tennessee walking horse national celebration tennessee walking horse national celebration known celebration largest horse breed held annually near tennessee inception celebration conceived horse trainer horsemen felt area festival annual event celebration originally held tennessee moved county seat years later celebration spans days nights late august early september annually finishes saturday night labor day draws estimated horses spectators year history founded resident went winchester tennessee buy hay observed held felt similar festival proposed idea group fellow horsemen accepted celebration held began parade elaborate depicted evolution breed original use utility horse present use horse celebration attracted people celebration later moved located miles southeast nashville space issues small unable cope volume visitors horses attracted known modern celebration spans days late august early september prior labor day year finishes saturday night labor day draws estimated horses spectators million revenue year notable winners horse named world grand champion jim jim horse years old time win jim world grand champions notable winner world grand champions merry boy known producing desirable tennessee walker type offspring stake traditionally class won mare gray mare white star owned ridden crowned incidentally year old moss youngest rider win stake female rider win world grand championship betty oldest rider win year old rpm horses won stake years time winners history celebration talk town controversies celebration criticized allegations horses event abusive practice designed horses step higher illegal federal law sponsors celebration consistently denied allegations horse entered celebration undergo inspection designed detect horses conducted employed inspector horse allowed use like tools direct pressure area foot find source pain leg tools detect signs horses concerns escalated trainers initially trainers refused submit horses inspection creating stand required law enforcement intervention prior world grand championship finals disqualified finalists group approximately people gathered demanding disqualified horses allowed citing safety concerns management cancelled class altogether crowned year venue classes held acre encompasses facility contains arenas warm areas outdoor arena seating including box seats classes indoor arena seating small classes case rain features wide variety classes hand performance including divisions youth professionals horses shoes performance flat classes particularly popular amateur owners train horses classes children crowd favorite horses entered registered registered associations double registration affect horse ability enter celebration exception rule competing lead line classes world championships awarded different classes course celebration anticipated class world grand championship largest honor tennessee walking horse breed competition celebration traditionally opened night white gray tennessee walking horse rider carrying american flag singing american national anthem course celebration prizes given celebration includes attractions dog barn contest world grand championship world grand championship known rider cup final class celebration held late saturday night labor day early sunday morning compete stake horses qualify showing class saturday night previous world grand champions automatically eligible compete competing horses enter arena song flat walk composed played official horses required perform flat walk running walk twice separate riders horses judges evaluate winner announced spotlight sweeping forth line horses settling winner awarded prize money
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration