The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration released a preliminary class schedule for the 2015 Spring Fun Show to be held May 21-23 at Calsonic Arena. The Celebration made several changes for the 2015 Spring Fun Show highlighted by the removal of the owner requirement in amateur classes. The amateur classes at this year’s show will not require the amateur rider to be the owner of the horse.
The addition of the amateur/amateur classes in both the performance and pleasure divisions are a result of the support for the classes at last year’s Tunica Fall Classic. This popular addition will likely be added at this year’s Celebration. The Fun Show will also feature a $15,000 claiming class open to both professional and amateur riders on Friday night. Horses competing in this class will do so with the understanding that a legitimate offer of $15,000 buys the horse.
The Fun Show will also guarantee an A and B division in both the Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Stallions and Mares & Geldings divisions. According to Celebration CEO Mike Inman this decision was made after consultation with several of the industry’s leading trainers. “There are quite a few trainers with three or more quality two-year-olds that will be ready to go by show time. Having to limit the selection to one for each gender division deprives the trainers and owners from presenting what no doubt will be leading contenders throughout the summer.
The Fun Show is the traditional showcase for the top horses going into the heart of show season. My desire is to let the industry see as many of this year’s outstanding crop of colts as possible so reputations, conversations and strategies can start to take shape in the quest for world championship honors,” said Inman.
The judges for the Fun Show will be announced once the final class sheet is published on April 21, 2015. To view the tentative class schedule click here.