By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The traditional Stick Horse class commenced at 6:40 on Saturday evening, sponsored by Sugar Creek Farms and Creekview Farms. Steve Buttleman played the Kentucky Derby theme to welcome everyone. Everyone got a blue ribbon and a Purity ice cream coupon for participating. Kingland Kids and Steve Buttleman also made sure everyone had a glow-in-the-dark necklace as well.

Then, at precisely 7 p.m., Mark Farrar announced Fruit Jar Alley and Ronnie Spears carrying the flag for the last night of this 2026 Celebration. Before the night was over, a legendary showdown would occur between reigning World Grand Champion Justified Honors and his brother, the 2024 World Grand Champion Cavender. But until the final class, there were a lot more world grand champions to crown, and a lot more spotlight rides to be made. Dan Asche of First Christian Church in Shelbyville said the invocation, and Craig Campbell of Eagleville sang the national anthem. Steve Buttleman sounded the bugle call.

The first class on the program for the evening was 192, Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure Three & Under. This world grand championship class brought five entries down the hill, where Judge Beard called the gaits. After stiff competition, wearing the tricolor ribbon for Joyce Hofstee, Dustin Smith and Katy Granus of Tipton, California, Scottsville, Kentucky and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was He’s A Cobra with Dustin Smith riding. He’s A Cobra was sired by Honors and out of Big Time’s Satin Spirit. He is a reserve World Champion and first time World Grand Champion, winning in 2026 at the International Grand Championship. Reserve awards were presented to the Thursday morning world champion, Ghost Pepper and Julie Pomicter for Joe Lester and Julie Pomicter. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, he had wins at the FAST Spring Showcase, the Spring Fun Show, Germantown Charity and the WHTA Fireworks & Freedom this year. Wearing the gold streamer for Andy Rippy was Dragon King with Kaitlyn Rippy in the irons.

Class 193 brought the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Olds to the ring to compete for World Grand Champion honors. Chad Williams called the class, and 17 entries answered the gate call. The competition was fierce. However, in the end, World Champion and now first time World Grand Champion Reacher, with owner Lorraine Rosbury in the irons wore the roses back home to Bell Buckle for Keith and Lorraine Rosbury. Sired by Honors, out of Nujazz and bred by Amy Blackburn, Reacher had blue ribbon rides in 2026 at the FAST Spring Showcase and the Money Tree Classic, as well as in their qualifying world championship class on Tuesday night. Walking to a reserve finish was the team of Chosen CSF and Caryl Sherman up for Floyd and Caryl Sherman. Chosen CSF is a world champion, with a 2026 win at WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. Finally, finishing in third in the good class was two-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Harvey Specter SBS and Janice Fostek, the owner and up.

Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 constituted class 194. Sixteen youth riders and their talented mounts competed for the world grand championship honors and a trip to the bricks. Judge Sorrell called the gaits in the class. Making the spotlight ride for Barbara Smith and John Winston Clark of Columbus, Mississippi and Arab, Alabama, was Punisher and John Winston Clark. Punisher is a six-time World Champion and a first time World Grand Champion, with wins this year at The Columbia Spring Jubilee and Red Carpet Show of the South, as well as their qualifier on Thursday evening. Wearing the crimson streamer for Brittney and Eli Cunningham was eight-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion Uptight Jose with Eli Cunningham in the irons. This team’s 2026 accolades include blues at Walking For Cancer and the Money Tree Classic. Finishing in third for Ricky Parker was A Code Of Honor and Levi Parker. 

The bugle call came for class 195, Show Pleasure World Grand Championship. Margaret Akin spun the wheel, determining Chad Williams would be the call judge. Six entries came down the hill to compete. They got underway at a flat walk as cheers erupted from the crowd. Making the spotlight ride for Allyson Armstrong of Hickory, North Carolina, and wearing the tricolor ribbon was Kong, with Tyler Baucom in the irons. With 2026 wins at the TWHYA Summer Splash and their qualifier on Tuesday, Kong adds this to two world championships and now three world grand championships. The reserve honors were presented to World Champion The Crimson Sky and Drew Graves up for Judy Case. A classic horse, The Crimson Sky won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Spring Fun Show. Third on the cards and wearing home the yellow ribbon for the Evergreen Walking Horse Farm LLC was Honors To Mr. Guess and Jeff Green.

