Last morning session gives The Family Jewels his last victory ride
By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The Monday before Labor Day denotes the last of the morning sessions at the Celebration. This chilly Monday morning brought an array of classes, from Owner-Amateur Western Trail Pleasure to Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure, to Adult Equitation. The morning got underway with Travis Owlinger announcing the judges and ringmasters at precisely 9AM. After that, Cooper Steel Arena welcomed the first of 13 classes on the program.

Class 111 ushered in Owner-Amateur Western Trail Pleasure. Four of four entries came through the gate, where Judge Campbell called the class. Each horse was a seasoned winner; they all shook and walked their way around the ring in true world championship fashion. After the cards were tallied, Machete and owner Susan Coleman of Unionville, were called to wear the blue for the sixth year in a row by unanimous choice. A six-time world grand champion and six-time world champion, Machete had wins this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and Money Tree Classic. Reserve world champion honors went to Retribution and Rachel Teague for Garold and Julie Ross, Rachel Teague and Ella Grace Healon of Ruffin, North Carolina, Bell Buckle, Tennessee and Sumter, South Carolina. A world champion in 2020, Retribution has had wins at the NCWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary, Florence Charity and Walking For The Angels in 2025. Third in the good class was awarded to On The Money DSG and Darren Gray, the owner and up.

Class 112 on the program was Weanling Colts of 2025. Five of 14 entries answered the gate call for this fine class of talented youngsters. Judge Cortner directed the class to line up head-to-tail on the south rail. With every entry parked out, the judging panel looked at the colts, sired by a variety of stallions from The Dixie Lineman to Jimmy Choo, to Jose’ Revival. The world championship honor could only go to one colt and handler though, and the victory pass was made by Tampa Bay W and Amanda Wright. Tampa Bay W is the entry owned by The George Wright Family of Mt. Juliet and is sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Master Of Jazz mare. Tampa Bay W is already a world champion, taking home the blue Wednesday night in the National Futurity Spring Wenling Colts class. Second was presented to Knocked Out with Hunter Fikes at the head for Sadie Rader of Detroit, Alabama. Knocked Out is sired by Holyfield and out of a Nicaragua mare. In the third-place position were The Baum Diggity and Beverly Carter handling for Beth Beasley. 

Owner-Amateur Novice Lite-Shod, class 113, was next on the schedule. With three of four entries coming in the ring, Brent Grider called the good class. They went head-to-head for the blue, stepping high around the ring. Jack Pot Cash and Julianne Laughlin, the owner and up of Shelbyville earned their way to world champion honors. Sired by Cash’s Blackjack, Jack Pot Cash is a classic horse. Walking to the reserve award was WHTA National Trainers’ Show and Christmas In July winner, Marvel Mystery, with owner Elaine Kapinos in the irons of Hillsboro. Third, wearing the yellow streamer in the class, was Val Halla and owner/rider Kimbery Delano.
Class 114 sizzled with excitement as Owner-Amateur Novice Youth Trail Pleasure Mares & Geldings came up the chute next. Of the 10 entries, eight made the gate call. Judge Sisk called the gaits in the class. Cheers erupted from the crowd as these young riders, anywhere from six to 17, took a deep seat and showed their horses at the flat walk and then the running walk. In the lineup, they waited to see who would walk to their first world championship in the class. That honor went to Second Line and Caitlin Simon riding for Wayne and Debbie Simons and Megan White. Second Line had wins this year at The Southern Belle and the Kentucky Rose Regional Championship. Wearing the crimson streamer out of the ring was Miss Sarah Allen with owner Lexi Nelms of Stem, North Carolina, riding. This team had a successful year, winning at the Four Beats For Pleasure Spring Premiere, Four Beats For Pleasure All Around Gaited Extravaganza, PPWHNC Tarheel Classic, VWRHOA Spring Show, Christmas In July, Money Tree Classic, TWHBEA World Versatility Championship and The International shows. Making the third-place ride was Dixie Special and Kerrington Stamper, the owner and exhibitor. 

