It’s Thursday Morning in Shelbyville at the 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.  With 10 classes on the morning schedule from the Model, Country Pleasure, Trail Pleasure, Lite-Shod, and Park Pleasure divisions, there was something to peak everyone’s interest.  Once again, the temperatures were unseasonably cool, in the low 70’s at show time, with a nice breeze making the confines of Calsonic Arena much more comfortable than normal during The Celebration’s morning events.

Mark Farrar, Jr., handled the announcing duties, as he will for all the morning performances of the 74th Annual Celebration and the talented Brian Perry entertained everyone as the morning performance organist.

The judges for the 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration include Jennifer Bingham of Shelbyville, Tenn. (Pleasure, Halter & Performance), Chris Bobo of Shelbyville, Tenn. (Pleasure, Halter & Performance), Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala., (Pleasure, Halter & Performance), Brent Grider of Columbia, Ky. (Performance & Halter), Carol Smithson of Clarksville, Tenn. (Pleasure), Connie Waldo of Naples, Fla. (Pleasure), and Joel Weaver of Shelbyville, Tenn. (Performance & Halter).

The first class on the morning schedule was class 13, Model Pleasure Walking Stallions, with seven of the eight entries expected making their way up from the warm-up ring to show off for the judging panel.  The Thursday morning crowd was large and vocal as there were several groups of community visitors including a group of 5th graders from Southside School, 1st graders from Thomas School and 3rd graders from Learning Way Elementary School. All of these children are regular visitors at the Thursday and Friday morning performances and always help to liven up the crowd.  Walking their way to the winner’s circle for the second consecutive year was the team of Maxximize and Jeff Givens at the halter for JoAnn Dowell of Powell, Ohio. This win was the team’s seventh of the 2012 season.  I’m Jack Daniels and Rollie Beard were reserve for J.W. Beard of Troy, Ala. Jazzman’s Legend and owner/exhibitor Dr. Judy Moore of Shelbyville, Tenn., were third in the class.



Class 14, brought the Trail Pleasure entries to the track for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses.  Seventeen of the 18 with reservations made the gate call to work for Judge Chris Bobo and his panel.  Making that memorable victory pass in the large class was Line Item Veto and Rachel Jernigan riding for Rachel Jernigan and Bo Teague of Shelbyville, Tenn. This win was preceded by winning rides at the Mississippi Charity Horse Show, the Lawrenceburg Lions Club Horse Show and the Wartrace Horse Show.  Juan Carlos and Lisa Weaver pulled in for the red streamers for Lisa Weaver and Lily Holland of Doyline, La. & Decatur, Ala.  Wicked Endeavor and Jana Anderson collected the yellow ribbon for Allen, Irby and Anderson of Pleasanton, Calif. and Shelbyville, Tenn.



The Park Pleasure horses were on deck next for class 15, Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three Years Old (Riders Cup). Judge Nathan Clark called the gaits with 10 of the 13 with reservations making the call.  As the class was entering the ring, the Thursday morning crowd grew once again as a group of children from Shelbyville’s East Side School made their way into Calsonic Arena.  It was talent and not luck that helped Lucky Daze and Patrick Thomas ride to the top of the division, scoring their second World Championship of the 2012 Celebration after winning the Four & Under Western Park Pleasure event on Wednesday morning.  This talented young horse is owned by Kevin and Lisa Kessel of Moorefield, W.V.  A Little Mo Jazz and Jeff Laughlin were reserve in the class riding for Wallace and Laura Brandon of Franklin, Tenn.  I Can’t Imagine and Robert Nelms rounded out the top three for Carol Hargett and Mason Gassaway of Shelbyville, Tenn.

Class 16 brought the Model Pleasure Geldings to the Calsonic track with six of the eight expected showing for the judging panel in the competition that is judged solely on conformation.  Walking to the winner’s circle was The Texas Lexus and Jamey Thompson at the lead for Roger and Rebecca Emerick of Hillsborough, Calif. This marked the duo’s fourth Model win of 2012. Play Toy and Laurie Toone were reserve for Laurie Toone and Joyce Smith of Shelbyville, Tenn. & Hollywood, Ala.  An Independent Counsel and Amanda Dickerson were third for Sunset Farms and Amanda Dickerson of Fuquay Varina, N.C.



