By Sarah Smith and Sara Watts
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – 56 years! This year marked the 56th anniversary of the WHTA Awards Banquet to honor the Tennessee Walking Horse we all so dearly love. How fitting for this year’s event to fall on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tennessee, was the place to be on Saturday, February 15, 2025, to spend time with friends, family and friends that are like family, all to celebrate and reminisce about a phenomenal 2024 show season. People traveled from near and far to enjoy the fellowship and waited in anticipation as over 54 horse of the year honors were presented, along with many other recognitions.
A silent auction was held and offered many exciting items for those in attendance to bid on. Some of the available items were a Lovett & Ricketts saddle, hunting trips, many different stud fees, a variety of gift baskets, a full color ad in the Walking Horse Report and a new Scag lawn mower; just to name a few. The stud fee auction was also available online. Money raised by the auction will all go towards the Legal Fund.
Mark Farrar once again was happy to serve as emcee for the night and handle all the announcing duties, and in his usual fashion, he kept the crowd fully entertained. Starting out the evening, Farrar took a moment to recognize several organizations that play major roles in the walking horse industry, as well as a few individuals that helped make this weekend fun and successful.
The Living Legend Lifetime Achievement Awards were next. This year, Larry and Gary Edwards, along with Judy Martin were presented with the much deserved honor.
The 2024 WHTA Scholarship recipients were recognized. This year the recipients were Harper Grider, Peyton Nelms, Corbin Parker, Abi Smith and Colton Trimble.
Next, Warren Wells and Tim Smith were called to the stage so Smith could be presented with his green blazer in recognition of his 2024 world grand championship win with Cavender. For 31 years, Frank and Shirley Neal, in honor of 1992 World Grand Champion Dark Spirit’s Rebel, proudly continued the tradition of the green blazer, which is held in such high regards. This year marked the passing of the torch from the Neals to The Celebration who will be taking over the leadership of providing the blazer. This year also marks the first time the blazer was designed and made by Marsha’s on the Square.
After the blazer presentation, Bruce and Robin MacDonald were asked to join Smith on the stage to be honored as the owners of 2024 World Grand Champion Cavender.
Next up, it was time to recognize the National Trainers’ Show Grand Champion. Edgar Abernathy directed Stoned On Gin to the victory to become the 56th Trainers’ Show champion for the Fulcher Family.
In early 2024, prior to the 56th Annual National Trainers’ Show, the WHTA Board voted to add a new class to their schedule. The new class was called the Three-Year-Old Rookie class. This class recognizes three-year-olds that were never shown as a two-year-old. Those horses that were shown in these classes at the 2024 Trainers’ Show were tracked all year the winners in each division were presented.
• Three-Year-Old Mare & Gelding Rookie of the Year:
Salute Miss Charlie, owned by Patti Pollack and shown by Lake Weaver under the banner of Premier & Company
•Three-Year-Old Stallion Rookie of the Year:
The Red Dragon, owned by Anne Evans and shown by Sam Martin under the Thornridge South banner
Marsha's on the Square has been a valuable supporter of the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association. Again, this year, the trainer of the World Grand Championship was presented with a beautiful, custom saddle-riding suit. Tim Smith was happy to accept this gift.
Jake Jacobs was selected to be inducted into the WHTA Friendship Club. Members of this club are individuals who have gone above and beyond serving our horse and industry.
Each year, the Riders’ Cup program continues to grow and be a highly competitive and respected program. Trainers were presented with their winnings during their meeting back in December. At the awards banquet, the two overall division winning trainers were presented with their large checks. Dan Waddell topped the performance division earning $13,775.52. Joe Lester captured first place honors in the pleasure division earning $10570.56.
WHTA Horse of the Year Recipients
Performance Trainer of the Year
Tim Smith
Pleasure Trainer of the Year (tie)
Joe Lester
Hannah Myatt
Assistant Performance Trainer of the Year
Cody Wofford
Assistant Pleasure Trainer of the Year
Mackenzie Morgan
Groom of the Year
Daniel Cazares
Performance Youth of the Year
Ally Jo Jacobs
Pleasure Youth of the Year
Caroline Stanley
Performance Amateur of the Year
Allyson Armstrong
Pleasure Amateur of the Year
Kelly Querrey
Best One-Night Show
Money Tree Classic
Best Multi-Night Show
ETWHA Fall Classic
Lead Line
Winner – Can Do 2 and Coy Sanderson
Reserve – Hide And Seek and Calli Johnson
Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Ultra Pink Pistol
Reserve – Commanding The Legacy
Weanling
Winner – Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo
Reserve –Ah Ah Ah Choo
Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Hurrah!
