Youth and In Hand classes take over Cooper Steel Arena 
By Britney Brown

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – Friday morning at the Celebration has long been regarded as a morning full of youth classes. This year was no different as most of the entries through the gate were aged between 6 and 17. Travis Owen made the announcements, and then, with formalities out of the way, it was time to get the morning started at precisely 9AM. 

Class 54, Model Pleasure Geldings, was the first of 12 classes on the program. Nine of 10 entries answered the gate call, with Brent Grider as the call judge. This year, Magnificent THF took home the world championship with Justin Miller at the lead for Kenzie Rotermann of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Sired by Honors and out of A Jazz Man mare, Magnificent THF has won at The Phoenix and the Kentucky Rose Regional Championship. This was the first world championship for Magnificent THF. Taking home reserve was Without A Warning, sired by I’m All Jacked Up, with Leighanne Tibbs handling for Austin and Dalton Tibbs of Petersburg. This spotted gelding won at the Heart O’ Dixie Spring Showcase and NSSHA Mid-Season show earlier in 2025. Third place in the good class was Bocephus and Robert Nelms for Beth Beasley. 

Class 55 was the first of many youth classes, Owner-Amateur Novice Youth Country Pleasure. This class showcased the next generation of great flat shod riders and their talented mounts. Twelve of 14 entries stepped their way around the ring with Judge Sisk calling the gaits in the class. Out of the lineup, Tiago and Ella Grace Healon were called to the winner’s circle. Sired by Wicked Image, Tiago is the entry of Lee Sinden and Ella Grace Healon and has won this season at The Phoenix, the Florence Charity show and The International. Wearing the crimson ribbon out of Cooper Steel Arena was BP’s Captain Jack Sparrow with Ella Brooke Callaway in the irons for Beth and Sarah Beth Thomas, Dakoda Gardner and Mackenzie Waddell of Wartrace, Shelbyville and Petersburg, Tennessee. BP’s Captain Jack Sparrow won this year at the Spring Extravaganza, WHOA Spring Extravaganza and Germantown Charity shows. Kool Vibes and owner Rileigh Bre Cole took home the yellow ribbon in the good class. 

The TWHBEA Youth Medallion Pleasure class, 56 on the program, was next. The young ladies competing were no strangers to the show ring, or the winner’s circle. They showed their horses with grace and poise as Judge Bobo called the class. Three of the entries in the class were classic horses. Of the field of seven entries, Labeled A Parolee, a classic horse, and Eliza DeKleyn of Brentwood were called to blue ribbon honors. Labeled A Parolee had three world championship and a world grand championship on his resume from previous Celebrations. Now, he and owner Eliza DeKleyn top a season of wins at the WHOA Spring Extravaganza, Tennessee 4-H Central Region, Tennessee 4-H Championships, Germantown Charity, TWHBEA Word Versatility Championship and The International. Reserve on the judges’ cards were four-time world champion Mr. Deeds, a classic horse, and Ally Jo Jacobs for Kate Cowan of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Cashes Ritzy Lady and Kara Brooke Adams took the third-place award for The Kris Adams Family.

Yearling Fillies & Geldings of 2024 comprised class 57 on the schedule. These eight remarkable young horses had sires ranging from Walk Time Charlie to Jimmy Choo, to Justified Honors. They also represent a variety of backgrounds; however, they came together on Friday morning to showcase their conformation for the walking horse world. Ross Campbell called the class as they lined up head-to-tail on the north side. Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo and Robert Nelms, for MaKayla Jennings, were called out of the lineup to a unanimous blue. Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo is sired by Jimmy Choo and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare. Robert Nelms led her to victory twice at The International, and led her to world championship honors on Wednesday night in the National Futurity Spring Yearling Fillies class. She is the undefeated Weanling World Champion and World Grand Champion in 2024. Second in the class went to the hard-working team of Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa and Chris Richards for Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards. Sired by Justified Honors and out of a Black Diamond Ritz mare, Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa was the 2024 National Futurity Fall Weanlings World Champion. This year, she won at the WHTA National Trainers’ Show, Spring Extravaganza, Columbia Spring Jubilee, Woodbury Lions Club and Wartrace shows. She also won a reserve world championship on Wednesday night. In the third-place spot were Hope Of Roses THF and Beverly Carter for Travis Hale. 

