Maiden rivals face off again in Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class
By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – Tuesday night marked another Fan Appreciation night, where tickets and select concessions were only $1. And what a night it would be! From Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings to Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure, to Show Pleasure Stallions, to Owner-Amateur Stallions, the best of the best were set to enter the show ring for stiff competitions. The gate opened for the presentation of the colors by White Diamond Dollar and Vicki Self at 7PM. Ron Adams of the Emmanuel Church Pentecostal said the invocation, and afterward Erin Seifert of Murfreesboro sang the national anthem. 

The first of 13 classes of Tuesday night was 136, English Park Pleasure. One of seven entries stepped into the ring, where Chris Bobo was the call judge. Gen’s Slingblade and Patrick Thomas got underway at a flat walk, exhibiting the gaits for the judges in true world champion fashion. This team proudly made the victory pass to wear the blue. Sired by Gen’s Black Gin and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, Gin’s Slingblade had wins this year at the FAST Spring Showcase, WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and Fayetteville Blue Ribbon show, as well as a world championship in Owner Amateur English Park Pleasure on Friday evening. He was also the Park Pleasure Five & Under World Champion in 2024. Patrick Thomas rode Gin’s Slingblade in the class for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama.

Class 137A ushered in Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings. Of the 23 entries on the program, 19 made the gate call while Judge Campbell called the gaits in the class. The contenders were each very talented, and the competition was heated. Everyone vied for a good spot on the rail in the dense class. After they went to the lineup, the judges’ cards were tallied. In the first-place position was Smoochen With Charlie with Jae Crunk. Sired by Walk Time Charlie, Smoochen With Charlie is the entry of Dan and Jae Crunk of Walnut Hill, Illinois, and was the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Mares & Geldings World Champion in 2024. had Wins this year have occurred at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Money Tree Classic. Wearing the crimson streamer back to Sevierville was Charblackwood and owner/rider, Jimbo Conner. Also sired by Walk Time Charlie, Charblackwood had a great year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, ETWHA Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and East Tennessee Classic, and took home a world championship title Sunday night in the Young Trainers 35 & Under on Mares & Geldings class. Third-place honors went to He’s Mr. Big Stuff and Dr. Lynda Brogden, the owner and up.

Class 138, Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure, put a buffer between the two splits of 137. This class included Futurity nominated Two-Year-Old Trail Pleasure Mares, Geldings and Stallions. However, it brought its own brand of fiery competition to the ring. The trainers aboard these young horses had given them all of their energy earlier in the summer preparing them for the Maiden class at The International. Now, they were going head-to-head once more for a world championship title here at The Celebration. These contenders came into the Big Oval more determined than ever to show their horses. Judge Grider called the sizeable class of 14. Taking home the blue streamer and neck ribbon by unanimous choice was the extremely popular and beloved winner of The Maiden, Raylan Givens, with BJ Richards in the irons for Debbie and Wayne Simons of Shelbyville. Raylan Givens is sired by Justified Honors and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare; this is only his second time in the ring with dedicated trainer, BJ Richards. Earning their way to a reserve world championship was the equally popular team of After Shock and Kyle Elliot, riding for Dannielle van der Hoeven, coming all the way from Werribe, Victoria, Australia. After Shock is sired by My Shockwave and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. Third in the good class was presented to the team of Ghost Pepper and Joe Lester for Phyllis Langley.

Class 137, the B split of Owner-Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares & Geldings, was next. Fourteen of 23 entries answered the gate call as they took to the rail. Judge Cortner was the call judge as owners took a deep seat and called on their mounts to go at the running walk. They rode hard all the way into the south turn. Walking out of the lineup to make that victory pass was three-time World Champion, She’s Lined With Love 4G, with Maria Bobo, the owner and up of Shelbyville. Sired by Lined With Cash and out of a Pusher Busting Loose mare, She’s Lined With Love 4G won this year at the FAST Spring Showcase and Columbia Spring Jubilee. Taking home reserve to Shelbyville as well was Jose’s June Bug with Libby Doub in the irons for David and Libby Doub. Jose’s June Bug is by Jose’ Jose and out of a Lined With Cash mare. Finishing out with the yellow streamer was the duo of Now That’s All Right Mama and Stacy Blackburn, the owner and up.

