Wild West Night and the Three-Year-Old Stallion split delight spectators
By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – It was horse show time once again in Shelbyville. The first Friday night of The Celebration always brings with it the first of the Fine Harness classes and the exciting split of the Three-Year-Old Stallions. Dubbed Wild West Night at The Celebration, the evening’s festivities began promptly at 7PM. Mark Farrar announced the flag bearer, White Diamond Dollar and Hall of Fame rider Vicki Self. Following the presentation of the colors, Eddie Reed of Living Stones Community Church gave the invocation. Nichole Waggoner of Bell Buckle sang the national anthem. Thereafter, it was time for the first of the 13 classes to enter the ring.

Class 66 was Owner-Amateur Ladies Fine Harness. Four of six entries competed as Judge Chris Bobo called the class. With their formal gowns, the women in the class brightly displayed their poise and finesse as drivers. The harnesses tinkled as the four buggies made their way around the ring, lining up on the west side. Out of the lineup, Outlier and Barbara Civils, the owner/driver of Petersburg were called to world championship honors. This was Outlier’s first world championship, and Barbara Civils smiled all the way to the winner’s circle. Taking reserve in the class were the team of My Tequila Sunrise and Anne Marie Couch, the owner and driver from Franklin. They were winners at Walking For The Angels this year. The third-place streamer was proudly worn out of the ring by 2023 World Champion American Titliest and Marla Lovett for Rick and Marla Lovett.  

Class 67 ushered in Western Lite-Shod horses. Two of six horses came down the chute as Judge Ross Campbell called the class. These horses were veteran Celebration contenders, but only one could take home the title of 2025 world champion. In the end, Space Cowboy SN and Jonathan Baskin, for Skylar Nipper of Shelbyville, made the victory pass by the unanimous choice of the judging panel. Sired by Jose’ Jose’, Space Cowboy SN is undefeated this year with wins at WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show and Walking For The Angels. They were also undefeated at The Celebration in 2024 with two world championships and a world grand championship. Earning reserve was the team of Big Time Bandit and Patrick Thomas for Lisa Baum of Shelbyville. Sired by The Silver Bandit, Big Time Bandit has nine world championships, three world grand championships and a blue this year at Christmas In July. 

The 15.2 & Under Mares & Geldings contenders, class 68, were next on the schedule. Robert Cortner called the class of 10 competitive entries. Each trainer fought for a good spot on the rail, and each horse gave it everything they had, digging in and stepping high around the ring. Chosen out of the lineup to wear that blue at last was My Brother In Arms and Dan Waddell making the good ride for Todd and Shanna Jackson. They add this world championship to a lineup of wins at the Spring Extravaganza, the Belfast Lions Club and Christmas In July. My Brother In Arms won this class in 2024 with Thomas Derickson, and this year he repeats the world championship with Dan Waddell. Taking the crimson streamer home to Murfreesboro was the duo of I Am Bold And Spicy Jose’ and Tyler Baucom, riding for Connie Hess. I Am Bold And Spicy Jose’ won this class in 2022 and 2023. This year blue ribbon victory passes have occurred at the Columbia Spring Jubilee, Walking For The Angels and Red Carpet Show Of The South. Third place in the class went to Beiga Cheval and Thomas Derickson for Tommy McGee and Carol Dickerson.

Class 69, Owner-Amateur Park Performance Stallions, promised to be an intense class. Thirteen of 18 on the program entered the ring before the gate closed, two of them classic horses. Judge Grider was the call judge as the class got underway at a flat walk. True to form, the riders and horses all gave their best. After the judges’ cards were tied, A Touche’ and Jannie Chapman, the owner and up of Red Banks, Mississippi, came around to accept a repeat blue. A Touche’ won this division in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and won at the Money Tree Classic earlier in the year. In total, A Touche’ has earned six world championships and five world grand championships in this division since 2017. Second in the class were the winners at Woodbury Lions Club this year, “Wanted” THF, and Amanda Manis for Manis and Pope of Shelbyville, Tennessee and Taylorsville, North Carolina. “Wanted” THF has ridden to three world championships and a world grand championship title in his career. Earning the tie for third place was Wakanda with Taylor Walters riding for Lovett and Walters.

