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.

Saturday Evening 11/6/21

Friday Evening 11/5/21

Thursday Evening Results 11/4/21

The 2021 Fall Classic is scheduled to take place in Calsonic Arena Thursday, November 4th through Saturday, November 6th.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division.

In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

The Celebration will host the Fall Classic on November 4th-6th at the Calsonic Arena on the historic Celebration grounds. Again, for the 2021 Fall Classic, the Celebration will construct a show ring within the Calsonic Arena to allow for ringside tables. These tables were a much-loved aspect of last year’s Fall Classic and provided a close-up look at the action.

The tables will cost $1500, come with eight seats, eight meal tickets per night, and this year will include an open bar. The food each night will be provided by Southern Connections Catering. The tables also qualify for bronze-level sponsorship of the Fall Classic and one exhibitor parking pass.

Adjudicating the 2021 Fall Classic will be Paul Robbins, Sam Sorrell, and Amy Trimble.  The trio is a combination of one of the industry’s most experienced judges along with relatively new faces at Celebration events.  Sorrell will be the veteran of the group having judged The Celebration seven times, most recently in 2020.  Sorrell judged the FAST Spring Showcase, Christmas in July, and Belfast horse shows this year.

Robbins previously judged The Celebration in 2014 and most recently judged the show in Manchester, Tenn., earlier this summer.  Robbins has judged many of the industry’s major venues including the National Trainers’ Show, Money Tree Classic, Christmas in July, and Wartrace.  Trimble previously judged The Celebration Fall Classic in 2010 and although hasn’t judged as much as many others, she also judged the show in Cumberland County earlier this year.  Trimble has also judged the Money Tree Classic, Mississippi Charity, and Marshall County Horseman’s Association.

The show will be a triple-point Riders’ Cup show and culminate with the Andy Adkins Memorial Youth Championship on Saturday night which has been the tradition for the Fall Show. The youth division is featured heavily in the schedule, with five classes across the youth division. In addition to the Andy Adkins championship class, there is a Youth Trail Pleasure, Optional Tack, Youth Riders on Walking Ponies, Youth Riders 11 & Under on Mares & Geldings, Youth Riders on Show Pleasure Mares & Geldings, and Youth Riders on Country Pleasure, Optional Tack.

Again, this year the class sheet features the Debut class for two-year-olds that have not shown in 2021. To add to the excitement, the Celebration has broken last year’s class into two classes, one for Mares and Geldings and one for Stallions. The prize money for the winner of both classes is $3,000 this year and is brought to you by Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement.

“We are going to have a very exciting Fall Classic this year to build on the wonderful show season we have had in 2021, and I thank Bush Hog and Eagleville Implement for assisting in adding to the excitement,” said Celebration CEO Warren Wells.