 Owner-Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack (Canter) was up next on the program in class 17 with eight of the 11 on the official Lions Club Program beating the clock to work for Judge Carol Smithson and her panel in the section.  Mastering the division for the second consecutive year with a unanimous decision of the judging panel (and the very vocal approval of the school children on hand) was The Wicked Master and Sheryl Volkman riding for John and Sheryl Volkman of Livermore, Calif.  High Tide Surfin’ and Bradley Richards pulled into the second position for Brady Bachert and Stacey Richards of Wildwood, Mo. and Arrington, Tenn.  Sleipnir and owner/exhibitor Allison Thorson of Huron, Ohio rounded out the top three in the class.

Class 18 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite-Shod Walking Horses to the track with six of the eight expected making the call to work as Judge Connie Waldo called the gaits in the class.  Garnering the approval of all five judges in the class was the team of 2X The Magic and owner/exhibitor Susan Coleman of Unionville, Tenn.  Grandee Ann and owner/exhibitor Mike Henson of Mayfield, Ky., were reserve in the class. Jose Quervo Gold and Joanne Davis Morgan rounded out the top three taking honors home to Unionville, Tenn.



Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses were up next for class 19 with 19 of the 26 programmed entries making the call to work for their chance to ride right out of the Novice division this morning and capture that very first Celebration blue.  Jennifer Bingham served as Call Judge for the class. Scoring their second blue of the morning and riding out of the Novice division were Line Item Veto and Rachel Jernigan making the stellar performance for Rachel Jernigan and Bo Teague of Shelbyville, Tenn. Remaining a novice for another day, Juan Carlos and Fred Weaver was reserve riding for Lisa Weaver and Lily Holland of Doyline, La. and Decatur, Ala.  King B and Whit Lei Green were third for Wayne and Jo Hanson and Whit Lei Green of Peebles, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn.

Class 20 made the return to the Lite-Shod division with the Owner-Amateur Riders on Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Four Years & Under.  Thirteen of the 16 with reservations beat the clock to work for their opportunity to ride away with that coveted Celebration blue as Judge Chris Bobo called the gaits for the section.  Picking up that coveted blue was El Padre and Wilsene Moody-Kwok in the irons for Dr. Jack and Wilsene Moody-Kwok of Delaware, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn. Absolut Skyy and Jordan Howell were second in the class riding for Pulvers, Howell and Anderson of Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, Tenn.  Lil Wayne and Carlan Cotton rounded out the top three for Jeff Gillespie of Tazewell, Va.



Back in the Novice division, class 21 featured the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Park Pleasure Walking Horses with 13 of the 19 on the books working to the rail to get their chance at their very first Celebration blue as Judge Nathan Clark served as Call Judge for the class.  A Novice no more, Heat Index and Lisa Baker made that first memorable ride down victory lane for Mike and Lisa Baker of Valley Springs, Calif. This marked their seventh 2012 win as a team.  A novice for another day, Expedited and Sue Irby were reserve in the class riding for Ty Irby of Shelbyville, Tenn.  Major Randolph and Don Parmer were third riding for Deborah Parmer of Elizabethtown, Pa.

For the final class of the morning performance, class 22 brought the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack to the ring with 23 of the 28 expected making the call to work for their chance to walk out of the Novice division this morning. Judge Carol Smithson served as Call Judge for the class and advised the riders from the outset that there would be a workout in this class.  After the initial work was complete, the panel requested that 12 of the original 23 stay back for additional work to determine the champion in the division. Claiming the final blue of the Thursday morning performance and riding out of the Novice division this morning was Wicked Image and Jana Anderson up for Dr. Jana Anderson of Shelbyville, Tenn. This was actually their second win of the 2012 Celebration as they topped the Owner-Amateur Two & Three-Year-Old Eng/Wes Country Pleasure class on Wednesday morning.  The Ghost Walker and Debbie Brown were reserve for Brown, Irby and Gerber of Shelbyville & Lewisburg, Tenn.  I’m Shake & Bake and Glenda Levin was third for B.J. Richards and Glenda Levin of Jamestown, Tenn.

Another morning performance in the record books! The action gets underway in the big oval tonight (Thursday) and will continue in Calsonic Arena on Friday, Saturday and Monday mornings.  Come be a part of the 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.