Class 70 brought Owner-Amateur Youth 6-11 on Geldings to the ring. Calling the class of five was Judge Sisk. The young riders were undeterred by the challenge of showing in the Big Oval and went later to the lineup with big smiles on their faces, proud of their horses. Earning first-place honors in the class was Da Hoss and Ally Jo Jacobs riding for The Jake Jacobs Family of Murfreesboro. This team is undefeated this year with wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Extravaganza, Walking For Cancer and Heart Of A Champion. Smiling to a reserve world championship was 2024 world champions in the division, The Dixie Label and Wyatt Puckett for Mike and Casey Tracy of Blakely, Georgia. The Dixie Label is a repeat winner at The Celebration, already having five world championships and two world grand championships, all in youth divisions. Taking third place on the judges’ cards was I’m Shady with Bentlee Baum in the irons for Lisa Baum. 

Next was Owner-Amateur English Park Pleasure, Class 71, with Judge Bobo calling the good class. Four of 10 came down the hill on Friday night, going head-to-head for the title of world champion. After stiff competition, Mark Farrar called the 2024 Park Pleasure Five & Under World Champion, Gin’s Slingblade and Becca Tate out of the lineup for Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama. They made the victory pass after a year of showing successfully at The FAST Spring Showcase, WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and Fayetteville Blue Ribbon shows. In reserve, five-time World Champion Dixie’s Legacy and Billie DeArmond made the good ride for Billie DeArmond and Sister Milligan of Greer, South Carolina and Panama City, Florida. Dixie’s Legacy won at Christmas In July earlier this season. Wearing the yellow streamer out of the exit gate was three-time world champion, and the winner in this division from 2023 and 2024, Title Line, with Connie Everett in the irons for Farmer and Everett.

Class 72 was Owner-Amateur 70 & Over. Six entries competed in the heated class of old friends and rivals. In the end, it was Born A Maverick and Bob Adcock of Lititz, Pennsylvania, who wore the blue streamer and neck ribbon. Born A Maverick is a three-time world champion and two-time world grand champion, winning at The Celebration every year since the start of his show career in 2021. This year alone they are undefeated with wins at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Christmas In July. Dixie White Socks and Dr. Linda Garrand of Shelbyville, the owner and up, walked their way to second-place honors. This team won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Spring Fun Show. In third, I’m The Alamo and Lynn Hickock rode out of the lineup for the Ridgemont Farm, Barbara Corbett and Lynn Hickock 

Owner Amateur Novice Ladies on Mares & Geldings comprised class 73. What a class it was, with 20 of 27 entries answering the gate call. Judge Cortner called the class as they worked their way in a dense pack down the rail. Out of the massive class, it was M.T. Pockets and Natalie LeGate, the owner and up of Shelbyville, who took home their first Celebration blue by the unanimous choice of the judging panel. Sired by Honors, M.T. Pockets won this year at the NCWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary. Tied for second place was Miss Walking On Sunshine and Amanda Blackburn, the owner and rider of Corbin, Kentucky. A successful team, they’ve won awards at Walking In The Smokies, the KWHA Juvenile Auxiliary and the KWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary this year. Earning third in this intense class was Cinco De Charlie with Callie Tipton of Sevierville the owner and up. 

Class 74A was the first of the Three-Year-Old Stallions split. Horses poured in the ring until 13 were in the class with Judge Grider having them go underway at the flat walk. The trainers showcased the best of their three-year-old crop, but only one could win and become the favorite to win the Three-Year-Old World Grand Championship next Friday night. Shoulda Been A Cowboy and Sam Martin came around the ring to wear the unanimous blue for Floyd and Caryl Sherman of Shelbyville. This also wins them the TWHBEA National Futurity championship. Sired by Gen A’ Mighty, Shoulda Been A Cowboy has had a successful 2025 season winning at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Let Freedom Ring shows. Shoulda Been A Cowboy was the TWHBEA National Futurity Two-Year-Old Stallion winner last year, as well as winning world champion and world grand champion Two-Year-Old Stallion at The Celebration in 2024. Reserve went to Spartan, sired by I Am Jose’. Charlie Green was riding for Alan Riddley of Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Third place in the class was awarded to The Chief BK and John Allan Callaway for Bob Kilgore and Joe Barnes.

