The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC), sometimes known as the Celebration, is the largest horse show for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, and has been held annually in or near Shelbyville, Tennessee since its inception in 1939. The Celebration was conceived by Henry Davis, a horse trainer who along with several other horsemen, felt the Shelbyville area should have a festival or annual event. Although the Celebration was originally held in Wartrace, Tennessee, it moved to Shelbyville, the seat of Bedford County, a few years later. The Celebration spans 11 days and nights in late August and early September annually, and finishes with the crowning of the World Grand Champion Tennessee Walker on the Saturday night before Labor Day. The TWHNC draws an estimated 2,000 horses and 250,000 spectators to Shelbyville each year.
I Am Jose is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion and three-time World Grand Champion. He is the first stallion and second horse to win the World Grand Championship three times. I Am Jose is black with a star on his forehead.
Emerson "Bud" Dunn was a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer from Kentucky who spent most of his career in northern Alabama. He trained horses for over forty years and won his first Tennessee Walking Horse World Grand Championship at age 74 with Dark Spirit's Rebel; at the time, he was the oldest rider to win the honor. He was inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame in 1987 and named trainer of the year in 1980 and 1991. In 1999 at age 81, Dunn surpassed his own record for the oldest winning rider by winning his second World Grand Championship, riding RPM. He died of a heart attack in January 2001.
Shaker's Shocker was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won his breed's World Grand Championship in 1966.
Casey Wright is an American horse trainer based in Reagan, Henderson County, Tennessee. Wright became notable for training, riding, and showing the Racking Horse Gold Plated SD, who won a World Grand Championship in 2003. However, he is best known for training and riding the Tennessee Walking Horse I Am Jose, who won three World Grand Championships in consecutive years, 2013 to 2015. Wright was also named Trainer of the Year in 2013.
Setting Sun was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who competed in his breed's World Grand Championship three times. On his first attempt, in 1956, he placed third; he won the Reserve World Grand Championship in 1957 and the World Grand Championship in 1958. He was trained by Sam Paschal. After his wins, Setting Sun made nationwide television appearances. He died in 1976 and is buried near Newport, Tennessee.
Judy Martin is a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer. Martin trained the World Grand Champion Shades of Carbon, and was Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer of the Year in 1976. She also judged horse shows.
Wink Groover was an American Tennessee Walking Horse trainer who won the World Grand Championship in 1970 with the horse Ace's Sensation. Groover was also Trainer of the Year for 1970, and later served as a chairman for the National Horse Show Commission. Groover died in April 2010, at the age of 74.
Lincoln "Link" Webb is a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer. He and the black stallion Santana's El Nino won the breed's World Grand Championship in 2008.
He's Puttin' on the Ritz (1991-2016) was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won World Championships at the ages of two and three before winning his breed's World Grand Championship in 1996.
William Earl "Bill" Bobo is a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer. He won the World Grand Championship at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 2003 with the stallion The Whole Nine Yards. Bobo also showed the notable horse Rowdy Rev, who competed in the World Grand Championship several times but never won. Bobo has been named Trainer of the Year by the Walking Horse Trainers Association.
The Coach (2004-2017) was a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won the World Grand Championship in 2010.
Game World is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who won the World Grand Championship in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 2011.
Chad Baucom (1967–2016) was a Tennessee Walking Horse trainer. He was best known for winning the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration on the stallion Walk Time Charlie.
Gen's Black Maverick is a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion. He has won two World Championships and the 2017 World Grand Championship in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
Master of Jazz is a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in 2007. Originally ridden in amateur horse show classes, he made the transition to professional competition in 2005 and won his breed's largest show, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, two years later.
Watch It Now is a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in the 2009 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
Main Power is a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in the 2005 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. He had previously been the Three-Year-Old World Champion in two categories, Four-Year-Old World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion.
Out On Parole (1997-2018) was a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in the 2002 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
Santana's El Nino is a Tennessee Walking Horse who won the World Grand Championship in the 2008 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. He was trained by Link Webb.
