Story by: Mark Mcgee
A history making fourth Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration World Grand Championship is still waiting for Justified Honors.
But the three-time World Grand Champion really doesn’t need the fourth title to cement his reputation as possibly the greatest Walking Horse ever.
After unanimously winning Section B of the Walking Stallions, Five & Older class at the 86th annual Celebration with John Allan Callaway in the saddle, Justified Honors was not allowed into the show ring by inspectors for the World Grand Championship class, a controversial decision on many levels.
It marked the third time Justified Honors and John Allan Callaway had won the preliminary class as they retired the three challenge trophies which have to be won three times – the Ann Jones Poore and Ebony’s Time Around Memorial Challenge Trophy, the Mississippi Charity Horse Show Memorial Challenge Trophy and The Dark Spirit’s Rebel Memorial Challenge Trophy. The pair had won the World Grand Championship for the first time as a four-year-old.
Only two other horses have won the Celebration World Grand Championship three years in a row. John Allan is the first trainer to win four years in a row on two different horses.
The last time it happened was 2013-15 with I Am Jose’, a black stallion, winning for trainer Casey Wright and owners Debbie and Billy Woods.
From 1951-53, Talk Of The Town, a bay gelding, was the first to three-peat. He was guided to victory by Steve Hill for owners L.A. Chernell and E.P. Ridley.
Despite that unexpected setback, Justified Honors’ domination of the show ring makes him the choice as the Performance Horse dedication of this year’s Year In Walking Horse.
“This is an honor,” owner Lisa Baum said. “It is very special. When Jeffrey Howard (publisher of The Walking Horse Report) called and told me the first thing I said was, `wow’.”
There has been no questioning the talent of the black stallion. To put it in sports terms he is on a par with football’s Tom Brady and golf’s Tiger Woods as the G.O.A.T, of the walking horse breed.
“There have been some great horses to who have won the Celebration even in the amateur classes,” John Allan said. “I don’t know if he is the greatest horse ever. I really don’t. But he is the best horse I have ever ridden. He is the most consistent horse I have ever ridden. He has a great motor. He has a lot of want to. I will never ride another one as good as he is.”
For Lisa, Justified Honors is by far the best horse she has ever owned.
“What I like about him is he is big and handsome,” Lisa said. “He walks and he shakes. He is the same every day. He can be not ridden for a few weeks and take him out of his stall, and he is just as impressive.
“He is kind. He is really quiet. He kind of watches what is going on. Nothing bothers him. He doesn’t have a bad day.”
HE HAD THE LOOK
Justified Honors, formally named Maypine’s Chauncey, was bred by Dr. Robert. C. Watkins, Jr. who sent his mare Maypine’s Doll Baby to be bred to Honors. In 2020, Jeff Faulkner from Ethridge, Tennessee, bought the stallion and changed his name to Justified Honors. A couple of months later Lisa Baum purchased the 16.5 hands high stallion.
“He is a very intelligent horse,” said Dr. Jim Baum, Lisa’s husband. “There are horses who are kind of idiots and have been very successful show horses.
From the first time John Allan saw Justified Honors standing in the cross ties at Layne Leverette’s barn he knew he was looking at something special. He was the one who asked Faulkner to buy Justified Honors and bring him to the Callaways’ barn at Twin Oaks Farm.
“Standing back there in those cross ties he had the look of a really good horse,” John Allan said. “His conformation was impressive. I thought he had the talent to win the big stake.”
Allan Callaway had the same first impression.
“He really came on good once we started working him,” Allan said. “He has all the intangibles. We felt like from the beginning he could win the big stake.
“He has a God-given presence with the way he carries himself in the bridle. He has a natural step to him. When you get on him you better be ready to go.”For the Baums of Shelbyville, their ownership of Justified Honors has been one of great joy which ended on championship night in 2024 with gut wrenching disappointment and devastating frustration
“So many people I talked to came to the show to see Justified Honors try to make history,” Lisa said. “It was such a big deal to so many people so it made the disappointment that much more.
“I still think he can do it again. But it won’t be four in a row. We wouldn’t trade him for anything. We have a big stake horse that won. He won again. And he won again. We aren’t done. We’re still here. We are still supporting the industry because we believe in it.”
ALL ABOUT THE BREEDING
Not only did Justified Honors provide an outstanding show in the preliminary Aged Stallions class, but he also made his name known for his breeding just like his father Honors, the 2016 World Grand Champion.
