By Mark McGee

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was an overcast and breezy Monday night in “The Big Oval” at the 84th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, and a light rain fell briefly off and own starting during Division A of the Two-Year-Old Stallion class. Sixteen classes were on the schedule including a three-way split in the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions class and a two-way split in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings class. 

Abe Zimmerman from First United Methodist Church offered the invocation. Gary Haile, an usher at the Celebration, from Shelbyville, Tennessee, sang a stirring rendition of the National Anthem as Ronnie Spears and White Diamond Dollar presented the colors under the spotlight.

Students, teachers and faculty from Central High School and Bedford County Learning Academy were special Celebration guests.

In Ted’s Image and owner-driver Ron Lawrence from Lenoir City, Tennessee, made the blue drive in the Owner-Amateur Gentleman Drivers, Fine Harness class. The team also won top honors in 2020 and 2019. In Ted’s Image, sired by Ted Williams, has six blues in seven shows in 2022. I’m Ritz And Dangerous, a classic horse, was driven to reserve by Rollie Beard for R and D Partners. John Fikes was the driver with Mr. October CTF receiving a yellow ribbon for owners Fikes and Mills. All five program entries made the gate call by ring announcer Mark Farrar. Paul Robbins served as the call judge.

Pappy Van Winkle was wide awake on the way to top honors in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Ponies, Mares or Geldings class with co-owner Kim Butler riding for co-owner Bruce Butler from Morehead, Kentucky. They also won the class in 2019 and 2020. Heeza Jose’ and owner-rider Nancy Groover Hodges walked out with a red ribbon, while Joe Jacoby tied third with MaryBeth Blessing on board for What a Blessing Farm. Sam Sorrell called the class with 16 of 21 planned entries in the ring.

Nevermore walked to the winner’s circle in the Walking Mares, Five Years & Over, Canter class with John Allan Callaway riding for co-owners Rolling Hills Farm/Dr. Barbara Moersch from Jacksonville, Alabama, and Julia Callaway from Shelbyville, Tennessee. Sired by Master Of Jazz, it was the sixth blue in eight classes this year. Nevermore also won the class in 2020. Me And Pocahontas placed second with Tyler Baucom in the saddle for Allyson Armstrong, while She’s Salsarita and Dickie Scrivner were third for co-owners Jacobs and Williams. Five of 11 scheduled entries rode for top honors. Amy Trimble was the call judge. 

Smoky Mountain Strong and co-owner and rider Lexie Stinnett put in a strong performance for a unanimous blue-ribbon tie by the five-judge panel in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Stallions class for co-owner Jimbo Conner from Sevierville, Tennessee. Smoky Mountain Strong, sired by I Am Jose’, is unbeaten in five classes in 2022 and has a string of 12 first place awards dating back to 2020. Kong was second with Lorie Riddley riding for Alan Riddley. Tua MCF walked out with a yellow ribbon with co-owner Lorraine Rosbury in the saddle for co-owner Keith Rosbury. Eleven of 15 programmed entries entered the ring. Jamie Bradshaw was the call judge.

I’m Choobacca and Jimmy McConnell rode to first for owner Beverly Sherman from Shelbyville, Tennessee, in Division A of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions class. Sired by Jimmy Choo, I’m Choobacca has two blues in two classes this show season. Look Who I Am and Casey Wright tied second for Billy and Debbie Woods. Primetime Player PVF was third with Bill Callaway on board for Perry and Kimberly Walden. The class included Futurity nominated two-year-old walking performance stallions. John Puckett was the call judge with 13 of 25 entries showing. 

In Division B of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions, Wichita took top honors with Brandon Ailshie on board for co-owners Bobby Silvers of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and Joe Barnes from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Wichita, sired by Jose’ Jose’, is two-for-two in wins in 2022. I’m Classic Rock, with Lake Weaver riding for Mike and Karen Inman, was in the top two, while Texas Rain tied third with Josh Wright aboard for Billy and Debbie Woods. The class included Futurity nominated two-year-old walking performance stallions. Texas Rain will receive a yellow ribbon from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeder’s and Exhibitors’ Association as a top Futurity tie. Seventeen of 25 scheduled entries were in the ring. Paul Robbins was the call judge. 

Honky Tonk and John Allan Callaway tied first in Division C of the Two-Year-Old Walking Stallions class for owner Alan Riddley from King’s Mountain. North Carolina. Sired by Honors, it was the second blue in as many outings for Honky Tonk this year. Jura THF and Scott Beatty placed reserve for owner Travis Hale. Top Gun Maverick walked out with a yellow ribbon with Bill Callaway in the irons for Bob Adcock. The class included Futurity nominated two-year-old walking performance stallions. Sam Sorrell was the call judge with 11 of 25 programmed entries competing in the class. A total of 41 entries made the gate call for the three divisions. 

