by Mark McGee | Photos by Shane Shiflet

A crisp, fall-like morning welcomed early risers for the Wednesday morning session to open the 86th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in the shiny, renovated interior of Cooper Steel Arena.
The schedule hosted 13 classes with an impressive nine of those coming as unanimous decisions by the five-judge panel.

It was perfect attendance as morning show announcer Travis Olinger welcomed all six programmed entries into the ring for the Model Pleasure Mares class, the first of the 11-day show. 

For the second year in a row, handler Laurie Toone guided My Miranda Lambert to hit the right notes for a blue ribbon for owners Ally Jo Jacobs and Brandon Tate. They were the unanimous choice of judges. It was the second blue in as many shows in 2024 for My Miranda Lambert. Reserve was The Tiger Lily and Beverly Carter for owner Jennifer Stanley. Catherine Zeta-Jones, with handler Robert Nelms, took home a yellow ribbon. 

Seven of the scheduled nine entries entered the ring with Scotty Brooks serving as the call judge in the Owner-Amateur English Trail Pleasure class. Blacklist and owner-rider Jane Pirolo made it a three-peat walking out as the unanimous selection of the judges. It was the sixth blue of the show season for Blacklist, with one reserve in seven shows. Twenty Four Carrots ML and Maggie Moore rode away with a red ribbon for co-owner Jim Leek. The third place tie was Retribution with co-owner Rachel Teague.

The third unanimous winner of the morning was Roscoe Jenkins and owner-rider Susan Coleman. They knew the way to the winner’s circle, as they have earned the first place tie for the fourth year in a row in the Owner-Amateur English Lite-Shod class. It was their third top finish of the season and extended their blue ribbon streak to 19 in a row dating back to 2020. Two Guns was ridden to reserve honors by Blake Cammack for Champion Stables. She’s Charlie’s Girl and Nancy Evans placed third. 

It was an all-Kentucky class as all three entries answered the gate call for the Auxiliary Equitation Medal Class, Riders 12-14 Years. Ruth Collins was the winner, Kenzie Rotermann earned the red streamer and Avery Bennett took third place honors. Collins is from Mayfield, while Rotermann and Bennett are from Bowling Green.

GiGi’s Majestic was just that as Elysse Bradford rode to a unanimous first place tie out of a field of 10 for owner William Bradford in the Owner-Amateur English Country Pleasure class. GiGi’s Majestic rolled a lucky seven with having won this class for the seventh year in a row. Last year, Jordan Howell had the honors of directing the talented contender to the world championship while Bradford was at college. It was the fourth blue in a row in 2024. Placing second was Jose’s Twist Of Gin and owner-rider Patti Pollack. Sidelined and owner-rider Kendra Myers rode away with a yellow ribbon.

Call judge Jamie Bradshaw welcomed four of seven scheduled entries in the Elite Owner-Amateur Park Pleasure class. Dixie’s Legacy and co-owner Billie DeArmond walked away with the blue ribbon for co-owner Sister Milligan as the unanimous choice of the judges. Chrome Curb Appeal, with Ronnie Rushing in the saddle, placed second for Rushing Creek Walkers, while Just Jose It and Kim Leonard were the third place tie.

Sweet Walking Matilda and owner-rider Margo Urad walked their way to victory in the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class. It was their sixth blue of the show season out of eight shows and their fifth in a row. They added this to their 2023 win in three-year-old class. She’s Venomous struck for a reserve ribbon for owner-rider Kelly Querrey, and Allstate and Teresa Tyra rode out with the yellow streamer.

All three programmed entries performed in the Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class for call judge Leigh Stuart and her co-horts. Mr. Booty and owner-rider Darren Gray rode to the first place tie. It was the third blue ribbon of the year for Mr. Booty. The Maiden and owner-rider Dale Steinmetz captured the red streamer, while Peaky Blinders and co-owner-rider Kevin Reichard were third.

In the Park Pleasure Five & Under class, seven entries took to the ring. It was the team of Gin’s Slingblade and Amber Zahnd riding out victorious for owner Janson Patterson. Komohana and Jeff Laughlin placed second for co-owners Denny Russell, Carol Missildine and Winding Way Farm. Third place honors were presented to A Sterling Honors and Ryan Gannon.

The largest class of the Wednesday morning session was the Owner-Amateur All Day Pleasure with 16 of 17 programmed entries answering the gate call for call judge Derek Bonner. She’s Never Been Kissed and Kimberly Walden continued their winning ways in 2024 with the top tie in the class. She’s Never Been Kissed has won 24 blues and eight reserves this season, 21 of those with Walden aboard. IB Smokin’ Joe and owner-rider Keith Johnson were presented with the reserve award, while Miss Belle Starr W. and Dr. Brittany Baum received the yellow ribbon.

Only two of the five scheduled entries were in the ring for the Owner-Amateur Flat Shod (Canter) class where Derek Bonner served as the call judge. Eleven-year-old Checkpoint Charlie showed he is still a dominant force in the show ring walking out with the Owner-Amateur Flat Shod (Canter) World Championship for the fourth year in a row. The last three years it has been Jared Carrier in the saddle, and Ashley Say had kicked off the winning in 2021 in that class. This year marked the fifth year in a row Checkpoint Charlie walked to Celebration victory. Labeled A Parolee and owner-rider Eliza DeKleyn rounded out class with the second place award.

Jalapeño and Joe Lester bested the six contenders in the Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class unanimously for Kimberly and Perry Walden. They added this to their Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure World Championship class last year. Jalapeño now boasts an undefeated resume of two world championships and the 2023 Maiden Championship. The reserve award went to Cat Dragon and Hannah Myatt for Dr. Jana Anderson, while Rosalitta and Laurie Toone took home a third place ribbon for Ashley Wadsworth.

Three entries closed out the morning session in the Auxiliary Equitation Medal (Canter) Class for Riders 15-17 Years. Following the completion of the patterns, it was Kate Cowan earning the world championship title. Joann Keyser was presented with the reserve award, while Kilie Phillips was awarded third.