Celebration and Breeders exploring options to enhance shows

The Celebration® and Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) have been in communication for the last two months regarding combining and merging classes into one comprehensive schedule which would eliminate the TWHBEA National Futurity as a separate show on the first Wednesday evening of The Celebration®.

TWHBEA has in past years included jackpot classes and at the 2021 Futurity had a schedule of 28 classes.  TWHBEA and The Celebration® are both interested in promoting a true Futurity and getting back to having true Futurity classes that qualify entries for the World Grand Championship classes at The Celebration®.

As in 2021, The Celebration® is utilizing its Class Sheet Committee to assist in improving the class schedule for this year’s Celebration.  A finalized scheduled, which will be sent out for a comment period, should be released by the end of March.  Several ideas have been considered with a goal of there being a class for any two and three-year-old nominated entry in every division.

The entry deadline for Futurity nominations will be the same as The Celebration® entry deadline on August 2, 2022. The nomination fees:

• Sire – $200 plus on stud fee donated to auction
• Dam – $50
• A $200 fee can be paid for a foal as a weanling for that foal (and mare) to be included in the Futurity for all four years.
• Weanlings – $50
• Yearlings (previously nominated) – $50
• 2 & 3 Year-Olds (previously nominated) – $50
• 2 & 3 Year-Olds (not previously nominated) – $250

“I am extremely excited about these changes to our show and I look forward to the excitement they will bring to this amazing breed’s Futurity program.  TWHBEA has been a great collaborative partner as we have worked through the details,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.

David Sisk, Breeders Vice-President at TWHBEA echoed Wells’ excitement and added, “We’re excited to be adding 2 and 3-year-olds back to the Futurity program and appreciate The Celebration® working with us to bring more excitement and provide additional recognition of the breeders of Tennessee Walking Horses.”

For more information on the TWHBEA National Futurity, call 931-359-1574 or email arodgers@twhbea.com. The 84^th Annual Celebration will be held August 24-September 3, 2022 and more information can be found at www.twhnc.com or by calling 931-684-5915.