By Jeffrey Howard

Fireworks were limited during Saturday’s UT-MTSU football game as both teams’ offenses sputtered but Allison Thorson electrified the crowd prior to the game with her flawless exhibition on Roll The Gold.  Allison and Roll The Gold, the current Youth Pony World Grand Champion, exhibited at the University of Tennessee Homecoming game on November 5, 2011 in Knoxville, Tenn.

In a strange twist of fate, trainer Chad Williams brought Roll The Gold to exhibit in 2006 at UT’s Homecoming.  Unfortunately, torrential storms prevented the exhibition and Roll The Gold was promised a return trip if the opportunity ever presented itself.

When current World Grand Champion Game World and Gary Edwards were unable to make the trip, Roll The Gold answered the call and didn’t disappoint.   Thorson, wearing fluorescent orange gloves, pumped up the student section on both passes and left the field to a rousing ovation.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is always looking for positive promotion avenues and over 80,000 orange-clad fans saw the wonderful demeanor, smooth ride and awesome characteristics of the Tennessee Walking Horse as Thorson became the first juvenile to exhibit inside Neyland Stadium.

“It was just awesome and I had a lot of fun.  It was one of the best experiences of my life,” said Thorson after completing the exhibition.  The University of Tennessee Veterinary School and athletics board member and Walking Horse Report owner David Howard coordinated the exhibition. 

Due to construction at the UT Veterinary School, Roll The Gold was housed by Terry Dotson and Brent Coburn at Winding Creek Stables in Kingston, Tenn.

         Click here to watch the video courtesy of You Tube.

Jaclyn, Chad & London Williams, Rhonda & Duke Thorson are happy to join Allison Thorson and Youth World Grand Champion Pony, Roll The Gold at the UT-MTSU game last weekend in Knoxville, Tenn.

Duke, Allison & Rhonda Thorson are all smiles before the exhibition at the UT Homecoming game.