SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 36th Annual Celebration Spring Fun Show will return to its traditional schedule of classes when the show opens a three-night run on Thursday, May 25 at Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville.  One of the most important spring shows in the walking horse industry, the Fun Show has been a springboard toward the World Grand Championship for many of the top horses of the breed.

            Performances for the Fun begin at 7:00 p.m. each night and reserved seats are still available.

            “We experimented with a new format last year and saw some great positives on two of the three nights,” said Celebration Board Chairman John T Bobo.  “The ‘themed nights’ were well received on the two nights that performance classes were scheduled.”

            Attendance on Friday and Saturday nights of the show was up from the previous year, but the Thursday night showcase of halter and pleasure classes was not as well received.

            The return to the traditional schedule will have a mixture of halter, pleasure and performance horses each night with both amateur and professional exhibitors in the ring.  For the second consecutive year, the Spring Fun Show will be affiliated with the WHTA Riders’ Cup program.  Nine classes over the three nights will offer points to the professional trainers.

            Thursday night’s schedule will feature 17 classes including Four Year Old Walking Stallions and the very popular Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies.  In addition, there will be classes in Trail Pleasure and Country Pleasure as well as performance classes for amateur and professional riders.

            The docket on Friday night has fifteen classes ranging from youth riders all the way to the elite riders, 50 and over.  Highlighted classes that night include Two Year Old Walking Stallions, 15.2 and Under Walking Stallion, and Owner-Amateur Riders on Three Year Old Stallions

            Seventeen classes make up the exciting Saturday night schedule.  Classes for the top yearlings in the industry as slated as well as Park Performance and Show Pleasure classes, a showcase for young trainers, and seven classes for Owner-Amateur riders.

            Class 49, Walking Stallions, Over 15.2, Five Years and Over has long been a showcase for horses that hope to compete for the World Grand Championship at the Celebration in August.  2005 World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse, Main Power, used the Spring Fun Show as a jump start to a successful campaign toward The Celebration’s most prestigious title.

            Camping spots in the Celebration RV Park, adjacent to Calsonic Arena, remain available on a first-come, first-served basis.  That, along with information on box and reserved tickets can be obtained by going to The Celebration website at www.twhnc.com or by calling 931-684-5915.