton presented the American Flag. Counterfeit Dollar is owned by OK Walking Horse Farm and presented by Hugh Stables. Announcer for the evening sessions, Mark Farrar, Jr. called the first class of the night off the hill and we were underway in the big oval. Judges for the event are Rollie Beard, Jennifer Bingham, David Landrum, Paul Robbins and David Sisk.
Six young riders made the gate call to compete for World Championship honors in the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Mares. The crowd didn’t waste any time getting into the spirit and cheering for their favorite team. With wins at the Derby Classic and the Sumner County Fair earlier this season, The White Mask and Harper Grider took a Celebration blue back to Kentucky. Karen Floyd and Harper Grider own the white mare. Splashy Ritz and Sellers Veazey earned the reserve award for Monty Veazey. The duo won at the Christmas In July show over the 4th of July weekend. Making their show ring debut and walking out with the yellow ribbon was two-time World Champion She’s Caliente and Counti Green.
The Elite Gentlemen on their Walking Stallions brought 10 competitors to the big oval. In their second outing of the season, Play Something Country and Jeff Smith were called to collect all the honors. The team is no stranger to the Celebration winner’s circle having made the trip there in 2010 and again in 2011. Following their win at the Money Tree Classic, Biscayne Bay and Ben Brogdon can now add a reserve World Championship to their trophy case. Six-time world and world grand champions, Ed Breedlove and Kid Callahan took home the third award. The team won at the Columbia Spring Jubilee earlier this season.
Full Back and Gary Edwards topped the competition in the Three-Year-Old Walking Geldings Riders’ Cup class. Full Back has accumulated three blues this season, including a win at the Marshall County Horseman’s Association Show in late July with owner Bob Lawrence. As a two-year-old, the newly named World Champion walked his way to three blues. Taking the reserve honors back to Kentucky was Within The Line and Ryan Blackburn for the Harr & Ragland partnership. Sired by Lined With Cash, this was only the youngsters third time in the ring. Rounding out the top three was Herbert Derickson aboard Master Class for Mr. and Mrs. Tim Brooks. Master Class is no stranger to the show ring competing 27 times during his two and three-year-old years.
The A division of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions brought eight young talents to the oval. Siring both the World and Reserve World Champion in the class was Gen’s Black Gin. Sonny Steele carried Clay Mills to the winner’s circle for Mills & Snodgrass. This is the third blue for the talent this year, having picked up wins at the Kick Off Classic and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association show. Reserve went to Kayla Baucom aboard Black Gin Jack for John Callicutt. Black Gin Jack also has two prior wins this season. Closing out the top three was LaRue McWaters and Jose’ Cold Chills. This was the team’s first outing of the year.
Division B didn’t disappoint. Eight more Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallions and their riders made their way from the warm up ring to vie for the title and blue ribbon. The Land Shark and Benjamin Bowen were called from the line up to collect the loot. The Land Shark is owned by Bowen’s grandparents, Larry and Pam Russell and has claimed two prior blues this season at the Spring Fun Show and the Liberty Lions Club. Reserve went to Capital One and Diana Cruse. This reserve world title is only the young talents second outing with the first have results in a Woodbury Lions Club blue. Tennessee State Line carried Lisa Baum to the third tie. This duo won at the Gallatin Lions Club show in May.
The undefeated season for Jose’ Caliente and Chris Elliott continued with the title of Owner-Amateur Riders 15-17 Years on Walking Mares or Geldings World Champion. Since they became a team in 2010 they have amassed 16 wins including their 2011 World Championship. I’m Moonlighting and Kayla Baucom walked away with the reserve for Robert Deutsch and the new team of Heza War Horse and Robert Cortner picked up the yellow streamer.
Dirty Sexy Money earned the third World Championship of his career with new owner Jannie Chapman riding to claim all the honors in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Performance Walking Mares or Geldings. This win marks the eighth blue for Dirty Sexy Money this season. Former owner, Laura Brandon, trainer Jeff Laughlin and current owner Jannie Chapman have shared the reins. Time For Cash and Thad Way collected the red award for Way, Way & Brown. Time For Cash has previous wins at the Mississippi Charity, Gulf Coast Charity and Money Tree Classic in 2014. Kinky Boots and Dru McCormick rounded out the top three. Kinky Boots is
The grey stallions with their lady riders dominated the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions, 15.2 & Under division. Emerging with the honor of world champion was I’m Pushin’ N Line and Janice Fostek for Joe and Janice Fostek. Claiming his fourth blue of the year, I’m Pushin’ N Line claimed world championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Reigning world and world grand champions in the class, Boure’ and Tam Brogdon were awarded the reserve honor. Also a world grand championship team, Lined Walkin’ and Lilly Waites closed out the top three spot.
Next to the ring was a large class of Owner-Amateur Novice Lady Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings. Fourteen entries made the gate call. Riding to her second world championship, all in one night, was Jannie Chapman. This time she directed Dollar’s Bright Star to the blue, adding their sixth win of the season to their resume. Dr. William and Jannie Chapman own the entry. Reserve in the good class went to Lolita and Jane Crunk for Dan and Jane Crunk. The team had a win in Jackson, Tenn., earlier in the season. Closing out the top three was I’m Sky High Jose and Mikayla Dent for Dent & Thompson. This was a show ring debut for the two.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Walking Stallions were next in line to entertain the crowd. The West Grand Stand wasn’t shy in showing support for their favorite competitor. After claiming wins this season at the Walking For Cancer, Gallatin Lions Club, Spring Fun Show and Woodbury Lions Club shows… Led Zeppelin and Abby Fox can add the title of World Champion to their list of accomplishments for owner Linda Fox. I’m Mayhem, a 2012 and 2013 World Champion, carried Susan Coleman to the reserve award. Coleman has directed I’m Mayhem to blues at the Manchester Lions Club, Christmas In July and the Red Carpet Show of the South for Jo Ann Dowell and herself. Gretzky and Allison Thorson carried out the third award. This team has amassed three wins this season.
The professionals to took the ring next with their Walking Geldings, 15.2 & Under. Defending their 2012 title in the same class was Bill Callaway and An American Threat for Ridgemont Farms LTD, Barbara Corbett & Lynn Hickock. An American Threat has two 2014 wins at the Gallatin Lions Club and Cornersville Lions Club horse shows. Riding to reserve honors was the 2012 World Champion in the same class, Admission Is A Dollar and Charlie Green for Dr. Pam Hendrickson. Third went to Sox Appeal and Dick Peebles for Rising Star Ranch, LLC.
Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses closed out the first evening session. Ten entries performed for the judging panel in hopes of taking home the honor of world champion. Defending the title they have held since 2010, Godfather By Ultra Copy and Courtney Luttrell made a unanimous victory pass. The duo has claimed 27 blue ribbons since they teamed up in 2010. I’m King James and Laura Beth Comley carried the red award back to Kentucky. The pair has captured two blues this season. The familiar team of Santana’s Renaissance Man and Allison Thorson rounded out the top three. Santana’s Renaissance Man and Allison Thorson are the 2012 and 2013 Youth 12-17 Show Pleasure World Champions.
Classes will resume in Calsonic Arena promptly at 9a.m. on Friday morning. The schedule will host halter, pleasure and performance classes. Competition will return to the Celebration Oval at 6:30p.m. on Friday evening with the Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Walking Geldings.