Class 58 saw Owner-Amateur Novice All Day Pleasure contenders take to the ring. An impressive 23 of the 27 horses entered made the gate call. The competition was fierce as horse and rider teams fought for a good place on the rail to be seen by the judges. These pleasure horses were densely packed into the show ring, where Robert Cortner called the gaits. After a workout in the big class, Shady In Blue and Stan Kuykendall were called out of the lineup to wear the blue streamer and neck ribbon for himself and Maggie Moore. After a busy year winning at The FAST Spring Showcase, The Phoenix, the Spring Extravaganza, Christmas In July and The International, they walked to a reserve world championship on Wednesday night. This Friday morning, they added the world championship to their accolades. Daddy’s Dark Secret and Rick Gilmore for Rick Gilmore and CJ Murphy of Bernie, Missouri, were awarded reserve in the class. They were champions at The WHOA Spring Extravaganza and The International this year. Third place went to El Rio Lobo and Andy Myers for Kyndra Myers. 
Yearling Colts of 2024 made up class 59. The Friday morning competition continued in earnest, with eight of 10 entries answering the gate call. Judge Grider had them line up head-to-tail on the south side. Many of these young colts had already shown on Wednesday night. Showing back and taking the blue for this class once more was the duo of Rhythm Nation and Robert Nelms for Janson Patterson of Meridianville, Alabama. Sired by Justified Honors and out of a Push U Over mare, Rhythm Nation adds this to a world championship in the National Futurity Fall Yearlings on Wednesday night. He also boasts wins at the WHTA Trainers’ Show, Spring Fun Show, Christmas In July and Let Freedom Ring this year. Wearing the crimson streamer out for Ted E. Nelms and Revival Syndicate of Cornersville, Tennessee, was Revival Resurrection, with Beverly Carter at the head. This colt is sired by Jose’ Revival and out of a Gen’s Black Gin mare. Revival Resurrection had wins this year at the Columbia Spring Jubilee and Woodbury Lions Club shows. The third award in the good class was given to Dizzy Dean RW and Marty Warren for Steve and Denise Smith. 

Then it was on to class 60, Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Country Pleasure. Twelve of 14 entries vied for the world championship, with David Sisk serving as the call judge. Many of the young ladies were aboard former world champions as they walked around the ring and later into the lineup. They waited expectantly for the outcome. Ultimately, it was world grand champion and three-time world champion, The Tiger Lily, ridden by Caroline Stanley for Jennifer Stanley of Cynthiana, Kentucky, who was invited to come to the winner’s circle by unanimous choice. The Tiger Lily and Caroline have had wins this year at the FAST Spring Showcase, The Southern Belle, the Spring Extravaganza, the Spring Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and The International. The Tiger Lily also placed reserve in the Model Mares World Championship Wednesday morning, proving just how versatile she can be. Second in the good class was awarded to two-time world champion and two-time world grand champion, Mr. Bentley, and Lakelyn Mathews, the owner and up of Clarksville. Coming out of the lineup to wear the yellow streamer was six-time world champion and four-time world grand champion, Slingblade, with Lexi Nelms in the irons for herself and Debbie Marby.

Class 61 was Youth Yearling Fillies & Geldings, Handlers 12-17. The five entries that answered the gate call included young horses sired by Rowdy Rev, Justified Honors and Walk Time Charlie. The young handlers did a wonderful job exhibiting their equally young horses around the ring. In the end, it was Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa and Emery Sims for Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards of Manchester and Bell Buckle who made the victory pass. This was Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa’s first 2025 world championship after her Fall Weanlings World Championship in 2024 with Lynn Womack. Second-place honors went to Hope Of Roses THF and Joann Keyser for Travis Hale of McMinnville. Sired by Kobe 24 and out of a Jose’ Jose’ mare, Hope Of Roses THF won at Walking For The Angels this year. Walk Time Willow and Madeline Gannon for Teel, Washburn and Noe took home the third-place award. 