His breeding program, already one of the most popular at Shelbyville’s Sugar Creek Farm, is going to be as notable as his show ring career.
On the first Saturday night, Totally Justified, sired by Justified Honors, walked
under the spotlight with handler Beverly Carter earning the Yearling World Grand Championship. Carter works out of Dr. Roger Richards’ stables.
Totally Justified, also owned by the Baums, is undefeated in 2024 in six classes.
He and Carter were first in the National Futurity Spring Colts class the first Wednesday night of The Celebration and the Yearling Colts class Friday morning.
“We were surprised with the win,” Lisa said. “We had been undefeated all year, but you can’t count on that. There are some good ones out there.”
This marks the first world grand champion offspring for World Grand Champion Justified Honors.
“He didn’t even know how to carry the roses out,” Lisa said. “He was scared. He was like `you’re not going to put those over my back.’
“Jim and I rush to the horse shows to see the weanling and yearling classes to see
Justified Honors’ babies. We like to travel to other barns to see them.”
Totally Justified was bred and raised by Allan. He is out of a direct Pusher mare.
Justified Honors also made a splash as a sire in the National Futurity Fall Weanlings class. Justified Honors was the sire for the top three places – Mona Lisa Mona Lisa and handler Lynn Womack won for owners Dr. Roger Richards and Bobby Joe Jones, Rhythm Nation and handler Robert Nelms were reserve for Link and Nelms and Justify That was guided to third by Ronald Morton for owner Franklin Harvey.
“We are extremely pleased,” Lisa said.
“We didn’t breed like an open book. We held it back to 50 mares that first year. We didn’t overload.
“We have a whole bunch in the field ready to start,” Lisa said. “We have sold several. We have two under saddle right now.”
Dr. Baum points out the fact that Justified Honors’ offspring are performing so well is exciting.
“We don’t use the term great very often, but the fact that he can breed and it doesn’t affect his temperament or his ability to be trained and shown is impressive. His babies look like they are going to be successful both padded and flat shod.”
A PERFECT TEAM
It is quite a legacy for a horse which was originally expected to be an amateur horse for Dr. Baum.
“When he was a coming three-year-old John told us he was working pretty good and if he continued he would show him in Columbia,” Dr. Baum said. “John told me I could start riding him after that and I said, ‘cool.’
“Columbia was his first horse show. No big deal. He goes through inspection. No big deal. It is pouring down rain during the class. No big deal. There are 18 good horses in the class. No big deal. When he goes to the lineup my dear, sweet wife turns to me and says, ‘you aren’t showing that horse.’”
For John Allan a World Grand Championship in 2024 would also have made him the first trainer to win five big stakes in a row. In 2020 he rode Master’s Razzle And Jazz to the roses.
“The Callaways are perfectionists,” Dr. Baum said. “They want to do things right. And they always have. The Callaways do an excellent job. They have such a great track record. One reason we are here is because we can trust them. They are the best.
“We wanted to win four times in a row for the Callaways...for the effort in the way they do things. They should be that successful. We wanted John to win five times in row. He is a humble, honest and good person.”
Lisa admits the first horses they brought to the Callaways more than 20 years ago were not top caliber. Allan, John Allan and Bill were ready for the challenge.
“We were at the bottom of the pile,” Lisa said. “We paid our dues.
“The Callaways are class acts. They look you in the eye. They tell us the truth and Jim and I like that a lot. They don’t sugarcoat things. They work hard. They pay attention to detail. They take care of the horses. What more could you ask for? The proof is in the pudding.”
As always, with Justified Honors it will be a group decision for the Baums and the Callaways who form Team Justified as to whether Justified Honors tries again for a fourth World Grand Championship.
“Justified Honors is young and athletic,” Lisa said. “He is good. He has fans who want to see him. We are competitive. John is competitive. Justified Honors is competitive. He loves going to horse shows and have people watch him. He is watch- ing the people too.”
"We will show him back if everything is fine. We are just going to take it a day at a time.”
No one should be surprised to see John Allan and Justified Honors seeking that fourth World Grand Championship title.
“That horse is really good,” Allan said. “When he is in the ring with other horses, he really shows up. Why have a horse that good and not show him? He has become one of the major horses in the history of the Tennessee Walking Horse.”