By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 88th Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration officially began at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, August 26, 2026. Ring masters were announced, and Brian Peery struck up the organ in Cooper Steel Arena, and classes were underway with 14 divisions on the program for this mild summer morning. The judges for this Celebration were escorted to center ring: Rollie Beard, Derek Bonner, Scotty Brooks, Sam Sorrell and Chad Williams.

Travis Olinger announced the entrance of Class 1, Model Pleasure Mares, into the ring. Six entries competed for the first blue ribbon of the 2026 Celebration. Once Judge Beard called the class, My Miranda Lambert and handler Laurie Toone were first on the cards. Four-time world champion, My Miranda Lambert is owned by the Jacobs family of Murfreesboro, and remains undefeated this year with wins at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, The FAST Spring Showcase, WHTA Fireworks & Freedom and The International Grand Championship. This was her fourth consecutive year earning a world championship in this division alone. Earning reserve in the class was PWHAT Fun Show and Petersburg Colt Show champion, In Milady’s Honor with Robert Nelms handling for Susan and Jim Fenner. The yellow streamer was awarded to I Like Pina Coladas and Brad Beard for Franklin Harbin . 

Class 2 was Owner-Amateur English Lite Shod, with four entries answering the gate call. Derek Bonner called the gaits in the class. Wearing the blue streamer and neck ribbon for this class was Roscoe Jenkins with owner Susan Coleman in the irons of Unionville. Winning at The Money Tree Classic earlier this year, Roscoe Jenkins is a 12-time world grand champion and a 13-time world champion. He has a total of 10 consecutive world championships in this division here at The Celebration. Second in the good class was awarded to I Would Be Honored and Kara Walker for Jerry Graham, Brianna Rutledge and Allison Hopkins. Taking home third was Coachman and Blake Cammack for Jackson Cammack and John Lawwell. 

The call came for Class 3, Owner-Amateur Novice Five & Under Country Pleasure. Judge Brooks called the class and the competition kicked up as 16 horse-and-rider teams competed for blue. In the end, De La Cruz and owner Elaine Kapinos of Hillsboro earned the first-place honors. Winning as a yearling in Wartrace in 2025, this was De La Cruz’s first time showing under saddle. Walking to reserve were the team of PWHAT Fun Show and International Grand Championship winner, Fight Knight, with owner and rider Catherine Cornwell. In third on the cards was Helluva Honor with owner Kala Burgett.

Class 4 brought the Owner-Amateur Two & Three-Year Old All-Day Pleasure contenders into the arena. Judge Sorrell called the class of 13 horses as they took to the rail at a pleasure gait. Taking home the world championship was Shelbyville Tennis Club winner, Trend Setter, and Emily Woodruff, the owner and up of Shelbyville. The red streamer was awarded to Good Vibes, along with the Futurity award, with owner Keith Johnson in the irons. Third in the good class was Mystic Dragon and Suzy Johnson. 

Class 5 was Elite Owner-Amateur Park Pleasure with four entries. Judge Williams called the class. After stiff competition, six-time World Champion, Dixie’s Legacy, and Sister Milligan, the owner and rider of Panama City, Florida, won the blue streamer and neck ribbon, by unanimous choice of the judging panel. They have now won this class three years in a row. Reserve in the class went to six-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion, Dosé, and Lisa Baum. Third place on the cards was Fleury, with owner Kim Leonard in the irons.

Next, Class 6, Owner-Amateur All Day Pleasure, entered the ring, with 12 horses competing under the direction of Judge Beard. First place, by unanimous choice, in the good class was awarded to two-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion Just A Steel Magnolia and Rhiannon Barker for, H. Grey Barker DVM of Christiana. They won at Walking In The Smokies, the Spring Fun Show and the Money Tree Classic in 2026. The reserve award was given to the team of three-time World Champion and World Grand Champion, Miss Belle Starr W, and Dr. Brittany Baum for Jacob and Dr. Brittany Baum. Finally, earning third in the impressive class was Scarlett O’Hara LLC with BiBi Beasley in the irons.

Class 7 ushered in Owner-Amateur Two-Year-Old Country Pleasure teams. Judge Bonner called the class that featured six talented entries. Out of the lineup, Strip Tease RW and Kaitlyn Rippy were called to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon for the Kathryn Gilliam-Cole Trust and Kaitlyn Rippy of Woodland, Washington and Gallatin. Strip Tease RW is sired by Justified Honors out of a Lined With Cash mare. Second-place honors went to the team of He’s Deuces Wild and owner April Peal. Finally, the third-place award was given to Unique Freak and Sadie Rader for Mersadie Rader. 

