By Mitzi Oxford
He may not have gotten the pony he wanted for Christmas as a kid, but what Ronnie Spears did get through hard work and determination resulted in a lifetime of winning rides and a legion of fans cheering him right into the winner’s circle.
Ronnie grew up in Scottsville, Kentucky, a small town just across the Tennessee line. It was home to Cal Turner, founder of the Dollar General Store chain, and songwriter and producer Norro Wilson, who hit it big in Nashville. Ironically, Ronnie and his brother Larry, went to school with Cal and Norro, who was called Norris back then. They formed a popular gospel quartet and Larry went on to write a song for the Oak Ridge Boys. Success ran in the family.
You can add Ronnie Spears to the list of famous Scottsville sons, as a trainer and rider of World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horses, Another Masterpiece in 1974 and The Pushover in 1990.
Life hasn’t always been easy, but Ronnie’s tenacity has seen him through the challenges and earned him award-winning reflections. He began making those memories from an early age.
“There was a fair in Scottsville that showcased agricultural events, including horses. That’s when I got to meet Sam Paschal. He was great. He was my hero,” explained Ronnie.
Indeed, Sam was a hero for many, winning three Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championships on Setting Sun in 1958, Ebony Masterpiece in 1962 and with Sun’s Delight D in 1963. That was quite the inspiration for a young man already in love with walking horses.
That chance meeting helped lead Ronnie to pursue his dream. In 1963, he boarded a Greyhound bus right out of high school and headed to West Point, Mississippi, working for Dickie Pate.
“I lived in one room with no electricity and made $20 a week, but it was a great learning experience.” A move to Columbia, Tennessee, followed, where Ronnie worked for Joe Urquhart. Midnight Mack K was standing at stud there, sired by the legendary World Grand Champion Midnight Sun, and later siring major offspring, including the 1960 World Grand Champion Mack K's Handshaker. For Ronnie, it was an upgrade to a boarding house with two meals a day.
His next journey took him to Orlando, Florida, but that farm was soon sold to the legendary Walt Disney as Disney World was becoming a reality. He returned to West Point, Mississippi, in 1969 where he worked with Wink Groover.
The Champions
Over the years, from Mississippi to Florida and Tennessee, Ronnie Spears made his mark as a trainer of champions, including Go Boy’s Flying Cloud.
“He was little, but mighty. He won the stake class in Mobile, beating some great horses and big names in the business,” said Ronnie.
He returned to Tennessee in 1971 training horses in Tullahoma for the next 39 years under his own banner for a stable owned by the Hawkersmith Nursery family. Ronnie turned out World Champion ponies for Steve and his sister Paige Hawkersmith.
In 1973, Another Masterpiece won the Junior World Grand Championship at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. Shortly after that, he was moved to Ronnie who knew he was something special. The massive black stallion, sired by 1962 World Grand Champion Ebony Masterpiece, proved that he earned Ronnie’s confidence.
“Another Masterpiece was a great horse. In 1974, we followed up with wins at the Trainers’ Show, the Fun Show and then the big one, when he was crowned the 1974 World Grand Champion at The Celebration.”
Ronnie onboard Another Masterpiece won both the preliminary and World Grand Championship unanimously.
Sixteen years later, Ronnie Spears knew he had another champion, this time in The Pushover. Some fellow trainers may have been on the fence about that opinion.
“He had five other trainers before I got him. He had a bad reputation, but I never had any trouble with him.”
The Pushover was crowned World Grand Champion in 1990. At the time, Ronnie was one of the few trainers to win the World Grand Championship twice. When The Pushover died, he was the oldest World Grand Champion at 32 years old. Both trainer and horse made history.
R-e-s-p-e-c-t
Aretha Franklin sang about respect; Ronnie Spears earned it in the walking horse business. One of his competitors and later business partners was Steve Aymett.
“We met at The Celebration in 1969. For years, we competed against each other. I always thought a lot of him, a good guy who would do anything for anybody, and he was a great trainer,” said Steve.
Later, Steve and Ronnie became business partners in the successful Colts of the Future Sale. Both are retired now but have had an indelible impact on the walking horse industry.
“I also had great customers, some of the best any trainer could wish for, I am blessed,” said Ronnie.
Changing times
Agree or disagree, Ronnie Spears believes the best times in the walking horse business were in his prime time. “The work was hard, seven days a week and felt like 24 hours a day, but I will say, the horses are better and the breeding is better now. The Tennessee Walking Horse is still the world’s best show horse,” he said.
Ronnie also believes that because there aren’t as many grandpa’s on the farm, more kids are into computers rather than putting in the work to show horses.
Hard work and health issues have slowed him down. At 82 years old, Ronnie and his wife, Irene, have retired to Wimauma, Florida, near St. Petersburg.
Posting the colors
Each night of the largest walking horse show in the world begins with a flag bearer on a white Tennessee Walking Horse. It’s a strong tradition. One that follows with an invocation and the singing of the National Anthem.
For 26 years, the flag bearing rider for The Celebration was legendary trainer Bud Seaton who rode Threat’s Supreme to the World Grand Champion title in 1979. In the following years after 2020, another legend, Ronnie Spears, took up the reins and carried the flag.
Horses are still a part of Ronnie’s life. Memories don’t fade, and after all these years, he is as sharp as a tack. Sharp enough to carry the flag, which is heavy when blowing in a breeze. Ronnie held that honor for five years up until last year, when he had to take a break due to open heart surgery.
In 2025, Vicki Self, one of only three women to win the World Grand Championship, had the honor of beginning each night’s show on White Diamond Dollar. This year, Ronnie will be back in the saddle for the tradition of carrying the flag.
He and his wife, Irene, always arrive in Shelbyville for the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration a few days ahead of time to visit friends.
My dad told me when I was young, “You need to get horses off your mind and decide what you are going to do with your life. I was glad I didn’t follow his advice.”
The Tennessee Walking Horse world is also glad, Ronnie Spears. You have provided great history for friends and family who love the breed. We all are glad to see you back in the saddle again opening each night of the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.