Charlie Green, right, was honored by his colleagues as the Trainer of the Year. Joel Weaver presented Green with the prestigious Trainer of the Year ring. (Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Shelbyville's Charlie Green was presented the prestigious title of Trainer of the Year during the Walking Horse Trainers' Association (WHTA) Horse of the Year Awards Banquet on Saturday night.

The banquet and presentations concluded the official year-end meetings for the association, during which Link Webb of Lewisburg was elected as WHTA president. His wife Rhea Ellen Webb was elected as the president of the Ladies' Auxiliary and the horse show she has chaired this year, the Ladies Auxiliary Money Tree Classic, secured the title of One-Night Horse Show of the Year.

Green's honor was officially announced during this year's Celebration. However, the presentation of the WHTA ring was made by Joel Weaver as a part of an award ceremony with over 50 categories saluting the top performers of the Walking Horse world as selected by the members of the association. Green was also honored as the trainer of Kid Callahan, winner of the Men's Amateur Specialty Horse of the Year award. The horse was shown throughout the season by Ed Breedlove for owner Keith Breedlove.

Trainer Jimmy McConnell and his wife Gail join owner Lee Wall, WHTA outgoing president Wink Groover and Assistant Trainer of the Year Dan Waddell in receiving 15.2 and Over Stallion of the Year honors for Master of Jazz, the 2007 World Grand Champion. (Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Tandy Rice of Nashville, the evening's master of ceremonies, announced Dan Waddell of Union City as Assistant Trainer of the Year. Waddell has received the honor on six separate occasions. Employed by Formac Stables under the direction of veteran trainer Jimmy McConnell, Waddell was a part of the current World Grand Champion team of Master of Jazz; the horse also took the 15.2 and Over Stallion of the Year award for owners Lee Wall of Jackson, Miss., and Mike McGartland of Texas.

Among the Bedford County residents taking home awards was the team of Lisa Baum and Tony Montana. They collected the 4-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding Horse of the Year honors while Cena and Joe Martin took the 3-Year-Old Amateur Gelding title for I'm Louie Armstrong.

William and Sandra Johnson's Waterfall Farms contenders, under the direction of Southern Comfort trainers, enjoyed a winning season that culminated with two Horse of the Year honors. Sandra and Palm Beach Ritz were presented with the 3-Year-Old Amateur Stallion division while Bill received the 2-Year-Old Amateur Stallion trophy for the efforts of Naples Ritz. Both horses are products of the breeding program of He's Puttin' On The Ritz, their 1996 World Grand Champion.

Janice and Dan Rowsick of Pennsylvania (left) received the Horse of the Year award for Jose All Pro, the Junior World Grand Champion ridden by Bill Bobo of Shelbyville. Bobo's son Chris joins the winners. (Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

The horses under the ownership of the Pollack's Silver Spur Ranch found their names once again in the spotlight as they collected three prestigious honors. In the 2-Year-Old Gelding Horse of the Year category, Prodigy received the vote while 2-Year-Old Stallion honors went to Arm's Deal for Real and the 4-Year-Old Amateur Stallion award to I'm P Diddy.

Bill Bobo's celebrated victory in the Junior World Grand Champion class of the Celebration aboard Dan and Janice Rowsick's Jose's All Pro earned the trainer, horse and owners the 4-Year-Old Stallion Horse of the Year title as well.

Jean O'Brien and Reggie Pimentel collected two Horse of the Year honors following the championship win of Coin's Black Stroke, trained by Shelbyville's Johnny Puckett. Members of the association voted the horse the Professional Show Pleasure title in a tie with Zulu for R. Bud and Suzanne Moore as well as the Amateur Show Pleasure title.

Lisa Baum's Tony Montana was honored by the WHTA as the 4-Year-Old Amateur Mare or Gelding Horse of the Year on Saturday night. Trainer Link Webb, incoming WHTA president, joins her for the presentation. (Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Dimaggio was honored as the 3-Year-Old Stallion of the Year for owners Neal Holland and Bob Kilgore while Marty Irby collected the Trail Pleasure of the Year honors with Lion King.

Beverly Sherman of Shelbyville and Texas, along with her world grand champion, A High Dollar Charge, was voted the Ladies Amateur Specialty title while Janice and Joe Fostek's 3-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding, Jose Solitaire was named the division's horse of the year.

Cynthia Wright and All American Ritz earned two awards at the banquet to add to their list of wins this season. Capping off their year was the Professional Park Pleasure and the Amateur Park Pleasure titles.

The Park Pleasure Specialty and Park Pleasure Canter Horse of the Year title was presented to Pat Carroll for the winning abilities of An All Mighty Dollar.

