The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is pleased to release a proposed class sheet for the 88th Celebration and invites feedback from the industry. The proposed changes are designed to increase participation, improve class efficiency, and create additional opportunities across multiple divisions. These recommendations are the result of a careful review of participation trends and class performance.  
Outlined below are the proposed updates:

Trail Pleasure – Amateur & Youth

• Combine Owner Amateur, Youth (12–17), English, and Western Trail Pleasure classes into a single optional tack division. Class scheduled for Saturday morning, August 29, 2026.

• Combine Owner Amateur, English, and Western Trail Pleasure classes into a single optional tack division.
Class scheduled for Wednesday morning, August 26, 2026.

• Combine Owner Amateur Novice, English, and Western Trail Pleasure classes into a single optional tack division. Class scheduled for Monday morning, August 31, 2026.

• Return to a single Owner Amateur Riders on Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, 5 & Under, Optional Tack World Grand Championship by eliminating the current split between 3 & Under and 4 & 5-Year-Old divisions. Class scheduled for Saturday evening, September 5, 2026.

• Introduce a Novice Flat Shod World Grand Championship to provide additional championship opportunities for Novice horses, utilizing the established 3/8” x 3/4” shoe limit. Class scheduled for Thursday evening, September 3, 2026.

• Eliminate the Flat Shod Canter class. Previously held Wednesday morning.

Trail Pleasure – Open

• Restructure the Trail Pleasure 3 & Under World Grand Championship into a Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, 5 & Under, Optional Tack World Grand Championship. Class scheduled for Saturday evening, September 4, 2026.

• Proposed elimination of Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Four & Five Years Old, Optional Tack

• Proposed elimination of Trail Pleasure Walking Horses, Optional Tack

• Propose elimination of the Trail Pleasure Open World Grand Championship.

Performance, Show Pleasure & Park Performance

• Place the Amateur Owned & Trained Walking Horses, 5 & Under class on Friday evening, August 28, 2026.

• Move the Amateur Owned & Trained Walking Horses qualifier from the final Wednesday night to Sunday evening, August 30, 2026.

• Schedule the Amateur Owned & Trained World Grand Championship for Thursday evening, September 3, 2026.

These proposed updates are intended to strengthen competition, support exhibitors at all levels, and promote the continued growth and success of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Additional details and implementation timelines will be shared following final review and approval.

The Celebration welcomes feedback on the proposed class sheet. Comments or additional information for consideration should be submitted to Sara Smith at [email protected] no later than March 26, 2026.

Click here for the Proposed class sheet.