After getting things underway on Wednesday morning, the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was back in Calsonic Arena on Thursday morning for another 10 class schedule featuring the Model, Country Pleasure, Trail Pleasure, Lite Shod and Park Pleasure divisions. While it’s not as cool on this morning as the Middle Tennessee weather has been recently, there was still a cool breeze blowing through the arena as the time neared 9 a.m.

The judges for the Diamond Anniversary Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Rollie Beard of Shelbyville, Tenn., Derek Bonner of Mooresboro, N.C., Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., Allen Forman of Thomson, Ga., and Leigh Stuart of Bowling Green, Ky.

The first class of the Thursday morning session was class 12, Model Pleasure Walking Stallions.  All four of the programmed entries made their way to the track to line up and show off their good looks for the panel. Making that winning walk to the winner’s circle for the third consecutive year was the team of Maxximize and Jeff Givens at the lead for Jo Ann Dowell of Powell, Ohio. This win marked their ninth blue of the 2013 season. Armed With Intent and Robert Nelms accepted the reserve honors for Rushing Creek Walkers of Dickson, Tenn. Hurricane Dickie and owner/exhibitor Jennifer Broadhurst of Shelbyville, Tenn., were third.

Class 13 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses up from the warm up ring with 13 of the 15 expected making the call to work as Derek Bonner called the gaits in the class. Repeating their win in the English division yesterday, Jordan Howell and Honey Badger were back in the winner’s circle once again this morning with a unanimous decision of the panel riding for Jordan Howell and James Abernathy of Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, Tenn. Cazadores and owner/exhibitor Tamera Hader of Bainbridge, Ga., pulled in for the red streamers. Jose’s Black Swan and Darden Gladney rounded out the top three in the class for Gladney Farms of Homer, La.

The Park Pleasure division was featured in class 14, Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three Years Old (Riders Cup). Eleven entries made the call for this class as Jamie Bradshaw led the panel in the event.  While this class was in action, the crowd grew as first graders from Shelbyville’s Eastside Elementary School made their way to the stands. When the work was complete, it was She’s Venus and Jeff Laughlin making the victory pass for Ingram Management of Shelbyville, Tenn.  Lime-A-Rita and Laurie Toone pulled into the reserve position for Tamara Hader of Bainbridge, Ga.  Calapari Cousins and Brock Tillman were third for Betty Denton of Estill Springs, Tenn.

The halter entries were back on the track for class 15, Model Pleasure Walking Geldings.  Nine of the 10 expected came to the rail to show off their good looks for the judging panel. Jeff Givens was back in the winner’s circle in this division, this time with Trigger Treat, a winner in this class in 2010 & 2011, also owned by Jo Ann Dowell of Powell, Ohio. This win made this team’s seventh blue of the 2013 season. El Severeno and Bill Bobo were reserve for Jack and Patty Pirkle of Gainesville, Ga. The Texas Lexus and Jamey Thompson collected the yellow streamers for Rebecca Emerick of Hillsborough, Calif.

The canter that the Tennessee Walking  Horse is famous for was on display in class 16, Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack (Canter).  Seven of the eight entries anticipated made their way to the ring to show off all three gaits for Leigh Stuart and her panel. After a masterful performance, it was the team of The Wicked Master and owner/exhibitor Sheryl Volkman of Livermore, Calif., taking the top honors back out west. Gigi’s Majestic and Jordan Howell pulled in for the red streamers for Kathleen Bradford and Jordan Howell of Dallas, Texas and Murfreesboro, Tenn. She’s Designed To Push and Kyle Elliott garnered the yellow streamers for Kyle Elliott and Sara Eerkes of Enumclaw and Olympia, Wa.

Class 17 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite-Shod Walking Horses up to Calsonic Arena with seven of the 12 with reservations answering the call of morning announcer Mark Farrar, Jr. Judge Rollie Beard served as call judge for the class. Making the turn to the winner’s circle for the second consecutive year was 2x The Magic and owner/exhibitor Susan Coleman of Unionville, Tenn. This win was preceded by 2013 victories at the Spring Fun Show, Huntingdon, Tenn., the Money Tree Classic, and Jackson, Tenn. Kick Start Jazz and Amanda Dickerson were reserve for Justin & Shelia Manis of Lebanon, Tenn. Vindicated and Jason Myatt rounded out the top three for Jason Myatt, Jennifer Bingham and Whitlei Green of Bowling Green, Ky. and Shelbyville, Tenn.

Back in the Park Pleasure division, class 18 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Classic Park Pleasure Walking Horses with nine of the 11 on the official Lions Club program making the call to work for call judge Derek Bonner and his panel. Walking away with the win in the class was Lil’ Wayne and Carlan Cotten up for Jeff Gillespie of Tazewell, Va. This win came after Lil’ Wayne made a clean sweep of the Classic Park Pleasure division at the Germantown Charity Horse Show and the International Grand Championships earlier this year. Headed back Georgia way with reserve was Double Shot Of Cash and owner/exhibitor Tamara Hader of Bainbridge, Ga. Motown’s Title Masterpiece and Debbie Sanders was third for Sonny and Debbie Sanders of Brownsboro, Ala.

Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite Shod Walking Horses, Four Years and Under, class 19, was up next on the schedule with 10 of the 12 expected working the rail to show their very best as Jamie Bradshaw called the gaits. It’s already been a great show for Lucky Daze.  This horse is already a World Champion, topping the Western Lite Shod Four And Under with trainer Patrick Thomas on Wednesday morning and now back again with owner Lisa Shockey Kessel taking another big win, with a unanimous decision of the panel, back to Moorefield, W.V. Gigi’s Jamaican Generator and Nick Rippy pulled into the second position for Kaitlyn Rippy of Greenbrier, Tenn. Simple Lee Dangerous and Kara Graham were third for The Graham Family of Niota, Tenn.

The Park Pleasure entries were back for class 20, Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Park Pleasure Walking Horses. Ten of the 12 expected teams made the call to work for their chance at their very first Celebration blue this morning as judge Allen Forman called the gaits. Capturing that first Celebration blue and riding right out of the Novice division this morning was Jazz On Line and owner/exhibitor Darrell Collins taking the top honors back to Mt. Vernon, Ky. This team had already had a good year on the Kentucky circuit picking up seven blues prior to this win. Evil Patty Gray and Truman Volkart were reserve for Truman Volkart and Shamrock Farm, Inc/Mike and Beth Davis of Tipton, Mo. and Shelbyville, Tenn. Hytone’s After Shock and owner/exhibitor Kimberly Coult of Magnolia, Texas rounded out the top three.

The final class of the morning stayed in the Novice division for class 21, Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack with 18 of the 19 with reservations making the call to work for their chance to ride out of the largest class of the morning and the novice division with their very first Celebration blue as Leigh Stuart led the panel. Making that memorable ride was Out Til’ Midnight and Holly Reynolds up for Holly Reynolds and Mackenzie Morgan of Canby, Or. and Shelbyville, Tenn. Parole Patrol and Laurale Lowery were reserve for Laurale Lowery and Laurie Toone of Hendersonville and Shelbyville, Tenn.  Wicked Endeavor and Rachel Allen were third for Rachel and Krysta Allen & Dr. Al and Dr. Jana Anderson of Pleasanton, Calif. and Shelbyville, Tenn.

Once again prior to Noon, the morning session was complete and the second session of the 75th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was history. Tonight, the show gets underway in the big oval and will return to Calsonic Arena once again Friday, Saturday & Monday promptly at 9 a.m.