Class 196, Owner-Amateur Mares & Geldings, was the next World Grand Championship on the program. The bugle call sounded and Greg Shumaker spun the wheel. Eighteen entries answered the gate call under the direction of Judge Brooks. Each of the horse-and-rider teams made excellent shows, and many of them were veteran world champions in this huge class. Making the spotlight ride all the way around and earning a spot on the bricks was five-time World Champion and now three-time World Grand Champion TN Lineman with owner Debbie Marbry in the irons of Shelbyville. Sired by The Dixie Lineman and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, TN Lineman was a champion at the Upper Cumberland and Marshall County Horseman’s Association this year, as well as winning their qualifier last Saturday. Walking to a reserve finish was Miss Annie Rose and Danny Hicks, the owner and up. Miss Annie Rose is a three-time world champion and had wins in 2026 at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Columbia Spring Jubilee and the Red Carpet Show of the South, as well as their qualifier on Monday evening. Finishing in third for Beth Beasley was three-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Quite An Honor and Maxine Beasley.

McKinley Cutshaw and The Silver Lining, the Lead Line World Grand Champions, were the first of the Stars of the Future exhibition. Her mother, Danielle, led her in the ring. Finley Reed, the Equitation World Grand Champion, and her horse Cash Reaction were next in the ring. Reed is president of the TWHYA. Otis Hughes, age 10, and Shipwrecked, were next in the ring as the Owner-Amateur Youth Country Pleasure World Grand Champion. The next exhibitor was the Owner-Amateur Youth All Day Pleasure World Grand Champion Failure To Appear and fourth grader Walker Manis. Beach Bum Bruce and Shane Smith were next, the Owner-Amateur Youth Pony World Grand Champion. Showing horses since he was four, Smith finished out his youth career this year with a world grand championship. Next was the Owner-Amateur Youth Show Pleasure champion, The Comanche with Harlyn Lorance. Lorance won her first world and world grand championships this year, and she has been a team with The Comanche since last year. Bentlee Baum, a third grader at Gateway Christian Homeschool and I’m Shady were the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 World Grand Champions. Alayna Arnold and Imagine Dragons were the Owner-Amateur Youth Trail Pleasure World Grand Champions. The Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 World Grand Champion team was John Winston Clark and Punisher. He plays baseball and is a sophomore in high school.

The bugle sounded for the Park Performance World Grand Championship, class 197. Judge Sorrell called the class, and eight entries came down the hill and got underway on the rail at a flat walk. Excitement filled the crowd as they made their way around the ring. Wearing the tricolor ribbon back to Red Banks, Mississippi, for Jannie Chapman was the team of three-time World Champion Limbaugh and Jeff Laughlin. Limbaugh was sired by Walk Time Charlie out of Jose’s Southern Miss. They made the spotlight ride for their second World Grand Championship after a year of wins at the FAST Spring Showcase and Heart Of A Champion, as well as two Wednesday world championships. Reserve in the class was Suspect Shady SHF and Jonathan Baskin up for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms. Suspect Shady THF had 2026 victories at Walking In The Smokies, the Mid-South Horse Show Association, Belfast Lions Club, Woodbury Lions Club and the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon show. Finishing in third was three-time World Champion Gin’s Slingblade and Ryan Gannon, up for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms.

Class 198 brought the Owner-Amateur Country Pleasure World Grand Championship to order. Scott Shepherd spun the wheel, determining that Chad Williams would call the class. Nine entries competed for the honors. In the end, the tricolor ribbon and floral horseshoe was worn by Luciano and Lisa Baum, the owner and up of Shelbyville. With five world championships and now six world grand championships, Luciano had 2026 wins at the WHTA National Trainer’s Show and the Money Tree Classic. He is sired by Jose’ Jose’ and out of a Generator’s Sundrop mare. Reserve on the cards was three-time World Champion and World Grand Champion Crypto with Kaitlyn Rippy riding for Andy Rippy. Their victories this year were at Walking In The Smokies, as well as their qualifier on Tuesday. Finally, wearing home the yellow ribbon was three-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion Stapleton, with owner Maggie Moore in the irons. 

The Two-Year-Old World Grand Championship, class 199, was ushered in by the bugle call. Landon O’Neal spun the wheel. Judge Sorrell called the class as 11 entries came down the hill and got underway on the rail at a flat walk. These young horses exhibited great talent. Walking out of the lineup and into the winner’s circle was the team of Gladiator 3A and Bill Callaway for owner Jeanne Ann Rea of Columbus, Mississippi. Gladiator 3A was a top three Prodigy finalist and was reserve in his qualifying class on Monday night. He was sired by Justified Honors out of Oop’s Maverick and bred by Bill Callaway. Walking their way to the reserve award was Boogie Choos and Sam Martin for Floyd and Caryl Sherman. Boogie Choos was sired by Jimmy Choo out of My Jose’s Ladybug. Coming to receive the third award for Presley Erwin was Million Dollar Choo-PRS with Knox Blackburn in the irons. 