Class 139 Park Performance brought 11 entries into the ring. Judge Sisk called the class as the competition got underway. This Park Performance world championship was the culmination of a year of hard work and dedication for these trainers. Cheers erupted as they stepped their horses up to a running walk. Finally, they were called into the lineup; there, Wakanda and Drew Graves were announced the winners and made the good ride for Lovett and Walters of Mobile, Alabama, and Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Wakanda had wins this year at the Cornersville Lions Club, and this was his first world championship ride. Second award in the good class went to Mayor Bill and Dan Waddell riding for George and Kim Lewis of Newville, Alabama. Mayor Bill won this year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and the Shelbyville Tennis Club shows. In the third spot on the judges’ cards was in The Red Dragon and Sam Martin in the irons for Anne Evans.  

Class 140, Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, was another big class. Exhibiting some of the best show pleasure horses in the industry, the trainers came in fired up for a world championship. Thirteen of 21 entries came down the hill as Judge Bobo called the class. After much deliberation, the judges chose I Am The Lady and Drew Graves to wear the blue for Jason Patterson of Meridianville, Alabama. Sired by I Am Jose’ and out of A Specialist mare, I Am The Lady is a two-time World Champion, with wins this year at the Cullman County Classic and the Cornersville Lions Club shows. Second tie in the class was awarded to Down South In Dixie and Brad Beard for Kim Widner of Goldendale, Washington. Walking to a third-place finish was two-time World Champion Acclaim with Winky Grover in the irons for Carolyn Rutner.

Owner-Amateur 15.2 & Under Mares & Geldings, class 141, kept the exhilaration going. Of the impressive 34 entries, 16 made it into the ring, while Ross Campbell called the gaits in the class. The competition was fierce. However, The Jackalope and Lauren Rader dominated, walking their way to victory for Nathan and Lauren Rader of Mechanicsville, Virginia. The Jackalope was the Show Pleasure Five & Under World Champion in 2023 and had wins this season at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Smoky Mountain Classic. Reserve world champion status was given to Punisher and Ashley Rae for Barbara Smith of Columbus, Mississippi. Punisher won this division in 2022 and 2023 and has a total of four World Championships; he also won this year at the Spring Fun Show and Christmas In July. Taking third in the big class for Sandy Shumate was two-time World Champion My Ticket To Ride with Rae Abernathy in the irons. 

Class 142 called Show Pleasure Stallions down the hill and into the Big Oval. Nine of 13 entries came through the start gate before the class got underway. After Judge Cortner had finished calling the class, these talented entries went into the lineup to await the results. Earning their way to a blue-ribbon ride was the team of YS Fly Like An Eagle and Lake Weaver for Ben Moss and Ron Carney of Laurel, Mississippi. With wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Extravaganza, Walking For Cancer and Red Carpet Show Of The South, this stallion has already proven his skill and athleticism. He rode to his first world championship in this class. Charlie Danger and Ryan Blackburn were called next to wear the crimson streamer for Ginger Williams of London, Kentucky. Winning at Let Freedom Ring and the Owingsville Lions Club, Charlie Danger was also the 2021 Owner-Amateur Novice Show Pleasure World Champion. Riding to the third award was the Owner-Amateur Five & Under Show Pleasure World Champion from Wednesday evening, Charlie’s My Pa Pa, this time with Drew Graves in the irons for Vaught and Adams. 

Class 143A denoted the first of two splits in the Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions division. Eleven of 17 entries came down the hill before Mark Farrar called to shut the gate. Grider was the call judge as the contenders found a good spot on the rail. These three-year-olds put on a great show as the crowd cheered. In the end, earning their place as a world champion team, it was Hurrah! and Caryl Sherman at the top of the judges’ cards for Floyd and Caryl Sherman of Shelbyville. Hurrah! is sired by Lined With Cash and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, and won this year at the Spring Extravaganza, Columbia Spring Jubilee and Let Freedom Ring shows. This follows his victories in the Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallions World Championship and World Grand Championship back in 2024. In fact, he remains undefeated in his show career. Coming out of the lineup to accept the second award was A Brothers’ Honor and Bob Adcock, the owner and up of Lititz, Pennsylvania. A Brothers’ Honor is sired by Honors and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, and boasts wins this year at the Christmas in July and Cornersville Lions Club shows. General Thomas J Jackson and Shannon Cotter took the third place honor for Ed and Shannon Cotter.