Reserve – I Am Superman 4G
Yearling
Winner – Totally Justified
Reserve – All About Choo
Two-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Far Above Rubies
Reserve – Trophy Girl
Lite-Shod Specialty
Winner – Space Cowboy SN
Reserve – The Master Of Ceremonies
Two-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Reserve – General Thomas J Jackson
Youth Show Pleasure
Winner – Well Armed American
Reserve – Annie’s Lined With Cash
Youth Pony
Winner – I Am Big Enough
Reserve – The Ultimate Honor
Trail Pleasure
Winner (tie) – Blacklist
Machete
Reserve – Twenty Four Carrots ML
Adult Pony
Winner – I’m Charlie Black CFF
Reserve – I’m Rick James
Country Pleasure
Winner – Luciano
Reserve – Hey Charlene
Novice
Winner – He’s For Real
Reserve – Say Cash
Amateur Three-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – She’s Lined With Love 4G
Reserve – She’s Almost A Ten
Elite (50 & Over)
Winner – Good Samaritan
Reserve – Ohh Troubadour
Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Country As Cornbread
Reserve – Grateful Red
Youth Flat Shod
Winner – Checkpoint Charlie
Reserve – Imagine Dragons
Three-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Private Dixie
Reserve – Gimme A Redneck Girl
Park Pleasure
Winner – Gomez
Reserve – One Special Poison
Three-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Ohtani
Reserve – Wilhelm
Fine Harness
Winner – In Ted’s Image
Reserve – The Blackstone
Model
Winner – Back In The Saddle Again
Reserve – My Miranda Lambert
Ladies Amateur Specialty
Winner – My Honey Bee
Reserve – The Iron Door
Men’s Amateur Specialty
Winner – A Home Run By Ted
Reserve – A King Thing
Amateur Canter
Winner – A Big Honor
Reserve – Honor My Country
Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Miss Annie Rose
Reserve – Design By Dixie
Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Hotty Toddy Gosh A’Mighty
Reserve – Gunsmith
Amateur Park Pleasure
Winner – Boston Bay
Reserve – Jazzed Up Lady
Amateur Lite-Shod
Winner – Roscoe Jenkins
Reserve – Space Cowboy SN
Four-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Jimmer’s Country Girl
Reserve – Oh! My Black Betty
Four-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – I’m Choobacca
Reserve – Jura THF
Five & Under Country Pleasure
Winner – Shipwrecked
Reserve – Crypto
Amateur Park Performance
Winner – Pitbull
Reserve – Do Right
Amateur Show Pleasure
Winner – The Honor Code
Reserve – Captain Woodrow F Call
Five & Under Trail Pleasure
Winner – Jalapeño
Reserve – Sweet Walking Matilda
Professional Park Performance
Winner – Wanted THF
Reserve – I’m A Proud American
All Day Pleasure
Winner – Just A Steel Magnolia
Reserve – She’s Never Been Kissed
Amateur Five-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Born A Maverick
Reserve – A Shade Of Jose’
Youth 11 & Under
Winner – It’s The Medalist
Reserve – The Megalodon
Two & Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure
Winner – Lady Whistledown
Reserve – Vivian
Professional Show Pleasure
Winner – Kong
Reserve – Down South In Dixie
Amateur Five-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Smoking
Reserve – Google.com
Amateur 15.2 & Under Mare or Gelding
Winner – TN Lineman
Reserve – A Good Time Charlie
Youth 12-17
Winner – Jose’s Vindicator
Reserve – A Neon Cowboy
Amateur 15.2 & Under Stallion
Winner – I Will Honor Thy Father
Reserve – Starpower CC
Amateur Specialty
Winner – Powerstroked By Jose
Reserve – A Home Run By Ted
15.2 & Under Mare or Gelding
Winner – Pappy Van Winkle
Reserve – I Am Bold And Spicy Jose
15.2 & Under Stallion
Winner – Millionaire’s Row
Reserve – Form A Line
Open Specialty
Winner – Warbird
Reserve (tie) – Broadway Honors
TUA MCF
15.2 & Over Mare or Gelding
Winner – Cheatin’ On Charlie
Reserve – I’m Charlie Daniels
15.2 & Over Stallion
Winner – Cavender
Reserve – Justified Honors