By Melissa R. Stevens

Riding out of the ring with a coveted Celebration blue ribbon, could there be a more spectacular feeling? For those lucky winners at the 65th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, probably not. Winning a blue ribbon at any show is an exciting experience, but for the exhibitors talented enough to win one or more of these prized possessions, it’s an experience like no other.

David Landrum Stables of Franklin, Tenn., won the most blues at this year’s Celebration taking a total of 16 winning ribbons. This total included two tricolor awards, one in the Four-Year-Old Walking Horse World Grand Championship with Main Power and Joe Cotten and the other in the Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Horses, 15.2 and Under World Grand Championship with John F K’s Delight. The blue ribbon rides made by Landrum entries in World Championship competition were Pride’s Sundance Star, Ted Williams, Storm Threat Too, Driving Miss Dumas, Generator’s Champion, FDR, Major Splash, San Juan, New York New York, John F K’s Delight, Miracle At The Ritz and Texas Salsa.

Knox Blackburn Stables had a successful 2003 Celebration. Entries riding under their guidance took home a total of 12 winning ribbons including three tricolors. World Grand Championship honors for this crew were won by Private Charter in the 15.2 and Under Walking Horse World Grand Championship, The Phantom Menace in the Owner-Amateur Novice Riders on Novice Walking Horse World Grand Championship and Coin Maker in the Show Pleasure Walking Horses with Amateur Riders World Grand Championship. Other blue ribbons that were hung in the Knox Blackburn Stables tack room were won by Private Charter, Eb’s Cloud Nine, Silverado Spirit, The Phantom Menace, Millenium Masquerade, Coin Maker, Expeditor and Rolex.

A total of 11 blues from the 2003 Celebration were added to Howard Hamilton’s Southern Serenity Ranch banner placing them third in the blue ribbon count. Those wins included two tricolor ribbons, one with Pusher’s Beaming Pride in the Plantation Pleasure Lite-Shod World Grand Championship and the other with Lit Up’s Double Time in the Park Pleasure Walking Horse World Grand Championship. Other winning entries sponsored by Southern Serenity were Pusher’s Beaming Pride, My Finders Keepers, Gem Sweep, Fully Armed and Strike It Rich.

Russ Thompson Stables received ten top awards. Three of those were World Grand Championship titles. Blue Ribbon Stables also received ten blues.

Golden West Farms received six Celebration blues including two World Grand Championship titles.

Four training teams received five blue ribbons each at this year’s Celebration. They were Bobby Richards of the Colt Center, Chad Baucom of Baucom Stables, Jimmy McConnell if Formac Stables and Tim Gray of Southern Comfort.

Allan Callaway Stables, Tan View Stables, Webb Stables, Finish Line Farm, and Womack Stables all garnered four Celebration blues each.

Bill Bobo Stables, Derickson Training Facility, Jackie McConnell and Whitter Stables, Highland Stables, Rising Star Ranch and Bouquet Creek each won three blues each at this year’s Celebration.

Twelve barns took double blues this year. They include Bill Cantrell Stables, Bob Bilbo, Carl Edwards and Sons Stables, Central Georgia Equine Center, Five Way Farm, Karen McGee, Kurt Kovalick, Bennett Stables, Mickey McCormick, Ramsey Bullington Stables and Groover Stables.

Single blues were won by Black Hawk Farm, Brian Wright, Buck Williams, Cedar Grove, Clark Farms, Danny Hughes of J & H Stables, Debbie Wells, Dick Peebles Stables, Dude Crowder, Fred and Lisa Weaver, Jeff Givens Stables, Joe Clift, Joe Martin, John Feltner, Justin LeGate, John Harney, Kathy Owen of Double Springs Farm, John P. Hughes, Kim Smith, Larry Derryberry, Mike Civils, Mike McCormick, Nathan Mills, Rae Martin, Robert Nelms of Nelms Training Facility, Russ Keyser, Sam Sorrell, Scott Beaty, Steve Dunn of Bud Dunn and Son Stables, Terry Vaught, Tim Smith, Tim Wheelon, Todd Smith, Tommy Howell, Valton Rummage and Wayne Westbrook.

Congratulations are in order for all the trainers and exhibitors who added a Celebration blue or two or three... to their collection and for helping to make the 65th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration one for the record books!