Class 115 brought Weanling Fillies of 2025 into the ring. Eight of 11 entries answered the gate call. Without further ado, Judge Bobo lined them up head-to-tail on the south side. These young fillies showcased the beauty and gentle intelligence of the breed as they parked out, the handlers’ backs to center ring. Out of the lineup, Just A Barbie Doll JR and Chris Richards were called to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon for Jones and Richards of Manchester and Bell Buckle. This was the first time Just A Barbie Doll J R has shown. Reserve world champion honors were given to Honky Tonk Hissy Fit and Robert Nelms. Sired by Holyfield and out of a Watch It Now mare, Honky Tonk Hissy Fit is the entry of Teel, Washburn and Noe of Fayetteville, and won the Owner-Amateur Weanlings World Championship on Saturday morning with Lisa Teel after winning earlier in the year at the Petersburg Colt Show. Walking to a third-place finish was the team of Bit Of Honey with owner Claire Hankins-Kincade at the head. 

The gate call came for class 116, Owner-Amateur Western Lite-Shod. Of the seven entries in the program, four came up the chute, where Judge Campbell called the class. Former world champions were in this class vying for another Celebration win. In the end, Big Time Bandit and owner Lisa Baum of Shelbyville earned their way to a unanimous first-place finish. Big Time Bandit adds this to nine world championships and three world grand championships. Baum and Big Time Bandit won this class in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 and now, 2025. They also won at Christmas in July earlier this year. Coming in reserve in the class was two-time world champion, The Master Of Ceremonies with Terry Moran up for Darnell and Moran of Christiana and Unionville. The Master Of Ceremonies had wins this year at the FAST Spring Showcase, West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, NSSHA Spring Show, TWHYA Summer Splash and Woodbury Lions Club. The yellow streamer was awarded to Backwoods Southern Lawyer and owner/rider Savannah Upchurch.

Class 117 was next, Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Country Pleasure. Five of five entries answered the gate call. They worked their way around the ring at a flat walk, each talented entry coming for this world champion class after a hard year of working and showing. Once Judge Cortner had finished calling the class, the judges’ cards were tallied. At the top, results showed Thunder Storm In Dixie and Emily Woodruff, the owner and up of Shelbyville. Thunder Storm In Dixie had wins this year at The Phoenix, Let Freedom Ring and Woodbury Lions Club. Sterling Woodruff won a world championship on Thunder Storm In Dixie on Saturday morning in the Youth 6-11 Country Pleasure class. Reserve world champion status was awarded to Christmas In July champion, Rosalita, with owner Ashley Wadsworth in the irons. Coming in the third-place spot was Bodie and Freda Dean for Martin and Dean.

Class 118 brought Owner-Amateur Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure into the arena. Of the five entries, four came up the chute as Judge Grider called the gaits in the class. These talented riders showed their seasoned country pleasure mounts well. Down the rail they went and into the lineup to eagerly await the results. By unanimous choice, Crypto and Kaitlyn Rippy, the Andy Rippy entry of Gallatin, were called to the winner’s circle. Crypto was the Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Country Pleasure World Champion in 2024 and won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and Money Tree Classic shows. Earning the red ribbon were the duo of Quesadilla and Sherri Pollack riding, the owner and up of Saratoga, California. World Champion and World Grand Champion Quesadilla, has also had a successful season at The FAST Spring Showcase, TWHYA Summer Splash and Christmas In July. Riding to the third position was Just Like Fire and Tina Bowling for Tony and Tina Bowling.