Next, class 62 turned up the heat with Owner-Amateur Youth Lite-Shod contenders. Four of five entries answered the gate call, while Ross Campbell called the gaits. After much deliberation, Two Guns and Jack Kail were called to the winner’s circle for Aguilar, Cammack and Kale. Two Guns is a repeat winner, having earned world championship titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Tied second in the good class was the four-time world champion and 2023 Lite-Shod World Grand Champion, Coachman, with Jocelyn Laughlin in the irons for Zach Daniel of Longview, Texas. Third place was Miss Dixie Flyer and Ally Jo Jacobs, the owner and up.

The call came for class 63, Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 Western Trail Pleasure. All eight scheduled entries answered the gate call. They got on the rail and upped the excitement as the competition got heated. After Judge Cortner had finished calling the class, they went to the lineup. Soon, the unanimous choice of Imagine Dragons and Caroline Stanley were announced for Jennifer Stanley of Cynthiana, Kentucky. This proceeded a year of wins at the FAST Spring Showcase, The Southern Belle, Spring Extravaganza, Spring Fun Show, Let Freedom Ring and Money Tree Classic. Imagine Dragons has won at the Celebration in 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025. With a world grand championship and four world championships, he now adds a fifth world championship title to his resume. Stepping out of the lineup and into reserve were 2020 World Champion Retribution and Ella Grace Healon for Garold and Julie Ross, Rachel Teague and Ella Grace Healon. Sired by Southern Ritz, Retribution had wins this year at the NCWHA Ladies’ Auxiliary, Florence Charity and Walking For The Angels shoes. Diva By Daddy and Maddie McMorrow were given the third award. 

Next, the big class of Owner-Amateur Yearlings of 2024 stepped into the ring. Class 64 was full of excitement as the owners of these young model horses took the lead. The bond between horse and handler held true as they lined up head-to-tail along the north rail, with Brent Grider having called the class. Out of the 11 entries that made the gate call, it was the team of It’s Time To Party and Ashley Pollack Petrekovic for Silver Spur Legacy LLC of Saratoga, California, who took home the blue. Sired by Walk Time Charlie and out of a He’s Puttin’ On The Ritz mare, It’s Time To Party had two wins this year at The International. The second-place tie was given to Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, this time with Kelly Richards Ward at the head for Bobby Jones and Dr. Roger Richards. Finally, Brambleberry Gin and Tracy Boyd took third place.

Class 65 was the last class of the busy morning, Owner-Amateur Youth 12-17 All Day Pleasure. Fifteen of 17 entries stepped into the ring as Judge Sisk called the gaits in the class. With so many horse and rider teams, it was hard to know who would dominate in this division. IB Smokin Joe, the winner of this division in 2022 and 2024, was called, with Tucker Johnson riding for Tanner and Tucker Johnson of Shelbyville. IB Smokin Joe boasts a total of three world grand championships and eight world championships. This was his ninth world championship after a season of wins at the Shelbyville Tennis Club show and The International with Tucker in the irons. Two-time world grand champion and four-time world champion, Scarlett O-Hara LLC and BiBi Beasley, the owner and up of Athens, Alabama, earned second in the division. The third-place tie went to Resurgence with Dakoda Gardner riding for Beth and Sarah Beth Thomas and Dakoda Gardner 

The Friday morning invasion of the youth classes had ended. Horses and young riders relished the victory of both new and repeat world championships. Everyone returned home for a nap and to prepare for Wild West Night at The Celebration. As the day warmed and the sun moved in the sky, Friday promised to bring more exciting classes to the Big Oval during the evening session.