by Mark Davis
It’s Tuesday Night in Shelbyville! The halfway point of the 71st annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration has officially come and gone and that means after tonight’s performance, only four performances remain. But, never fear, some outstanding horse show competition remains on the Tuesday night schedule, highlighted by two sections of Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Mares & Geldings and two sections of Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions and the Four-Year-Old Mares and Show Pleasure Stallions from the professional division. It will certainly be an action packed evening of competition.
Marking the cards for the session, and every session of the 71st annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration were Rollie Beard of Lewisburg, Tenn., Jennifer Bingham of Shelbyville, Tenn., Jamie Bradshaw of Union Grove, Ala., Mike Carpenter of Franklin, Tenn., and Sam Sorrell of Flemingsburg, Ky.
Delivering the invocation for the evening was Rev. Kevin Minchey of First Baptist Church, Shelbyville, Tenn., followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Emily Floberg of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Class 117, Four-Year-Old Walking Mares (Canter) brought 10 of the 14 with reservations down to the track to work as Judge Mike Carpenter called the gaits in the first class of the evening. There was a brief break in the action as A Major In Business and Jimmy McConnell requested time due to a cast shoe. But, official Celebration Farrier Louie Staton made quick work of replacing the shoe and the class was quickly back underway. It was a good thing that Louie was on hand because it was that team riding to the winner’s circle in the class for Leon and Clara Jean Forrester of Martin, Tenn. Lorena Ochoa and Justin Jenne’ were reserve in the division for Jimbo Conner of Sevierville, Tenn. Jerry Collier and Amnesty were third for Ray and Betty Warren of Trinity, Ala.
The Amateur riders were on deck for class 118, Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over (Canter). Judge Sam Sorrell served as Call Judge for the seven entries that made the call out of the 26 featured in the Official Celebration program. Riding to the winner’s circle to claim the blue and all the glory was Watch For Glory and Erica Derickson, reserve World Champions in this class in 2008 and 2009 Champions at the Spring Fun Show and Warren County, in the irons for Erica and Maria Derickson of Wartrace, Tenn. The Family Jewels and Kim Leonard pulled into the second position for Scott Leonard of Greendale, Wisc. Trish Harrison and Cheatin’ Danger collected the golden streamers for Trish Harrison and Four Centuries Farm of Nashville and Greeneville, Tenn.
Class 119A, Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings featured 22 of the 41 expected making their way down from Calsonic Arena to work for the Tuesday evening crowd. Judge Rollie Beard led the panel in the section. Topping the section was 9 In The Sky and owner/exhibitor Corri Knudson of Roanoke Rapid, N.C. This outstanding youngster already showed his World Championship talent by topping the Two-Year-Old Gelding event with Wayne Jones on Friday Night. Ted’s Main Lady and Nora Alexander were garnered the red ribbons in the class for Harbert and Nora Alexander of Jackson, Tenn. She’s The Talk Of The Town and Summer Brooks rounded out the top three for Dwight Brooks of Rogersville, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings, class 119B, brought 17 of the 41 programmed entries down to the historic big oval to work for Judge Jennifer Bingham and her panel. Topping the division with a stellar performance was the duo of Poison’s Splash Of Gin and Lisa Baum riding for the Jim Baum family/Rivertree Farm of Shelbyville, Tenn. This win was preceded by 2009 wins at the Spring Fun Show and the Tony Rice Horse Show. A Vision Of Jose’ and Erica Jenne’ pulled into the second spot for Frazier and Jenne’ of Jamestown and Bell Buckle, Tenn. Bacardi And Me and Lucky Collins rounded out the top three for Don and Lucky Collins of Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Class 120 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings down to find their place on the rail with 16 of the 31 with reservations beating the clock to work for Judge Jamie Bradshaw and his cohorts. Picking up the blue in back to back classes, Lisa Baum was back in the winner’s circle in this class with her horse, Tony Montana. The duo rode to top honors earlier this year at the Spring Fun Show and National Trainers’ Show. A Dangerous Man and owner/exhibitor Donna Hill of Troy, Mo., were reserve in the section. Matt McNabb and Rhinestone were third for Martin and Cheryl McNabb of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The professional trainers were back for class 121, Show Pleasure Walking Stallions. Eleven of the 21 in the Official Celebration program made it through the storied gates and found their spot on the track to show off their very best for Judge Mike Carpenter and his staff. Jammin’ their way to the win in the class was Sky Jam and Rodney Dick riding for Bud and Suzanne Moore of Catherine, Ala., and Franklin, Tenn. The snow white Stewart Little and trainer Brandon Stout pulled into the second spot for Strickland and Napier of Olive Branch, Miss., and Shelbyville, Tenn. All Cash On Demand and Josh Patterson were third for Bramlett, Hooper, Wilson & Williamson of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Staying in the Professional division, class 122 brought the Young Trainers, 35 & Under, on Walking Stallions down to the ring, eight strong, to work for that coveted Celebration blue in the division as Judge Sam Sorrell served as Call Judge in the event. Garnering the win in the class with a unanimous decision of the panel was Absolute Proof and Bill Callaway in the irons for Ricky Young of Boaz, Ala. Armed Dangerous Premier and Brock Tillman stopped in for the red streamers riding for Dr. Kemp Higginbotham of Hohenwald, Tenn. Jazz Country and Tim Smith captured the yellow ribbon for Beverly McNeill of Andalusia, Ala.