Class 75 was next, Owner-Amateur Ladies Show Pleasure. There might have been a break between the three-year-old classes, but the competition continued to bring the heat. Fourteen of 19 horses came down the hill before Mark Farrar called to close the gate. Judge Bobo called the gaits in the class. These show pleasure contenders vied for their spot on the rail as they took a deep seat and showed their horses at a running walk. After much deliberation, the judges’ cards were tallied. The Honor Code and Lisa Baum, the owner and rider of Shelbyville, were in the top spot. The Honor Code has won three world championships and three world grand championships in the show pleasure division between 2021 and 2024. They won this show season at the TWHYA Summer Splash and Money Tree Classic. In reserve were 2021 world grand champion and three-time world champion, Broadway Honors and Meghan Hammond for Shamrock Farms of Shelbyville. They’ve had a successful year with wins at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Woodbury Lions Club shows. Both the first and second place horses were sired by Honors and out of Jose’ Jose’ mares. Finally, Charlie Danger and Ginger Williams, the owner and up, took third.

Class 74 came down the hill next, the B split of Three-Year-Old Stallions. With Judge Sisk calling the class, 16 of 20 entries made their way around the ring. The competition was thick, the tension heavy in the cool night air. However, it was Hell Or High Water and Sam Martin who dominated the class, winning the world championship title for Floyd and Caryl Sherman of Shelbyville. It must be noted that Hell Or High Water won the Two-Year-Old Section B World Championship last year with Martin as well. Sired by Honors, this remarkable stallion had a season of wins in 2025 at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show and the Spring Fun Show. Coming to a second-place finish was Cowboy Can with Charlie Green in the irons for Terry and Sabrina Matthews of Cleveland, Tennessee. His show career this year has wins at the Cullman County Classic, TWHYA Summer Splash and Woodbury Lions Club shows. Third on the judges’ cards and walking out with the yellow ribbon were The Yakuza with Drew Graves riding for Rick and Marla Lovett. 

In class 76, it was time for the Owner-Amateur Novice Gentleman on Stallions to take the spotlight. Judge Campbell was the call judge for the 11 entries in the class. They walked in to J Brantley playing “New York, New York.” As they went into the lineup in the south turn, everyone wondered who the judges would pick. It was I’m Senor Copperfield and K J Compton who rode out of the lineup to receive the blue ribbon for Della Gay Compton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I’m Senor Copperfield has been a champion at the Smoky Mountain Classic and Walking For The Angels this year. Taking the second-place ribbon was the popular Holyfield’s My Papa and Shane Porterfield for Tim Tucker and Doyce Lawrence of Vinemont, Alabama. Triple A and Dr. Ray Caughman, the owner and up, received the third-place award. 

Class 77 was the last class of the night, Owner-Amateur Ladies on Mares. Girl power took over the ring as Judge Cortner called the class. Thirteen entries walked down the hill, making for an intriguing class. Horse and rider teams worked hard as they stepped up to the running walk and reversed. The last world championship of the night ultimately was awarded to Harley Quinn and Beth Collins-Showalter, the owner/rider of Craigsville, Virginia. Harley Quinn is sired by The Coach and is a two-time world champion. Happy Face and Kathy Hollin of Shelbyville, the owner and up, wore the red ribbon out of the ring. Happy Face won this year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and has an extensive show career with Hollin. Finishing out with a third-place spot was the team of Cheatin’ On Charlie and Kaitlyn Rippy for Andy Rippy.

With Wild West Night concluded, everyone wound down as they prepared for an early Saturday morning show. The horses were rinsed, fanned dry and tucked away in their stalls. The Big Oval had gone quiet. Still, if one looked hard enough throughout the show grounds, he or she might still see a stray cowboy hat or sparkly outfit. If one tipped an ear, he or she might hear the trill of music and laughter as the fun continued back at the barns. It was Friday night at The Celebration, after all, a time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.