By Mark McGee

It was a hot and humid Tuesday night at the end of August, but the competition was strong at the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. A total of 13 classes were on the schedule for the evening.
In what has become as traditional as Ronnie Spears and White Diamond Dollar presenting the Stars and Stripes is Gary Haile offering an energetic rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Ron Adams of Emmanuel Church Pentecostal opened with the prayer.

The first class on the schedule was English Park Pleasure with eight of the 15 programmed entries answering the gate call. Aviation Gin landed in the winner’s circle with Chris Zahnd in the saddle for owners Alex Johnson and Nancy Evans of Mechanicsville, Virginia. Aviation Gin has been awarded a first, second and third at The Celebration this year. One Special Poison and Jonathan Baskin rode to a second place ribbon for owners Shockey and Nipper from Moorefield, West Virginia, and Shelbyville. I Am 2 Be Feared, with Patrick Thomas aboard for Gladney Farms, was third.

Miss Annie Rose was ridden to the blue ribbon in Section A of the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings class by owner-rider Danny Hicks from Candor, North Carolina. They are three-for-three in top finishes this year. Jimmer’s Country Girl and co-owner Carole Baxter rode out with a second place streamer for co-owner Lee Baxter, while Charqueen and Beth Beasley were third for The Beth Beasley Family. Thirteen of 18 listed entries competed in the class.

It was a double duty win for Talkin’ Tennessee and Joe Lester in the Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class. In addition to the world championship victory for owner Sherri Pollack of Saratoga, California, Talkin’ Tennessee also won the National Futurity Championship. It was the second blue of The Celebration for Talkin’ Tennessee. Pollack rode to first in the Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure Two-Year-Old class Wednesday evening. Lined Up To Bat hit for a red ribbon with Crystal Deputy on board for Courtney Vaughan. Booby Trap was ridden to a yellow streamer by Krysta Allen for The Simons Family and The Teague Family. Thirteen of 16 entries were in the ring.

Next to the ring was the B section of the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings class where 13 horse and rider teams battled for the top spot. Time To Be Glamorous and owner-rider Carly Cagle were ready for their close up as winners. Polly Gray and owner-rider Dr. Lynda Brogdon were reserve, while I Am Ritzy Ritz was third with Alexis Grant in the saddle for Charles Eddings.

It was a repeat win in the next class as Patrick Thomas rode “Wanted” THF to the first tie in the Park Performance class for Manis and Pope of Shelbyville and Taylorsville, North Carolina. They have four blues in four shows in 2024. I’m A Proud American, reserve in the class the last two years, walked to a red ribbon again with Michael Wright in the irons for The Bill Williams Estate. Private Line and Gwain Wilson answered the call to a third place finish for Mike Wilhelm and Samantha Green. Twelve of 26 entries were in “The Big Oval”.

Nineteen of 28 scheduled entries competed in the Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings class. Acclaim and Winky Groover were called from the line up to take their spot in the winner’s circle for Carolyn Rutner of Northpoint, Alabama. This was the third blue ribbon in a row for Acclaim. Nip Of Gin was reserve with Kayla Baucom on board for Kaitlyn Peeler. Legally Blonde M was called to the third place tie with Dan Waddell in the saddle for Taylor LeGate.

TN. Lineman and owner-rider Dru McCormick of Shelbyville claimed first place honors in the Owner-Amateur 15.2 & Under Mares & Geldings class with 13 riders competing. They have ridden to two blues and two reserves this show season. Punisher was ridden to the second place spot by Dr. Ann Rea for Barbara Smith. Google.Com rode out with a yellow streamer with Judy Stanfill up for Ronnie Stanfill.

In the Show Pleasure Stallions class, success was spelled Zdangzewicz with John Allan Callaway riding to the blue for Dr. Robert Watkins of Chicago, Illinois. They are unbeaten in three shows. Captain Woodrow F Call and Brandon Ailshie placed second for Greg Mathews, while YS Fly Like An Eagle carried out a yellow streamer with Lake Weaver riding for Ben Moss and Ron Carney. Twelve of 15 listed entries were in the ring.

Country As Cornbread and owner-rider Janice Fostek from Roanoke, Virginia, were the world championship winners in Section A of the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions class. They have won three blues and one reserve in four classes this year. No Doubt I Am was ridden to a red streamer by owner-rider Bob Adcock. Beach Bum Bruce placed third with owner-rider Bob Roach at the reins. Fifteen of 19 scheduled entries made the gate call. 

The gate call for the Trail Pleasure class brought seven teams to “The Big Oval” next. Making it four years in a row, it was Blacklist and Carrie DeJarnatte called from the lineup victorious for Jane Pirolo of Franklin. This was the second top finish at The Celebration for Blacklist who earned the Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure world championship Wednesday morning with Pirolo. Blacklist has won seven times with one reserve in eight classes this show season. Checkpoint Charlie and co-owner-rider Jared Carrier were second for co-owners Tamara Hader and Harper Grider. Mr. Bentley took home a yellow streamer with Laurie Toone riding for Lakelyn Mathews.
Grateful Red and owner-rider Greg Kiser of Rosedale, Virginia, were even more thankful for a blue ribbon in Section B of the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions class. They have received five blues and a second in six classes this show season. Java was second with Nathan Oliver in the stirrups for Darrell Oliver. Aerosmith CL and co-owner-rider Courtney Luttrell walked their way to third for co-owner Jimbo Conner. Thirteen of 19 expected entries made an appearance.

Next up were 10 top duos who vied for the Young Trainers on Stallions world championship. Earning the trip down victory lane with a unanimous decision from the judging panel was Warbird with Ryan Blackburn riding for Ginger Williams of London, Kentucky. Warbird has been reserve in the class for the past two years, and won the class in 2021. Primo was reserve with Lake Weaver on board for The Justin Harney Family. Tanner Burks rode Cousin Bob to third for Shane Porterfield. 

Closing out the evening’s performance were five of the nine programmed entries in the Owner-Amateur Stallions (Canter) class. I’m Jordan walked to the blue as the unanimous pick of the judges with Kenny Compton in the saddle for Della Compton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I’m Jordan was second in the class last year. They have two blues in two shows this year. A Big Honor and owner-rider Dr. David Bullock were reserve. They won the class in 2023. Third was N.V. Us and owner-rider Kim Leonard.