Class 200 saw Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Olds make their way down the hill for the championship class. Brady O’Neal spun the wheel, determining Judge Williams would call the class of nine entries. They made their way around the ring, exhibiting their combined years of hard work and dedication. After the cards were in, Tide Pride and Nathan Clark made the spotlight ride for Holland and Clark of Decatur and Arab, Alabama. With three world championships and now two world grand championships, Tide Pride is a successful stallion sired by Honors and out of Maypine’s Polydactyly. The reserve award in the good class was presented to Hell Or High Water and Caryl Sherman, up for Floyd and Caryl Sherman. A two-time world champion, Hell Or High Water had wins this year at the Spring Fun Show and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Wearing the yellow streamer out for Shamrock Farms was Look At Choo and Meghan Hammond. 

Lite-Shod World Grand Championship contenders came down the hill next for their world grand championship class, 201. Warren Wells spun the wheel, and Sam Sorrell called the class. Six entries answered the gate call. The competition was fierce, however, in the end, four-time World Champion and now three-time World Grand Champion Space Cowboy SN, with Jonathan Baskin in the irons for Skylar Nipper wore the roses, earned unanimously, back home to Bell Buckle. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, out of She’s Distinctive and bred by John Ercole Liperote, Space Cowboy SN had blue ribbon rides in 2026 at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, the FAST Spring Showcase, the Spring Fun Show and in their qualifying world championship class on Saturday morning. Walking to a reserve finish was the team of Coachman and Amber Zahnd up for Jackson Cammack and John Lawwell. Coachman is a six-time world champion and world grand champion, with 2026 wins at the ETWHA Fun Show and their qualifiers on Thursday and Friday morning. Finally, finishing in third in the good class was World Champion Red Rum SS and Patrick Thomas, up for Carolyn and Gary Pope.

Class 202 was the second-to-last class of the evening. The Owner-Amateur World Grand Championship has Derek Bonner calling the class. Seven entries answered the gate call to contend for this prestigious title. These horse-and-rider teams gave it their all, with multiple former world champions and world grand champions going head-to-head. Wearing the floral horseshoe to the bricks was I’m Jordan with owner Kenny Compton riding of Tazewell, Virginia. I’m Jordan is a four-time world champion and a now a four-time world grand champion, sired by ACC, out of My Jurisdiction and bred by Kenny Compton. They won the World Grand Championship in this division a year ago and won their qualifier on Wednesday. Reserve in the class was awarded to seven-time World Champion Honor My Country and Stephanie White, the entry of Toni White. They won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Walking In The Smokies, the TWHYA Summer Splash and the Money Tree Classic, as well as their qualifier on Wednesday evening The third award was presented to World Champion Twisted With Honors and Jewel Abee, the owner and rider. 

Finally, the time came for the last class of the night, the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship (Canter), class 203. Steve Buttleman sounded the bugle for the last time at the 2026 Celebration, and J Brantley struck up the “Flat Walk Boogie.” This was a moment to make history as the Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Champion would be crowned and go down in the history books, adding to all the names that came before. With five entries answering the gate call, Steven Baden spun the wheel, determining that Derek Bonner would call the class. They got underway on the rail at a flat walk, the crowds cheering and sending up deafening applause for their favorites. The lights went off and the suspense grew thick as the spotlight searched. Then, Mark Farrar announced that Justified Honors and John Allan Callaway were once again the World Grand Champion team, for Dr. Jim and Lisa Baum of Shelbyville, with a unanimous decision. Justified Honors is the legendary first horse to win the World Grand Championship for five years now. He was bred by Dr. Robert C. Watkins Jr., sired by Honors and out of Maypine’s Doll Baby. He is also the sire of several World Grand Champions. He has a total of six world championships and now five world grand championships. John Allan has also became a record-breaking six-time World Grand Champion trainer. Reserve in the good class was awarded to the 2024 World Grand Champion, Cavender, with Tim Smith in the irons for Bruce and Robin MacDonald. Cavender was bred by Brenda Corey Gray, sired by Honors and out of Jose’s Café Au-Lait. They have four world championships and three world grand championships already. The third award was given to the popular two-time World Champion Spotlight On Jose 4G and Bill Callaway for Bob and Deb Adcock. 

This concludes the 2026 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. A total 124,752 people paid for attendance this year over the 11 nights. Photos were taken out on the bricks as spectators made their way home. The festivities were over, and now everyone could look forward to catching up on some well-deserved rest. History had been witnessed as the moon rose to its full height over the Big Oval, with Justified Honors still the reigning Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Champion.