Class 144, Trail Pleasure, was next in the Big Oval. This preliminary to the Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship had everyone ecstatic to watch the outcome. Five of seven entries answered the gate call, and Chris Bobo was the call judge. The competition was intense as the trainers took a deep seat around the ring. Many of the horses were seasoned world champions. Finally, Blacklist and Carrie DeJarnette were called to the winner’s circle to receive the blue streamer and neck ribbon for Jane Pirolo of Franklin. A four-time World Grand Champion and 12-time World Champion, Blacklist won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show and Let Freedom Ring. Checkpoint Charlie and Laurie Toone walked their way to a second-place finish for Tamara Hader of Bainbridge, Georgia. Checkpoint Charlie had season wins at The Phoenix, the WHOA Spring Extravaganza and The International, as well as a world championship ride Wednesday morning in the Owner-Amateur flat-shod (Canter) class. Checkpoint Charlie is a four-time world grand champion and a 13-time world Champion. The third award was presented to world champion Retribution and Alex Sinden for Garold and Julie Ross, Rachel Teague and Ella Grace Healon. 

Class 143B brought in the second group of Owner-Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallions. Of the 21 entries on the program, 14 came down the hill as Judge Sisk called the good class. The riders exhibited their horses with everything they had. Soon, Tide Pride and Nathan Clark were announced as the unanimous world champions, riding for Holland and Clark of Decatur and Arab, Alabama. Sired by Honors and out of a Lined With Cash mare, Tide Pride won the Two-Year-Old Stallions World Championship in 2024 with Tanner Burks. Tide Pride also had wins this year at Walking In The Smokies, TWHYA Summer Splash and the Money Tree Classic. Second in the class was presented to Look At Choo and Meghan Hammond for Shamrock Farms of Shelbyville. Sired by Jimmy Choo and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, Look At Choo was a winner this year at the Spring Fun Show, Money Tree Classic and Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Stepping into the third-place spot for Dr. Ann Rea was I Am Superman 4G with Alex Rea riding. 

Class 145 was Young Trainer 35 & Under, on Stallions. Seven of 21 entries answered the gate call as the class got underway at a flat walk. Judge Campbell was the call judge as these youthful trainers exhibited some of their best horses in the good class. The crowd went wild with excitement as they reversed and stepped up to a running walk. Every contender showcased great talent, but it was the 2024 winner in this class, Warbird, and Ryan Blackburn who were called to the winner’s circle with unanimous world champion honors. Warbird is the entry of Ginger Williams of London, Kentucky. and has two world grand vhampionship, three world championships and wins this year at the Walking In The Smokies and Owingsville Lions Club shows. Taking second in the division was Longing For Honors and Josh Wright, riding the entry owned by Nate Cremmins of Glasgow, Kentucky. Longing For Honors had wins earlier in the season at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and Parkers Crossroads. Finishing with the third-place tie was Primo with Lake Weaver in the irons for The Justin Harney Family.

Class 146 was the final class of the night: Owner-Amateur Stallions (Canter). Five of seven dynamic teams entered the ring, where Robert Cortner called the class. The rivalry was on as they took to the rail. Every entry made an excellent show. J Brantley played “Edelweiss,” as they cantered, and then “The Tennessee Waltz” as the class came to a close. In the end, the world championship honor went to I’m Jordan and Kenny Compton for Rick Compton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Sired by ACC, I’m Jordan is a two-time world grand champion in this division, and a three-time time world champion, winning this class in 2022, 2024 and now 2025. I’m Jordan had wins this year at The Smoky Mountain Classic and Christmas In July. Earning their way to a reserve world championship was A Big Honor with owner Dr. David Bullock in the irons of Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Sired by Honors, A Big Honor was the Owner-Amateur Stallions World Champion in 2023 and the Owner-Amateur Stallions World Grand Champion in 2024. He had wins this season at Walking For Youth and the Money Tree Classic. Coming around to receive the yellow streamer in the good class was World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion, Glory JC and Rae Abernathy, up for Sandy Shumate.

The second of two Fan Appreciation Nights had finished. However, everyone was invited to come back Wednesday night for Pink Night at the Celebration. For the first time, everyone was tasked with coming back in pink attire for the Wednesday evening festivities. As everyone wound down and grooms fed and watered their horses for the night, the cool air swept in. The earlier evenings and chilly nights reminded everyone that the end of August was near, and, with it, the crowning of a new generation of World Grand Champions.