It’s Friday Morning at the 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and once again, horse show fans were greeted by unusually cool temperatures in Calsonic Arena which will make for almost perfect conditions for a horse show. After a great night on Thursday evening, it was expected that the excitement would continue on Friday morning with 14 classes of competition on the schedule from the Country Pleasure, Trail Pleasure, Lite-Shod, Park Pleasure, Park Performance, Show Pleasure and Halter divisions. Today’s schedule also has a heavy emphasis on Youth classes with seven of the 14 classes coming from the Youth division.
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).
Promptly at 9 a.m., official morning announcer Mark Farrar, Jr., was calling class 34, Owner-Amateur Novice Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Novice Lite-Shod Walking Mares or Geldings with five of the six with reservations making the gate call to work for Judge Connie Waldo and her panel. These five young riders all worked very hard in hopes of leaving Calsonic Arena with their very first Celebration blue. Picking up that first win with a unanimous decision of the panel was Simple Lee Dangerous and Alex Hopkins up for Kara Graham and Alex Hopkins of Niota and Sneedville, Tenn. Headed back to the Buckeye state with reserve honors were Power’s W.I.Z.O. and Cassie Leith in the irons for Dr. Joe Leith of Pedro, Ohio. Command’s Big Money and Kathleen Burroughs were third for Charlene and Kathleen Burroughs of Oxford, N.C.
Class 35 brought 17 of the 18 on the official Lions Club program to the rail to work in the Amateur Owned and Trained Western Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, No Professional Training within 90 days. Judge Jennifer Bingham called the gaits in this second class of the morning performance. Casting the winning spell over the large, talented class was The Karma Fairy and owner/exhibitor Liz Gassaway of Shelbyville, Tenn. Wicked Imagination and Jana Anderson pulled into the second position for Dr. Jana Anderson of Shelbyville, Tenn. Just Doin’ My Time and Maggie Moore collected the yellow streamers for Jim Leek and Maggie Moore of Albany, Ga. and Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Staying in the western frame of mind, class 36 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Lite-Shod Walking Horses with 11 of the 12 expected beating the clock to work for Judge Chris Bobo and his cohorts. Riding to the top of the class was the team of Catastrophic and Mackenzie Morgan riding for Laurie Toone of Shelbyville, Tenn. This win marked Catastrophic’s seventh win of the 2012 season. Lil Wayne and Carlan Cotton were reserve in the class for Jeff Gillespie of Tazewell, Va. Gigi’s Jamaican Generator and Nick Rippy rounded out the top three for Leigh Stuart of Alvaton, Ky.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Park Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three-Years-Old was up next on the morning program, class 37, with 11 of the 14 with reservations making the gate call to work for their chance at 2012 Celebration acclaim as Judge Nathan Clark served as Call Judge for the class. It’s not only been a lucky day, but a lucky 2012 Celebration for the young horse, Lucky Daze. The youngster had already picked up two Celebration wins with trainer Patrick Thomas, and was back in the winner’s circle this morning with a very happy Lisa Kessel in the saddle for Kevin and Lisa Kessel of Moorefield, W.V. A Little Mo Jazz and Laura Brandon were second in the class for Wallace and Laura Brandon of Franklin, Tenn. I Can’t Imagine and Mason Gassaway were third for Carol Hargett and Mason Gassaway of Shelbyville, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses, class 38A, brought 11 of the 16 programmed entries to the rail to work for Judge Carol Smithson and her staff. Busting out of the line-up and taking the World Championship honors back to West Tennessee with a unanimous decision of the panel was the team of Bustline and Vicki Benjamin up for Fred and Vicki Benjamin and Mackenzie Morgan of Humboldt and Shelbyville, Tenn. This was the team’s fifth win of the 2012 season. Mikimoto Pearl and a very happy Cindy Adams pulled in to accept the red streamers for Adams and Howard of Readyville, Tenn. Another West Tennessee entry, I’m Rose Walker and owner/exhibitor Lauren Hamilton of Cedar Grove, Tenn., rounded out the top three in the class.
Class 38B, Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses featured 15 of the 16 expected making the gate call to work for Judge Connie Waldo and her cohorts. Shooting their way to the winner’s circle was Cowboy On Parole and Wilsene Moody-Kwok up for Dr. Jack and Wilsene Moody-Kwok of Delaware, Ohio and Shelbyville, Tenn. This win was preceded with 2012 wins at Athens, Ala., Arab, Ala., and Fayetteville, Tenn.’s Blue Ribbon Horse Show. The Ghost Walker and Miles Irby were a popular reserve riding for Brown, Irby and Gerber of Shelbyville and Lewisburg, Tenn. Designer Champagne and Maggie Moore were third for Jim Leek and Maggie Moore of Albany, Ga. and Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Class 39 brought a little variety to the schedule as it featured the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-11 Years on Show Pleasure Walking Mares or Geldings with five of the six expected making the call to work for Judge Joel Weaver and his panel. Taking command of the division and capturing the win was Combat Commander and Dylan Young up for Sabrina Young of Mt Sterling, Ky. This team was reserve in this division in 2011 and scored a 2012 win at Olive Hill, Ky., and good reserves at Maysville, Ky. and Morehead, Ky. Another Kentucky entry, In A Danger Zone and Svanah Martin were reserve for Kelly Martin of Hopkinsville, Ky. A Classic Horse, meaning one 15 years or older, The Summit and McKenna Dempsey were third for Charles and Joy Gleghorn of Fayetteville, Tenn.