Class 8, Owner-Amateur Trail Pleasure, was called next, under the direction of Judge Brooks. Ten teams competed fiercely. Several veteran world champions vied for the blue. In the end, seven-time World Grand Champion and seven-time World Champion, Machete, took home the blue, with Susan Coleman, the owner of Unionville. In 2026, this talented team had wins at Walking In The Smokies and the Money Tree Classic. Second in the class was 13-time World Champion and five-time World Grand Champion, Blacklist and owner Jane Pirolo of Franklin. This team had won this year at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, TWHYA Summer Splash, WHTA Fireworks & Freedom and the Marshall County Horseman’s Association. Finally, wearing the yellow ribbon was Daddy’s Home DH and Debbie Simons for Wayne and Debbie Simons. 

Judge Sorrell was the call judge for Class 9E, Auxilliary Equitation Medal Class, Riders 6-14 (Canter). One entry answered the call and performed the gaits for the judging panel. Ally Jo Jacobs of Murfreesboro made the victory pass aboard Pocket Time. Jacobs had taken home equitation blues at the WHTA Trainers’ Show, two at the Money Tree Classic and now added another world champion equitation title to their repertoire. 

Owner-Amateur English Country Pleasure, Class 10, walked up the chute next. Seven entries got underway as Chad Williams called the class. Wearing the blue in this division was the dedicated team of five-time World Champion and two-time World Grand Champion, Stapleton and Maggie Moore. They won this year at the WHOA Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show, WHTA Fireworks & Freedom, Woodbury Lions’ Club and the International Grand Championship. Taking home reserve for Andy Rippy was World Grand Champion and two-time World Champion, Crypto with Kaitlyn Rippy riding. Third place was awarded to 10-time World Champion and World Grand Champion, Jose’s Twist Of Gin with Patti Pollack in the irons for Silver Spur Legacy LLC. 

Class 11 brought eight Amateur Owned & Trained All Day Pleasure entries up the chute. Judge Beard called the hard-working class. One Magical Knight and Ashlyn Avent, the owner of Shelbyville, took home the blue. One Magical Knight made his Celebration debut after wins this year at SSHBEA Spring and the WHOA Show series. Reserve in the class went to World Champion and World Grand Champion, Jose’s Grand Muchacha and Amanda Manis for Amanda Manis and Brooklyn Groce. Finally, the yellow streamer was awarded to A Knightime Menace and Maggie Moore.  

Next in the program was Class 12, Five & Under Park Pleasure. Judge Bonner called the class of nine horse and rider teams. Out of the lineup, Mr. Patron and Ryan Gannon came to the winner’s circle by unanimous choice. Owned by Janson Patterson and Heritage Farms of Meridianville, Alabama, Mr. Patron won earlier this year at Walking In The Smokies and the Fayetteville Blue Ribbon. Coming to a reserve finish was I Am Thunder and Patrick Thomas for Silver Spur Legacy LLC. Taking home the third award was Gen’s Midnight Blue and Jeff Laughlin for Sister Milligan.

Class 13, Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure, brought 10 entries to the ring. Scotty Brooks was the call judge as the class got underway. In the end, World Champion and World Grand Champion, Raylan Givens and BJ Richards were called out of the lineup to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon. Undefeated in competition, including winning The Maiden in 2025, Raylan Givens is the entry of Wayne and Debbie Simons of Shelbyville, and had 2026 wins at the PWHAT Fun Show, Spring Fun Show and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. Reserve in the good class went to the Futurity winner in the class, Ghost Pepper, with Joe Lester in the saddle for himself and Julie Pomicter. Ghost Pepper had wins this year at the FAST Spring Showcase, Spring Fun Show, Germantown Charity Horse Show and WHTA Fireworks & Freedom. The yellow streamer was presented to He’s A Cobra and Hannah Pulvers for the partnership of Hofstee, Smith and Granus. 

The call came for 14E, Auxiliary Equitation Medal Class, Riders 15-17 (Canter). The last class of this Wednesday morning session had one entry answer the gate call and was called by Judge Sorrell. After the respective flat walk, running walk and canter aboard Cash Reaction, Finley Reed took the blue ribbon and medal for the class back home to Petersburg. Reed has won this year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee, the SSHBEA Summer Classic and Woodbury Lions Club. This was Reed’s first world champion ride.

The excitement of this Wednesday morning session was concluded. Spectators would reconverge for the first evening session in the Celebration Arena, as festivities in the Big Oval began. Soon, vendors would hawk their wares and concessions would fill the air with the scent of fried food. The 88th National Celebration was well underway.