Two & Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure was next, class 119. This class included Futurity nominated Two & Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure Mares, Geldings and Stallions. The crowd got excited as the trainers took the reins and rode with everything they had. Twelve of 14 entries came in the ring while Davis Sisk called the class. They geared their horses into a running walk as the competition heated. With the finesse of their trainers behind them, these young horses gave a performance equal to that of most aged horses. Finally, Microshock and Joe Lester were announced as the first-place winners for the good class. Sired by My Shockwave and out of a He’s Slim Shady mare, Microshock is owned by Vicki Moore of New Castle, Virginia, and has already made a name for himself at the WHOA Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show and The International. In the reserve position on the judges’ cards was Hippie Chick SF with Hannah Pulvers in the irons for Greg Mathews of Clarksville. Hippie Chick SF is sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a Titleist mare and won this year at The FAST Spring Showcase, Belfast Lions Club and Christmas In July. Taking home the third award was Vox with Krysta Allen riding for Anne Frank.

The Two-Year-Old Lite-Shod world championship, class 120, was next. This included Futurity nominated Two-Year-Old Lite-Shod Mares, Geldings and Stallions. Of the seven entries, three made the gate call, with Judge Bobo calling the class. These trainers proved their dedication as they showcased their horses’ talent all the way around Cooper Steel Arena. These young horses stepped their way to the lineup like it was easy. Not Enough Proof and Patrick Thomas wore the blue streamer and neck ribbon in the good class for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama. Sired by Absolute Proof and out of a Push Me Bold mare, this was the first time showing for Not Enough Proof, and it ends in a world championship title. Walking to reserve world champion honors was Hawk’s Smooth Sky and Ryan Gannon for Michael Chandler of Rock Island. Winning at the NSSHA Trainers’ Show, Hawk’s Smooth Sky is sired by Hawk’s Blue Sky and out of a JFK mare. Pink Pony Club, with Jonathan Baskin in the irons for Caroline Elliott Allen, took third. 

Class 121 was Owner-Amateur Novice English Trail Pleasure. They were some of the most talked about horses of the season, though none of them had ever before won at The Celebration. Ross Cambell called the good class of seven entries. Wearing the blue ribbon around the ring and into the winner’s circle for the first time, forever changing their novice status, were Dead Beat Daddy and Susan Hills. Sired by Daddy’s Cash, Dead Beat Daddy is the Dennis and Susan Hills entry of Farmington, Missouri, and won this year at The Southern Belle, Walking For The Angels, Let Freedom Ring and the Woodbury Lions Club. Second in the good class was The FAST Spring Showcase winner, Cat Dragon with Melanie Barnett-Fisher riding for Jana Anderson and Melanie Barnett-Fisher of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and Olive Branch, Mississippi. Rounding out the third position was Enticed with Elaine Kapinos in the irons for Dave and Elaine Kapinos. 

The second-to-last class of the morning was 122, Owner-Amateur Five & Under Park Pleasure. These eight teams walked confidently into the ring to Brian Peery playing “He’s Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Robert Cortner called the gaits in the class. A hush fell over the crowd. Then, Travis Owlinger announced the selection of Mr. Patron and Becca Tate as world champions for the class. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, Mr. Patron is owned by Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama, and had wins this year at the Punam County Fair and Fentress County Fair. Taking home the reserve honors in the class was the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Christmas In July and Money Tree Classic winner: Fleury, ridden by Kim Leonard for Scott and Kim Leonard of Franklin, Wisconsin. Fleury is sired by Jose’s Ambush and was the Two-Year-Old Park Pleasure World Champion in 2024 with Ryan Gannon. Finally, the third award went to I Would Be Honored with owner Kara Walker in the irons.

The last morning class of the 87th Celebration, as per tradition, was Adult Equitation (Canter), class 123E. Jayden Jackson was the sole entry of Bell Buckle. She and her horse, The Family Jewels, performed with the utmost grace and poise as she perfectly worked the pattern around the arena. She demonstrated true horsemanship as she smiled her way into the lineup. Then, she was called to the winner’s circle and presented with the world championship honors she has worked so hard this year to earn. The Family Jewels, owned by Leigh Stuart, is 23 years old, and has earned three world grand championships and four world championships in his career. This was his last victory ride as he retires from showing