A Code Of Honors and owner-rider Heidi McWilliams from Cookeville, Tennessee, made the blue-ribbon ride in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Five-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings class. A Code Of Honors, sired by Honors, has four blues in seven classes in 2022. My Ticket To Ride and Rae Shumate-Tysor tied second for owner Sandy Shumate, while Miss Heavenly Cash and co-owner Shelby Sim were third for co-owner Shannon Sims. Twenty-one entries were listed in the program with 15 in the ring. Amy Trimble was the call judge. 
Rachel Teague rode Line Item Veto to the blue for The Bo Teague Family of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Western Country Pleasure Walking Horses class. Line Item Veto, sired by Lined With Cash, earned a second first in four shows this season. GiGi’s Majestic, a classic horse, and Elysse Bradford received a red ribbon for The William Bradford Family. Stapleton tied third with co-owner Maggie Moore aboard for Jim Leek. Ten of 14 expected entries showed in the class. Jamie Bradshaw was the call judge. 

He’s Made In The USA with Bill Callaway in the saddle rode into the winner’s circle for owners Gayle Holcomb and Nick Masters of Encinitas, California, in the Walking Stallions, 15.2 & Under class. Sired by All American Cash, it was the second blue in four classes for He’s Made In The USA this year. Form A Line was reserve with Josh Watts riding for Carole and Lee Baxter. Lil Shady tied third with Edgar Abernathy in the irons for Rae Shumate-Tysor. Ten of 22 programmed entries made the gate call. John Puckett was the call judge. 

Owner-rider Jackie Whatley from Ocala, Florida, directed All About Jose to the blue ribbon tie in the Elite Owner-Amateur Lady Riders on Walking Stallions class. All About Jose, sired by Jose’ Jose’, has three blues in five classes this show season. Twisted With Honors picked up a red ribbon for owner-rider Allyson Armstrong. Sheryl Crawford, co-owner and rider, and Command On Parole were third. Nine of 23 expected entries entered the show ring with Paul Robbins serving as the call judge.

It was all about geography in the Owner-Amateur Gentleman Riders on Show Pleasure Walking Horses class. Georgia Florida Line and owner-rider Robert Deutsch from Greensboro, North Carolina, placed first unanimously, the second unanimous decision of the night. Sired by Lined Walkin’, it was the fifth blue in six classes in 2022 for Georgia Florida Line. Tennessee State Line tied second for Dr. Jim Baum riding for owner Lisa Baum. Night Crawler walked out with a yellow ribbon for co-owner Jason Joseph riding for co-owner Sister Milligan. Nine of 17 entries made the gate call.  Sam Sorrell called the gaits.

Gotcha Jose’ and Dr. Brittany Baum claimed top honors unanimously for owner Jacob Baum from Shelbyville, Tennessee, in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Mares or Geldings class. Gotcha Jose’, sired by Jose’ Jose’, has two blues in six classes this show season. Flying High CC tied second for owner-rider Sheryl Crawford. Mountain Voodoo and owner-rider Sarah Coffee Burks were third. Amy Trimble was the call judge with 10 of 28 scheduled entries riding for the blue. 

Bravo! created applause as he and Chad Way rode to first in the Experienced Trainers 36 Years & Older on Walking Horses class for owner Jack Heffington of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Sired by The Titleist, it was the second blue in as many shows for Bravo! this year. Samsung, a classic horse, walked away with a red ribbon with owner-rider Bill Callaway. Say Cash tied third with Keith Blackburn riding for Dan and Susan Erwin. Thirteen of 28 expected entries competed. Many of the program entries had shown in other classes. Jamie Bradshaw was the call judge. 

My Tanqueray and owner-ride Lucky Collins from Bell Buckle, Tennessee, earned top honors in Division A of the Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings class. My Tanqueray was sired by Gen’s Black Gin and has six blues in 10 classes in 2022. Paranormal and owner-rider Ty Irby were reserve. Kid Can Do and owner-rider Robert Deutsch tied third. Seventeen of 29 programmed entries answered the gate call. John Puckett called the class. 

In the final class of the night Ultra Grey Pistol and co-owner Elese Lewis rode to the blue for co-owner Salt Lick Farm of Salt Like, Kentucky, in Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings, Division B class. Sired by He’s Fifty Shades Of Grey, it was the ninth consecutive blue dating back to last year and the fifth of this year for Ultra Grey Pistol. Paul Robbins was the call judge with 17 of 29 scheduled entries in the ring for the final class of the night. In Her Honor and Barbara Corbett walked away with a red ribbon for Ridgemont Farm. Google.com placed third for owner-rider Ronnie Stanfill.