Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and other equine information

ThorSport to host open house Friday (05/22/13)
MURFREESBORO -- ThorSport Farm and FarmPaint.com will hold an open house on Friday, May 24, featuring company information, tours of the new buildings and facility, live entertainment and a meet and greet with two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers...

Celebration tour (05/21/13)
Mike Inman, Celebration CEO, takes 28 equine science students from Colorado State University on a tour of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration grounds on Monday.

Celebration rentals (05/15/13)
The Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce is providing local home owners assistance in renting their homes during the upcoming Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, which is being held Aug. 21-31. If you are interested in making your home available to our visitors, contact the Chamber office at 684-3482 or e-mail bedfordchamber@bellsouth.net...

Marsh, Tracy 'disappointed' by veto (05/14/13)
Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday vetoed a bill that would require images documenting animal abuse be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours, saying his main concern is its constitutionality. State Attorney General Bob Cooper last week said in a legal opinion that the measure would be "constitutionally suspect" because it could violate Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination and for placing burdens on news collection....

A weekend of fun activities (05/07/13)
Absolute Skyy, Hannah Pulvers up, presented the flag to open Friday night's Row McLaughlin and Greg Maupin Benefit Horse Show at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center. (T-G Photo by John I. Carney)

Horse trainer denies charges (05/03/13)
Tennessee walking horse trainer Larry Wheelon of Maryville has issued a statement denying abuse of horses at his facility. Wheelon was charged with one count of animal cruelty and 19 horses were seized from his farm. "I would like to first state that I am innocent on the charges alleged against me," Wheelon said. "These are serious allegations that carry serious consequences and I look forward to the opportunity to have my story known and my name cleared of these allegations...

East Tenn. horse trainer faces abuse charges (04/26/13)
A horse trainer from Maryville has been charged with felony animal cruelty after 19 horses were removed from his barn Thursday. The Blount County sheriff's office assisted the U.S. Department of Agriculture in serving a search warrant to Larry Wheelon, 68, last week after receiving a tip about possible animal cruelty, reported The Daily Times of Maryville...

Tracy, Marsh back livestock abuse bill (04/19/13)
Both of Bedford County's state legislators voted for a bill to require anyone recording or taking photos of livestock abuse to turn images over to law enforcement within 48 hours. The bill was approved in the House on Wednesday with 50 votes -- the bare minimum needed to clear the chamber. The Senate version passed 22-9 on Tuesday...

Close encounters: MTEC class lets students experience walking horses (04/18/13)
Students from Middle Tennessee Education Center visited the grounds of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Wednesday and had a chance to meet Shelbyville's signature horse up close and personal. The trip was part of Dr. Warren Gill's "Agriculture in Our Lives" annual curriculum. The class is now offered at MTEC in Shelbyville, a satellite campus of Middle Tennessee State University...

Little horses leave a big impression (04/16/13)
These horses may be small, but they put on a big show. The Tennessee Miniature Horse Celebration 2013 ASPC, ASPR, AMHR & Open Hackney Horse Show was held Friday through Sunday at Calsonic Arena. Tennessee Miniature Horse Volunteers organized the show, which is accredited and conducted under the 2013 rules of the American Shetland Pony/American Miniature Horse Registry...

Local man, local mule are parade winners (04/12/13)
Buddy Pope of Shelbyville and his mule Kate placed second in the Mule Day Parade in Columbia in 2011, and were runners-up again in 2012. This year? "I won a ribbon in every class I showed in," said Pope, "and I won the parade."...

Walking horses speed into hearts of spectators (04/10/13)
PULASKI -- The unmistakable rhythm of horses' hooves on a sod track was music to the ears of a crowd of about 200 horse enthusiasts at the Milky Way Farm Equestrian Challenge Sunday. The event, sponsored by the Walking Horse Racing and Event Commission, was held at the historic Milky Way Farm, home of candy legend Frank Mars. The race track, built in 1932, was designed by Mars and is where many champion thoroughbreds were trained, including the 1940 Kentucky Derby Winner, Gallahadion...

Serious walk: Singer/horse trainer uses talents to help in fight against cancer (04/05/13)
Alena Nicholson is a busy woman, but give her a chance to help fight cancer and she'll clear her schedule in a minute. She'll be performing for 30 minutes prior to the start of the Walking for Cancer Horse Show, to take place April 13 at the Bedford County Ag Center. The horse show, which kicks off at 5 p.m., benefits the Bedford County Cancer Foundation...

A Bruce Pearl wins Trainers Show stake class (03/19/13)
Jimmy McConnell rode A Bruce Pearl, owned by Mike and Lee McGartland, to the blue in the Trainers' Show stake class Saturday night. The show, held at the Calsonic Arena, drew more than 500 entries -- making the show the largest it has been in the past five years. (Photo courtesy Walking Horse Report)

Proposals restrict abuse probes (03/19/13)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- An undercover video that showed California cows struggling to stand as they were prodded to slaughter by forklifts led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. In Vermont, a video of veal calves skinned alive and tossed like sacks of potatoes ended with the plant's closure and criminal convictions...

Cowboys face obstacles in new event (03/14/13)
The Celebration Grounds will host horses of a much swifter breed in May as Craig Cameron's Extreme Cowboy Race comes to town. The event is set for May 24 & 25 on the Celebration Grounds and is sponsored by the Southern Obstacle Challenge Association...

Cancer Foundation gears up for spring horse show (03/10/13)
The Annual Walking for Cancer Horse Show will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Bedford County Ag Center on Midland Road, Shelbyville. The show begins at 5:00 PM and admission is $5 with children under 6 being admitted free. There will be fun for everyone; good food, merchandise vendors and the greatest breed of horse, the beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse. Music for the show and for entertainment will be provided by noted organist Chase Williams...

TWHBEA offers incentives to help in tough times (03/08/13)
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' And Exhibitors' Association (TWHBEA) has announced three new incentives for horse owners and enthusiasts. The group said the incentives were in response to the tough economic times and the various issues effecting prices in the horse industry specifically...

Walking horse group to hold national show at arena (03/07/13)
Horses will fill Calsonic Arena this fall when the National Walking Horse Association (NWHA) holds its championship show in Shelbyville. The group recently voted to bring the show to Shelbyville Sept. 23 - 28, and will be introducing new divisions to the event this year - All Day Pleasure and Park Lite Shod. Country Pleasure division rules have also been revised for 2013, according to an announcement on the NWHA website...

Division added to 2013 Celebration (03/03/13)
An amateur five-year-old division is to be added to the 75th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, the organization has announced. To honor the inaugural year of the division with the ultimate crowning of a new World Grand Champion, the Celebration will be sending medallions honoring the winners at every show throughout the year...

Feathered horses will return in April (02/27/13)
Calsonic Arena will host the Fifth Annual Feathered Horse Spring Classic in April, it has been announced. The event, which will be free and open to the public, is scheduled for April 19-21. Gypsy and Friesian horses from across the nation will compete...