By Mark McGee

The joys of youth were celebrated Friday morning in Cooper Steel Arena on day three of the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Announcer Travis Olinger welcomed 12 classes, including one split, to the ring. Young horses and young riders dominated the morning.

Promise Keeper and Robert Nelms made the first trip of the morning to the winner’s circle for owner Lisa Teel of Fayetteville as the unanimous choice of the five-judge panel in the Model Pleasure Geldings class. All 10 listed entries showed. Promise Keeper has won three blues and one second place in four classes this year, and had previously won this same class in 2022. Magnificent THF and handler Justin Miller were reserve for Gunner Gregory. Fire’m Up, Charlie took home a yellow ribbon with Claire Hankins leading for Bruce Vaughn. 

Next to the ring were 12 of the 13 programmed entries in the Owner-Amateur Novice Youth Country Pleasure class. The novice label can be removed from A Confession and Kylie Duvall as they were called from the line up as the champions. A Confession, who has nine blues this season, is owned by Christy Duvall from Atwater, Ohio. Jose’s Kryptonite was the second place tie with Kenley Robinson aboard for Kelli and John Robinson. Zorro Escarlata and Drew Hadley Thomas received a third place ribbon for owner Ann Jameson.

A total of eight entries were next up the shoot in the Yearling Fillies or Geldings class. My Spring Fling was guided to the world championship by Beverly Carter for owners Joni Ellis Cheshire and Dr. Roger Richards of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The pair also won the National Futurity Fall Yearlings class on Wednesday night. They have won five blues and four reserves in nine shows this season. Simply Timeless and handler Robert Nelms placed second for the partnership of Link, Teel and Washburn. Tell Me Have You Cena and Chris Richards walked out with a yellow streamer for Dr. Roger Richards and Bobby Jones.

In a field of 15 horse and rider duos, Gallivant and Bonny Carrier are no longer Celebration novices following their win in division A of the Owner-Amateur Novice All Day Pleasure class. Gallivant and owner Jared Carrier were reserve in the Amateur Owned & Trained All Day Pleasure class on Thursday morning. Gallivant has four blues and a second in five classes in 2024. Dixie Special and Lauren Landers rode to second place for owner Rowena Matteson, while Cali Caliente earned the third tie with Maddie Payne aboard for Stooksberry and Payne.

Totally Justified won his second blue at the 2024 Celebration. The win came in the Yearling Colts class that hosted six teams. Beverly Carter was the handler for Lisa and Dr. Jim Baum. On Wednesday, they won the National Futurity Spring Yearling Colts class. They remain undefeated in five classes this year. A Time Traveler and handler Robert Nelms walked away with a red streamer for the Dr. George Wright Family. He’s The Revelator and Jaron Dotson placed third for Barron Witherspoon.

Another large group of novice teams were in the ring next in the B division split of the Owner-Amateur Novice All Day Pleasure class. Thunder Storm In Dixie and co-owner-rider Eli Murphy bested the field of 15 competitors and are no longer Celebration novices after their top performance for co-owner Sterling Woodruff of Shelbyville. This was their second world championship this week, having also won the blue in the Owner-Amateur Two & Three-Year-Old All Day Pleasure class Wednesday night. Privileged, with Mark Clark in the saddle for Kyle Elliott, rode to a second place finish, while Cash’s June Lady earned the third place tie with Johnna Barker up for Vaughn, Barker and Luttrell.

Scarlett O’Hara LLC and owner-rider Frank Clark from Athens, Alabama, walked into the winner’s circle in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Country Pleasure class. They were the unanimous selection of the judges in the nine entry class. This win was added to their three blues and two reserves in five classes earlier this show season. Riding to a second place streamer were Shameless SF and co-owner Abi Smith for co-owner Janet Howell. It’s A Knight To Remember and co-owner-rider Alex Luttrell were third for co-owners Lisa and Jeff Fisher.

Five of six listed entries made it into the ring for the Youth 12-17 Yearling Fillies or Geldings class. Tell Me Have You Cena was the blue ribbon winner with Emery Sims handling for Dr. Roger Richards of Bell Buckle and Bobby Jones of Manchester. Simply Timeless and handler Peyton Nelms were the second tie for the Link, Teel and Washburn partnership. Blanche Devereaux was guided to a yellow ribbon by Laney Mullinax for Char Johnson.

Miss Dixie Flyer and Madelyn Gannon flew to first in the Owner-Amateur Youth Lite-Shod class for Gannon and Rushing of McMinnville and Dickson, Tennessee. Five of six anticipated entries competed. Miss Dixie Flyer has won three blues and two reserves in five classes in 2024. Coachman, the winner of the class in 2023, placed reserve with Zach Daniel riding for Champion Stables. Hello I’m Johnny Cash was third with Brentnee Adams in the saddle for Stephanie Davidson.

Checkpoint Charlie and co-owner Harper Grider were the first place tie in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Trail Pleasure class with all six programmed entries competing. Tamara Hader of Bainbridge, Georgia, Jared Carrier from Gallatin and Grider from Columbia, Kentucky, are the owners. Checkpoint Charlie and Carrier won top honors Wednesday in the Owner-Amateur Flat Shod (Canter) class. Checkpoint Charlie remains undefeated in six classes in 2024. Walking out with a red streamer was Laughs And Giggles who was ridden by Emma Carter for Karen Doss and Gary Doss. Diva By Daddy and owner-rider Maddie McMorrow were third.

My Spring Fling walked away with her second blue of the morning in the Owner-Amateur Yearlings class. Kelly Richards Ward was the handler for Joni Ellis Cheshire and Dr. Roger Richards from Bell Buckle. Earlier in the morning, My Spring Fling and handler Beverly Carter won the Yearling Fillies & Geldings class. A Time Traveler and handler Amanda Wright were the second pick for the Dr. George Wright Family. He’s The Revelator and owner-handler Barron Witherspoon took home a yellow streamer in the five entry class.

A total of 14 of the 17 programmed entries accepted the call in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 All Day Pleasure class. IB Smokin’ Joe and Tucker Johnson rode to the blue for owner Keith Johnson of Shelbyville. This duo won this class in 2022 and 2021, and finished reserve last year. IB Smokin’ Joe has been awarded five blues and four reserves in nine shows this season. Betrayal, last year’s class winner, placed second with co-owner Harper Grider. Cash’s June Lady and Alex Luttrell walked out with a yellow ribbon for Vaughn, Barker and Luttrell to end the morning session.