The Park Pleasure Specialty Horse of the Year award was presented to Sharon and John McNeely and Lindsey Landrum.

Sandra Johnson received the Horse of the Year award for Palm Beach Ritz, the 3-Year-Old Amateur Mare of the Year. Bill Johnson collected the 3-Year-Old Amateur Stallion awards for Naples Ritz. The horses are trained under the guidance of Tim Gray (far right). (Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Maisie McSwaim enjoyed a ride with the roses under the Celebration lights in August and returned to collected banquet awards as well. The Golden Sovereign was voted the Amateur Canter Horse of the Year while The American General was presented the title of Juvenile 12-17 Horse of the Year awards. The McSwaim family rounded out their winning list with Armed to Show, noted as the 15.2 and Over Gelding of the Year.

Drop the Hammer, a multi-titled world grand champion, was voted the Lite Shod Specialty and the Western Lite Shod Plantation Horse of the Year for owners Connie Waldo and Judy Leek.

Prime Poison, recently purchased by the Andrew Waites family of Mississippi for daughter Lilly to show, was selected as the Adult Pony of the Year. The former owners were Harv and Brenda Carlon.

Proc and Mona Dean's JFK Again was again making headlines as the WHTA members voted the horse the Juvenile 11 and Under Horse of the Year. Jordan Dean rode the horse to the Juvenile 11 and Under Mare and Gelding World Grand Championship.

I'm Packin' A Pistol and Jeff Hatcher rode to the National Trainers Show Champion title in March. They team was honored at the WHTA banquet on Saturday night as was the horse's owner, Charlene Gipson (center). Honors were presented by outgoing president, Wink Groover. (T-G Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Thom Meek and the Phantom Menace added another feather to their caps as the 15.2 and Under Amateur Stallion Horse of the Year honors were presented to the team. The 15.2 and Under Mare of the Year was Ritzy Zone for owners Anthony and Carolyn Joseph.

Eva Eddelman's He's Wild Eyed & Wicked, who was presented to honors throughout the season by trainer Knox Blackburn, took the 15.2 and Under Gelding honors and Santana's El Nino, trained by Link Webb for Michael and Ann Jones, took the 15.2 and Under Stallion award.

On the amateur side of the division, The Prime Suspect was the Horse of the Year for Brian and Candra Carroll.

The 15.2 and Over Mare of the Year awards were presented to Pat and Sue Harrington on behalf of JFK's Irish Dream.

Murfreesboro's Double Springs Farms' Clutch's Power Play claimed top honors in the Amateur Fine Harness division while Good Time Freddie, owned by Jeanne Harrison, was selected as the Professional Fine Harness of the Year.

Reggie Pimentel and Jean O'Brien (left) were the recipients of two honors for Coin's Black Stroke. The horse was selected by the WHT A as the Amateur and Professional Show Pleasure Horse of the Year. The horse is trained by John Puckett (right). (T-G Photo by Micky Capley) [Click to enlarge]

Other winners included: Jack Heffington's Bambini as Weanling of the Year; Roger Richard's Pat Head Summitt as Yearling of the Year; Bob Ramsbottom's Jose's Dulce as 2-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding of the Year; the Mike Chiappari family's Double Java as the Lite Shod Canter Horse of the Year and Phyllis Mozeley's London Rain as the Youth Pony of the Year.

Jazz Master secured the Novice Horse of the Year honors for Bryce and Lisa Stasney while John F. K's Pusher was voted the Elite Horse of the Year (Riders 50 and Over) for owners Bruce and Robin MacDonald. Chester and Lynda Stokes were presented the 3-Year-Old Mare of the Year honors for A Victoria Secret and Joey Tidwell, the honors for Amateur Specialty Horse of the Year, Grayline.

Dragonfire was selected as the Western Park Pleasure Horse of the Year for Jim and Cindy Heiting and Preakness, the contender owned by Dr. and Mrs. Rafael Rigual, was presented the 4-Year-Old Mare honors.

Dangerous at Midnight earned the membership's approval as the 4-Year-Old Gelding of the Year for John and Dr. Julie Alford.

The Multi-Night Show of the Year was the Delta Fall Classic held in Tunica, Miss.

Also honored during the night's event was the team of I'm Packin' A Pistol and trainer Jeff Hatcher of Shelbyville, the reigning National Trainers' Show Champion. The contender is owned by Charlene Gibson.

Hundreds were on hand for the annual event and, as the evening drew to a close, many were already looking forward to March 2008, when WHTA presents the next National Trainers Show at Calsonic Arena. Ticket information for the show is available by calling the WHTA offices in Shelbyville.