Back in the Trail Pleasure division, class 40 featured the Owner-Amateur Riders on Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack with 14 entries working to the track to show their very best for Judge Jennifer Bingham and her staff. Topping the class was the duo of Bedazzled By Jazz and owner/exhibitor Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, Tenn. They had been 2012 winner’s at the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration, the Walking For Cancer Horse Show and the International Grand Championships. Jose’s Firecracker and Wayne Westbrook pulled into the reserve position for Bob and Wayne Westbrook of Shelbyville, Tenn. I’m Manhattan and Tamara Hader collected the yellow streamers to take home to Bainbridge, Ga.
Class 41 brought the Youth Weanlings, handlers 6-17 Years with 12 entries making the call to work under the watchful eye of Judge Jennifer Bingham and her cohorts. Organist Brian Perry played “You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby” as the entries made their way to the ring and began work and announcer Mark Farrar, Jr., noted correctly that every mama thinks their baby’s beautiful, but it’s the judges job today to pick out which one’s the MOST beautiful! The most beautiful today was Adorable Diamond and Molly Vaughn at the lead for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury of Bell Buckle, Tenn. I’m The King Of The Ring and Abby Bradley were reserve in the class for the George Wright Family of Mt Juliet, Tenn. I’m Eyeing To Win and Jaron Dotson were third for Dotson Brothers of Thompson Station, Tenn.
Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 12-17 Years on English Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, class 42, was featured next on the program with 11 of the 12 with reservations making the call as Judge Chris Bobo called the gaits. Walking to the winner’s circle with a unanimous decision of the panel was Suiza and owner/exhibitor Allison Thorson of Huron, Ohio. This marked this team’s 11th win of the 2012 season. Confederate Jazz and Kailin Kesselring were reserve for The Kesselring Family of Montverde, Fla. Gi Gi’s Lunch Money and Logan Hankins were third for Jennifer Hankins and Linda Vaughn of Paris, Ky. and Valley City, Ohio.
Class 43 brought the Owner-Amateur Riders 50 Years & Over on Lite-Shod Walking Horses up to Calsonic Arena. Six of the 11 expected responded to the call and came to show for the 2012 Celebration panel, led in the class by Judge Nathan Clark. Capturing the title in the class was A Mountain Jazz and Jerry Laughlin riding for Joe Laughlin of Waynesville, Mo. Grandee Ann and owner/exhibitor Mike Henson of Mayfield, Ky., pulled into the second position. Armed Scarlett Lady and Evelyn Durant rounded out the top three for James and Evelyn Durant of Cornersville, Tenn.
In the halter division, class 44 highlighted the Youth Yearling Fillies or Geldings, Handlers 6-17 Years. Seven of the eight on the official Lions Club program walked their way to the track to show off their moves and looks for Judge Chris Bobo and his panel. Walking to the winner’s circle was I’m A Farmers Daughter and Molly Vaughn at the lead for Bobby Jones and Gary and Karen Doss of Manchester, Tenn., and Minford, Ohio. Forgiveness and Briana Mosley were reserve in the class for Bobby Jones and Gary and Karen Doss of Manchester, Tenn. and Minford, Ohio. I’m Star Gazing and Bradley Richards were third for Rhonda Martocci and Bradley Richards of Franklin & Arrington, Tenn.
Both of the final two classes featured the young riders with class 45 bringing the Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 Years, on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Two and Three Years Old, Optional Tack. All 11 of the registered teams beat the clock to work in the class as Judge Carol Smithson called the gaits for the class. Juan Carlos and Lily Catherine Holland made the good ride to capture top honors in the division for Lisa Weaver and Lily Holland of Doyline, La. and Decatur, Ala. Gi Gi’s Lunch Money and Claire Hankins were reserve riding for Jennifer Hankins and Linda Vaughn of Paris, Ky. and Valley City, Ohio. Out There And Lovin It and Mackenzie Morgan collected the yellow streamers for Amanda Odom and Mackenzie Morgan of Rincon, Ga. and Shelbyville, Tenn.
The final class of the Friday Morning performance was class 46, Owner-Amateur Youth Riders 6-17 Years on Park Performance Walking Horses with seven of the eight expected taking the rail to show off for Judge Nathan Clark and his panel. Making the winning performance in the class was the team of Dos Equis and Allison Thorson up for ThorSport, Inc., of Sandusky, Ohio. Avenger’s Lady Threat and Lane Webb were reserve in the class for John Cabe and Lane Webb of Cornersville and Lewisburg, Tenn. Undecided and Kailin Kesselring were third for Christmas Creek Farm, LLC of Montverde, Fla.
With that final victory pass, another session of the 74th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was history. The morning sessions will continue on Saturday & Monday Morning at 9 a.m., each day. Come join the fun!