By Mark McGee
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was a devilish start to Thursday morning’s 12-class schedule with Demonic Presence and Laurie Toone walking to the World Championship in the Model Pleasure Walking Stallions Riders’ Cup class. Owned by Ron and Karen Bochenek of Linden, Michigan, Demonic Presence earned blues in three of his last four shows and five blues overall. Back In The Saddle Again and Robert Nelms were reserve for Sherrin Pittman and Lisa Teel. Jose’s Top Secret Threat was guided to third by Ronnie Rushing of Rushing Creek Walkers of Dickson, Tennessee.
Eight entries answered the gate call for the Owner-Amateur Riders on All Day Pleasure Walking Horses Five Years and Under class. Dr. Brittany Baum and Miss Belle Star W took home the world title. It was the fourth blue in the last five shows for owners Jacob and Dr. Brittany Baum of Shelbyville. John Wick with Renee Stasiewicz grabbed a red ribbon for Scott and Renee Stasiewicz of Dousman, Wisconsin. Third went to Atta Boy Leroy with Joel Johnson in the saddle for Keith Johnson of Shelbyville.
Two Gunns LLC was ridden to the World Championship in the Lite-Shod Walking Horses, Five Years and Under, Optional Tack Riders’ Cup class by Chris Zahnd for Melissa Daniel of Longview, Texas. It was the fifth blue of 2021 for the young champion. Reserve winner was Miss Dixie Flyer with Jeff Laughlin aboard for Donna Byard of Alvaton, Kentucky and Jackson Laughlin from Shelbyville. Coachman and Jonathan Baskin won a yellow streamer for Michael Chandler of Rock Island, Tennessee. There were six entries.
Skylar Sensat and Perfect Timing BC are novices no longer as they topped 15 other entries in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack World Championship for Sensat and Moore from Lynnville, Tennessee. It was the first Celebration blue and the second win in a row this season for the team. Eli Murphy cashed in with 401K for reserve for Murphy from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Brandon Tate from Athens, Alabama and Laurie Toone of Shelbyville. It’s A Knight To Remember was ridden to third by Lisa Fisher from Franklin, Kentucky. It was the largest class of the morning.
Six entries entered the show ring for the Owner-Amateur Riders on Flat Shod Walking Horses, Canter, Optional Tack World Championship. Checkpoint Charlie SF and Ashley Say left the ring with the title for Say, Sydney Klein and Tamara Hader. It was the fourth blue in a row and eight of 2021 for Checkpoint Charlie. The red ribbon went to Sweet As Strawberry Wine with Amanda Manis in the saddle for Manis and Pope of Taylorsville, North Carolina and Shelbyville, Tennessee. Nite’s Destiny was ridden to yellow ribbon honors by co-owner Rachel Teague of Shelbyville and Bruce and Lee Sinden from Valdese, North Carolina.
In their debut performance of 2021 Allison Thorson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Fuego won the Amateur Owned and Trained All Day Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack World Championship. A Wicked Bond carried out a red ribbon with owner WhitLei Green of Shelbyville aboard the “classic” horse. Martinis At Seven carried Chelsey Harvey to the third-place.
The Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Walking Horses class welcomed eight entries. Jose’s Twist Of Gin and Patti Pollack followed up their National Futurity win Wednesday night with a unanimous selection for the World Championship title for S &P, LLC of Saratoga, California. Jose’s Twist Of Gin, the first unanimous selection of the judges Thursday morning, is eight -for-eight in blue ribbons this season with five top rides by B.J. Richards, including a Celebration blue Wednesday morning and three blues for Pollack. Bombay Sapphire PVF sparkled in second with Kaitlynn Rippy in the irons for the Andy Rippy Family of Gallatin, Tennessee. Third went to I’m Balenciaga and owner-rider Cindy Long from Perrysville, Ohio.
Dixie’s Legacy and Jackson Laughlin won their first Celebration blue besting seven other entries in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Park Pleasure Walking Horses World Championship. It was the fourth blue of 2021 for Dixie’s Legacy with co-owner Laughlin from Shelbyville winning twice and co-owner Sister Milligan of Panama City, Florida taking top honors twice. Chrome Curb Appeal attracted the attention of the judges for a red ribbon with co-owner Timothy Parks of Lynchburg, Tennessee aboard for co-owner Rushing Creek Walkers from Dickson, Tennessee. Title Line and owner-rider Abby Farmer of Church Hill, Tennessee walked out with a yellow streamer.
The Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack class welcomed 14 entries. Sabotage took first unanimously for owner-rider Andy Stooksberry of Shelbyville. It was the second blue in row for the duo and the sixth of the year, one with Joe Lester in the saddle. 401K and Brandon Tate received a red streamer for owners Tate, Eli Murphy and Laura Toone. Co-owner Beverly Boggs rode Royalina to third for co-owner Tammy Hubbard from Secondcreek, West Virginia.
Eight entries made the gate for the Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure Walking Horses. Optional Tack Riders’ Cup class. Late Night At The Ritz won the World Championship with Patrick Thomas in the irons for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville. Chris Zahnd and McConaughey were “all right, all right, all right” riding to second for Lance Ridley of Northport, Alabama. Sweet Country W. received a yellow ribbon with Tyler Smith riding for Brandon Tate of Athens, Alabama.
Allison Thorson added another World Championship to her resume’ in the Amateur Owned and Trained Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, No Professional Training Within 90 Days class. This time she was aboard My Black Cadillac, co-owned by Jacie Booth of Murfreesboro. Twenty-Four Carrots ML was second with Maggie Moore riding for co-owner Jim Leek of Murfreesboro. The Red-Light District won a yellow ribbon for owner-rider Ashlyn Avent from Shelbyville. There were seven entries in the class.
New Celebration CEO Warren Wells addressed the crowd and welcomed them to the show prior to the announcement of the winners in the 11-entry Owner-Amateur Riders on Two-Year-Old Country Pleasure Walking Horses which completed the morning competition.
Failure To Appear showed up big time winning the World Championship in the class with Amanda Manis in the saddle for Gary and Carolyn Pope of Taylorsville, North Carolina and The Manis Family of Shelbyville. California Barbie and Patti Pollack were reserve for S & P, LLC of Saratoga, California. Don’t Push This was ridden to third by Amanda Wright for The Dr. George Wright Family of Mount Juliet, Tennessee.