by Mark McGee

It may been billed as the Saturday morning session of the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, but it was Ally Jo Jacobs’ morning as the young rider walked out of Cooper Steel Arena after three winning rides. Caroline Stanley also earned her share of the morning glory with two first place ties.
Seven of nine programmed entries answered the first gate call of morning. Mystic Jazz was in tune for owner-handler Ally Jo Jacobs of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with a blue ribbon performance in the Youth Model class. Mystic Jazz has five blues and two reserves in 2024. I’m Modelo was led to second place by Madelyn Gannon for Dawn Dill. Promise Keeper and handler Peyton Nelms were third for Lisa Teel.

Jazz & Everything wowed the judges and earned the unanimous top tie in the Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 English Trail Pleasure class that hosted nine horse and rider teams. Shane Smith was in the saddle for co-owners Darrell Collins from Brodhead, Kentucky, and Judy Rose from Harrodsburg, Kentucky. It the 18th blue of the year for Jazz & Everything. Resurgence was ridden to reserve honors by co-owner Dakoda Gardner for co-owners Beth and Sarah Beth Thomas. Diva By Daddy and owner-rider Maddie McMorrow took home a yellow streamer.

Next to the ring were 12 young teams in the Weanlings, Youth Handlers class. Just In Time was guided to the winner’s circle by handler Peyton Nelms for The George Wright Family and Joe Link of Mt. Juliet. The young champion has two blues and a reserve in three classes this season. Mona Lisa Mona Lisa was awarded the reserve streamer with handler Emery Sims for owners Dr. Roger Richards and Bobby Jones. Lamar Jackson was led to the third tie by Marshall Mills for Dotson Brothers. 

In the Auxiliary Equitation Medal Youth 6-11 class, two entries were scheduled. Ally Jo Jacobs of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was the lone competitor and walked away with the blue. This marked her fourth year in a row as the class winner, and the second win of the morning for Jacobs.

The Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 English Country Pleasure competitors were next to the ring with six of the 10 programmed teams coming up the chute for their chance at a world championship title. It was the team of Shameless SF and co-owner Abi Smith earning the unanimous victory. He’s Off The Wall and co-owner Cheyenne Gardner rode away with a red streamer for co-owners Patty Gibbs and Blake Everett. Sabotage was presented the third place ribbon with Kylie Duvall on board for Stooksbury and Duvall.

Ally Jo Jacobs found her way to the winner’s circle for the third time Saturday morning with a winning ride aboard First Knight Out for co-owner Riley Gregory from Franklin, Kentucky. The win came in the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 All Day Pleasure class where 12 of the 13 planned entries vied for top honors. Peligro Dinero and co-owner-rider Otis Hughes were reserve for co-owner Phyllis Langley. She’s Never Been Kissed was third with co-owner Alyana Arnold in the saddle for co-owner Kimberly Walden.

Twelve Owner-Amateur Weanling duos hit the ring to wow the judging panel. Handler and co-owner Lisa Teel guided Cold Justice LL to the blue for the partnership of Teel and Washburn from Fayetteville, Tennessee. Cold Justice LL is undefeated in five classes in 2024. Ooh La La and handler Georgia Hazelwood were reserve for Jacoby Farm, while Up Town Girl CTF and handler Hunter Fikes walked out with a yellow ribbon for John Fikes. 

Imagine Dragons and Caroline Stanley were the top tie for Jennifer Stanley of Cynthiana, Kentucky, in the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 Trail Pleasure class. Only two of the five expected entries competed, but it was tough competition for the two teams. Imagine Dragons has four blues and a reserve in five classes. Mr. Bentley, the class winner in 2023, was called as the reserve finisher for owner-rider Lakelyn Mathews. 

Boston Bay and co-owner Jocelyn Laughlin of Shelbyville, Tennessee, rode to the winner’s circle next for co-owner Anne Evans of Johnson City as the unanimous choice of the judges in the Owner-Amateur Youth Park Pleasure class. Six of nine program entries made the gate call. Boston Bay is a perfect four-for-four for this year. This was the second blue of the Celebration with Evans making the blue ribbon ride with Boston Bay Thursday night. Reserve was Just Jose It with Madelyn Gannon  aboard for Leonard and Gannon. The third place streamer was carried out by Brylee Wampler in the saddle aboard New York Times for Brock Wampler. 

It was a repeat win for The Tiger Lily and owner-rider Caroline Stanley from Cynthiana, Kentucky, in the Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 Country Pleasure class the showcased seven talented teams. They were the unanimous selection from the five judges. In 2024, The Tiger Lily has earned six blues and two reserves in eight shows. One of the reserves was earned in the Model Mares class Wednesday morning with handler Beverly Carter. Late For A Date, with co-owner Reese Abernathy in the irons for co-owners Bobby and Connie Holbrook and Hunter Head, received the third place tie. 

Closing out the Saturday morning session was the Auxiliary Equitation Youth World Grand Championship where five riders competed. After all the work was complete, it was Kate Cowan from Bowling Green, Kentucky, earning the first world grand championship title of the 2024 Celebration. She proudly left the ring with the floral horseshoe and multi-colored ribbon flowing. Cowan improved upon her reserve finish in this class last year earning the unanimous votes of the judges. It was a Kentucky sweep of the top three spots. Ruth Collins placed second from Maysville, and Kenzie Rotterman from Bowling Green was third.