by Mitzi Oxford | Photos by Shane Shiflet

Bruce MacDonald is no stranger to success. After many beneficial business ventures, including franchises for Cummins diesel engines and then Carrier Transicold, he understands the business building process.

Together with his wife Robin, they raised two successful sons, Brandon and Brett. Then it became time for Robin to revisit her love of horses. Once again, and for 30 years, they have captured success, this time in the show ring. Their winners have included familiar names and fan favorites including John F.K.’s Pusher, The Titleist, Prime Poison, It’s Taboo, Busted At Pebble Beach, Rocky Mountain Sky and Georgia Florida Line. Both Robin and Bruce have shown Uptight Jose and Mr. Heisman with much success.

When Bruce sold his business enterprise and retired, another successful chapter would be written in the story of their lives. 

ENTER CAVENDER

It was February 2021, and Tim Smith from EquiKnox Farms had been training the MacDonald’s horses. He and Knox Blackburn were in Mississippi for the Abernathy Colt Preview. Bruce was in Florida playing golf.

Tim and Knox saw a high-headed colt that was moving very well. They both knew he was special. Tim called Bruce and said, “If you want him, you’ve got to buy him now.”

It turned out to be a bargain based on the next accomplishments of the handsome chestnut colt by 2016 World Grand Champion Honors and out of Jose’s Café Au-Lait. The youngster was under the direction of Cottonwood Farm and was raised by Ronnie and Brenda Corey.

Robin named the young colt Cavender. She liked the Irish connection, and it turned out to be a wise choice. Cavender means someone, or in this case a walking horse, that is bold and brave.

“He was great out of the gate, so, yes, he’s been bold, brave and special since day one,” said Tim.

Whether it was destiny in the name or the combination of great owners and the right trainer, Cavender seemed destined for success. His winning ways began later that year, with blue ribbons at ThorSport Spring Fling in Murfreesboro and at the Spring Fun Show in Shelbyville as a two-year-old.

“The more I rode him, the better he got.”

UNANIMOUS 

It just got better in the coming years. Cavender was a winner every time he entered the Celebration show ring. His World Champion and World Grand Champion wins at the Celebration were unanimous, as a three-year-old and a four-year-old. With Knox in the saddle in 2022 and 2023, and Tim calling the shots as the trainer, they were building another success story for the MacDonalds.

“He was just naturally a great horse, even-tempered and responded so well to training,” said Bruce and Robin.

The MacDonalds first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration memory was watching Gen’s Armed And Dangerous win the World Grand Championship title in 1994. Thirty years later, they watched their own horse, Cavender, when he was crowned with the coveted title of 2024 World Grand Champion at the 86th Annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

In Celebration tradition, this time with Tim in the saddle, Cavender entered the ring under the spotlight. The fans cheered and Tim felt good about his chances of winning.

“He felt perfect. I believed we would win.” When the time came to remove the saddle for judging confirmation, “Cavender parked out by himself,” said Tim.

In the end, on that final Saturday night class, Cavender and Tim rode under the spotlight for the second time, this time with roses, a tri-colored ribbon and a place in walking horse history.

LUCK OF THE GREEN

You’ve seen the advertisements for Cavender with a touch of green, four-leaf clovers and Tim with a green bow tie. It’s said that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than any other place on earth giving meaning to the phrase “the luck of the Irish”.

The leaves of four-leaf clovers are said to stand for faith, hope, love and luck. Faith in Tim and Knox, hope for a great show season, love for the horse and a little luck mixed in, resulted in the ultimate outcome for Cavender’s team.

Four-leaf clovers are rare. The odds of finding one are about one in 10,000. The odds of having a World Grand Champion are even more rare out of the 234,418 registered Tennessee Walking Horses. It is a rare accomplishment, but as the team entered the show ring, Tim said Cavender “felt perfect.”

“We are ecstatic to experience a World Grand Championship. There is nothing else like it. It’s a dream come true,” said Robin and Bruce.

What’s next for the 2024 WGC? First things first, his favorite treats. He loves apple oat horse cookies, vanilla wafers, carrots, peppermints, you name it. “Frankly, I think he just loves the attention,” said Bruce.

Next up are exhibitions and a portrait to be displayed initially at the Ellington Center, home of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Visitors’ Centers across the state, TWHBEA headquarters and The Celebration main office.

The MacDonalds raise colts and would like to breed some of their mares to him. Beyond that, could Cavender repeat as a World Grand Champion in 2025? Tim is convinced that he could, but no decision has been made. Stay tuned to see if we will have a treat in store at the 87th Annual TWHNC. In the meantime, hang on to those green beads and a four-leaf clover if you are lucky enough to find one.