Celebration preliminaries close

Ten Mares and Foals saw Stylin' and Always In Style handled by Brian Wright and Amanda Winters take twin blue ribbons. (TWHNC photo)

The Wednesday night schedule featured 13 classes highlighted by three sections of Owner/Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old walking Mares or Geldings.

The night opened with class 128 featuring Fine Harness with seven teams on the books for the honor of driving to the winner's circle. Available Stock and Wayne Dean for Mike Floyd and Susan Coleman of Columbia took the blue. Clutch's Power Play and Scott Beaty won the red streamers for Double Springs Farm, in Murfreesboro.

The first of the three sections of class 129, Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings was up next on the program. Getting the blue ribbon call in the A division were Emma Lee Cannon and Call Me Ted riding for for Mary Ellen Owens of Sumter, S.C. Bum In The Storm and Rhonda Stewart were reserve for Stewarts Farm & Nursery of McMinnville.

In class 129B, Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings, Dressed for Cash and Erica Hartlein in the irons for Frazier and Jenné of Shelbyville worked for their moment in the spotlight, taking the blue. Pulling on for reserve were Limestone Lucy and Steve Heitmiller from Laguna Beach, Calif.

Rounding out the division was class, 129C, Owner-Amateur Riders on Three-Year-Old Walking Mares or Geldings. Taking the blue in this section were Muchos Colores with Mary Beth Blessing riding for What A Blessing Farm of Bristol, Tenn., Rosetta Stone and Patty Marek were reserve for Patty Marek and Gary Smith of Shelbyville.

The professional trainers were back and in the saddle this time for class 130, Walking Geldings, Five Years and Over, Over 15.2 (Canter) making their way to the rail to work for the divisional honors. When the work was complete, a unanimous judges' decision called the team of Busting Special and Jimmy McConnell to the winner's circle for Molly Walters of Southlake, Texas. Bold Vengeance and Rodney Dick for Judy McDonald of Tullahoma pulled in for reserve honors.

Park Performance Walking Horses, Five-Years and Over were up next on the schedule, class 131. Topping the good class was the team of All American Ritz and Howard Hamilton for Cynthia Wright of Jackson, Tenn. High Fashion Statement and Patrick Thomas for Pat and Jamie Gardner of Bridgewater, Va., accepted the red ribbon.

Class 132 highlighted the efforts of the Amateur Owned & Trained exhibitors in the Amateur Owned and Trained Walking Horses, No Professional Training within 90 Days. Outshining the ring were Jazz Eclipse and Justin Harney for High and Harney of Lewisburg and Murfreesboro. Kenny Compton atop Tarheels Angelique for Rick Compton of North Tazwell, VA took the reserve place in the class.

The young trainers were up next for class 133, Young Trainers, 35 and Under on Walking Mares or Geldings. The Prime Suspect and Aaron Solf riding hard for Brian and Candra Carroll of Sevierville took the blue ribbon. A High Dollar Charge with Stephen Aymett for Beverly Sherman of Dallas accepted the red streamer in this deep class.

Class 134 featured Owner-Amateur Riders on Walking Stallions, Five Years and Over, (Canter) making their way down from the warm up ring to work for the Wednesday night crowd. Ironworks Tin man with Steve Jones in the irons for Ray Jones Trucking of Greenville, Ky., gave the judges and crowd the winning ride accepting the blue. Roll The Gold and Spud Warr rolled to the center for reserve honors for Jeannette Warr from Phenix City, Ala.

The mares and babies were up next in class 135, Mare and Foal. Tennessee entries topped the event with Stylin' and Always In Style handled by Brian Wright and Amanda Winters for the George Wright Family of Mt. Juliet. Jose's Special and Ladyoop's Peek A Boo were reserve with Logan Goostree and Carla Hurley handling for Laurale Lowery of Hendersonville.

The next class of the evening brought cheers for the Park Pleasure Walking Stallions, Five Years and Over with five teams making the call to work. Riding to the win was Sam Whiskey with Jamey Thompson for the Arthur Gordon Family and Stonegait Farms of Orange, Calif. Yao Ming with Bruce Hankins for pulled into the second position for Nicole Coffee of Lewisburg.

In class 136, Walking Horses, Five Years and Over there were enough entries to split the class into two divisions. The audience was all jazzed up as John Allan Callaway and Jazzed Up won blue in Division A for Bramblett and Wilson of Shelbyville, and the reserve honors went to Jazz's Master with Brandye Mills for Bryce and Lisa Stasney of Lincolnton, N.C.

In 136B, Walking Horses, Five Years and Over, the jazz rolled on with Jazz Country and Tim Smith riding for Beverly McNeill of Andalusia, Ala., to the center ring to accept the blue ribbon. Lots of Luck and Chad Way took the red streamers for Joe Dietz of New Castle, Ind.

With that, the preliminary competition of the 71st Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is on the record books.