Returning to the Amateur division, class 123A, featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions with 21 of the 34 on the books beating the clock and making the call to work as Judge Rollie Beard called the gaits in the section. He’s Slim Shady and Lee McGartland, 2009 champions at the Marshall County Horse Show, garnered top honors in the section for Mike and Lee McGartland of Ft. Worth, Texas. Boure’ and Carol Lackey were reserve for Lackey Properties of Forest, Miss., and Shelbyville, Tenn. Becky Kidd Day and Fear Or No Fear were third for Austin Hass of Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Class 123B brought the Owner–Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Stallions back to the track with 12 of the 33 expected finding just that right spot on the rail where Judge Jennifer Bingham and her panel would surely get the best look. Riding to top honors in this section with a spectacular performance gaining the approval of all five judges was the reigning Two-Year-Old Amateur World Grand Champion, The Dixie Lineman and Gail Walling up for McDonald and Walling of Tullahoma and Wartrace, Tenn. This win was preceded by 2009 wins at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration, the Columbia Spring Jubilee, the Tony Rice Horse Show, and the Red Carpet Horse Show of the South. Play Something Country, 2009 TWHBEA National Futurity Three-Year-Old Stallion Champion with trainer Chris Bobo, was reserve with owner Jeff Smith in the irons taking the honors back to Greer, S.C. Oop’s Pardon Me and Lucky Collins were third for Don and Lucky Collins of Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings, 15.2 & Under were up next on the evening’s schedule, class 124. Ten of the 36 entries that called ahead came to work for the honors in the class. Judge Jamie Bradshaw served as Call Judge for this class. Riding to her third blue of the night, Lisa Baum teamed up with the multi titled World and World Grand Champion Gen’s Color Me In to secure the win in unanimous fashion for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. Cashlotto and Jeanine Gullett pulled in for the red streamers riding for Jim Gullett of Duluth, Ga. Bella Sera At The Ritz and Ashley Joseph rounded out the top three for the Anthony Joseph family of Columbiana, Ala.
Class 125 featured the Park Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings, Five Years & Over with 10 of the 22 expected working down from Calsonic Arena to work as Judge Mike Carpenter called the gaits in the class. Capturing the win in the section was Santana’s Coin and David Landrum in the irons and showing strong with the nod of all five judges for McNeely and Landrum of Blowing Rock, N.C., and Franklin, Tenn. JFK’s Fancy Lady Leslie and Jay Laughlin were reserve for 4-J Land and Cattle Co., of Waynesville, Mo. Rodney Dangerfield and Landon Head were third for Head and Byrom of Jigger, La., and Bell Buckle, Tenn.
Keeping the variety in the evening schedule, class 126 featured the Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure, Adult Riders (Canter) with seven of the 12 expected heading down to work for Judge Sam Sorrell and his panel. As Larry Bright played “California Here I Come”, announcer Bobby Sands called the team of Sheryl Volkman and The Wicked Master to the winner’s circle riding for Sheryl and Jon Volkman and Kyle Elliott of Livermore, Calif. Headed back to the land of the Razorbacks, I’m Benny Too and Tim Brooks were reserve for Tim and Terri Brooks of Hot Springs, Ark. Grandee Ann and owner/exhibitor Connie Waldo of Shelbyville, Tenn., pulled into pick up the golden streamers.
The final class of the evening, class 127, brought the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman Riders on Novice Walking Mares or Geldings down to the track. Twelve of the 24 with reservations came in hopes of capturing that coveted first Celebration win as the Tuesday night performance came to a close. Riding out of the novice division tonight and taking the honors back Alabama way were I’m The Gambler and owner/exhibitor Ray Solley of Decatur, Ala. Headed back to the Bluegrass, West Point and Dr. David Bullock were reserve for Dr. and Mrs. David Bullock of Mt. Vernon, Ky. Prideful Intentions and Jerry Wells were third for Jim and Jenny Funk of Middletown, Ohio.
What a great night of competition it has been! With only one night of preliminary competition remaining folks around here better be getting the roses ready because come Thursday night the time will be here for Championship competition. Ah, it’s been one great Celebration already and the best is certainly yet to come. Don’t miss out!