By WhitLei Burks
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The Walking Horse Trainers’ Association celebrated a milestone this year as the 58th Annual WHTA Awards Banquet honored the Tennessee Walking Horse and the unforgettable moments of the 2025 show season. Adding to the occasion, the banquet once again fell on Valentine’s Day weekend, a fitting backdrop for an event centered on a shared love of the horse and the people behind it.
The Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tennessee, welcomed guests on Saturday, February 14, 2026, for an evening spent reconnecting with friends, family and barn families who feel like both. Attendees traveled from near and far to enjoy the fellowship and reflect on a remarkable year, eagerly awaiting the presentation of more than 55 Horse of the Year honors, along with numerous additional recognitions.
Mark Farrar once again took the reins as emcee for the evening, handling announcing duties and keeping the crowd engaged with his signature style. Early in the program, Farrar recognized several organizations that play vital roles within the Walking Horse industry, along with individuals who helped make the weekend both successful and enjoyable. A welcome addition to this year’s program was Lauren Hamilton, who assisted with emcee duties throughout the evening.
The Living Legend Lifetime Achievement Awards followed, with Bob McQuerry and Bud Seaton receiving this well-deserved honor in recognition of their lasting impact on the industry.
The program then turned to the 2025 WHTA Scholarship recipients. This year’s honorees were Cohen Abernathy, Ella Abernathy, Caroline Burrahm, Julia Callaway, Addie Harris and Margaret Taylor.
Next, Warren Wells and John Allan Callaway were invited to the stage for the presentation of the coveted green blazer, recognizing Callaway’s 2025 World Grand Championship win with Justified Honors. The green blazer tradition began in 1995 when Frank and Shirley Neal honored each previous World Grand Champion rider with a custom blazer featuring The Celebration emblem and the championship year stitched in gold on the pocket. Over time, the blazer has become one of the most prestigious honors in the industry.
In 2024, the Neal family’s 31-year stewardship of this tradition concluded, and The Celebration assumed responsibility for continuing the legacy for future World Grand Champions. The WHTA extends its sincere appreciation to Frank and Shirley Neal for their dedication and service in establishing and maintaining this meaningful tradition. Sponsored by The Celebration, the green blazer was presented to John Allan Callaway, trainer and rider of the 2025 World Grand Champion Justified Honors, by Celebration CEO Warren Wells. The WHTA also thanks The Celebration for preserving this time-honored custom. The blazer itself is custom designed and crafted by Marsha’s on the Square.
Callaway’s championship with Justified Honors also marks a historic milestone, earning him his fourth World Grand Championship title. More recognition of this achievement would follow later in the evening.
Following the blazer presentation, Marsha’s on the Square was recognized for its longstanding and continued support of the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association and the industry as a whole. Once again, Scott and Ashlea Shepard presented Callaway with a beautifully tailored saddle-riding suit in honor of his World Grand Championship win. The WHTA expressed its appreciation to Marsha’s on the Square for their ongoing commitment to the Walking Horse community.
Tony Edwards and Jeffery Howard were then inducted into the WHTA Friendship Club. Members of this distinguished group are individuals who consistently go above and beyond in service to the horse and the industry year after year.
Each year, the Riders’ Cup program continues to expand, earning its reputation as one of the most competitive and respected programs in the industry. While trainers received their winnings during the December meeting, the awards banquet recognized the two overall division winners. For the second consecutive year, Dan Waddell topped the performance division, earning $15,664.71. Also, for the second year in a row, Joe Lester claimed first-place honors in the pleasure division, taking home $11,150.95.
The evening continued with the announcement of the 2025 WHTA Horse of the Year Champions and Reserve Champions. This year, the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association conducted online voting across 67 divisions, including the previously presented awards, with a total of 134 ballots submitted—an increase from 118 ballots the year prior.
For each division, nominees were announced followed by the reserve champion and champion, with individual photos taken for every category. Guests were also treated to a video presentation produced by Dean Johnson, highlighting the outstanding horses and achievements that defined the 2025 season.
WHTA Horse of the Year Recipients
Performance Trainer of the Year
Sam Martin
Pleasure Trainer of the Year (tie)
Joe Lester
BJ Richards
Assistant Performance Trainer of the Year
Kameron Newsom
Assistant Pleasure Trainer of the Year
Mackenzie Morgan
Groom of the Year
Liz Hord-Hallauer
Performance Youth of the Year
Ally Jo Jacobs
Pleasure Youth of the Year
Caroline Stanley
Performance Amateur of the Year
Kelly Manis
Pleasure Amateur of the Year
Maggie Moore
Novice Pleasure Amateur of the Year
Karen McGee
Best One-Night Show
Money Tree Classic
Best Multi-Night Show
Columbia Spring Jubilee
Lead Line
Winner – The Silver Lining and McKinley Cutshaw
Reserve –The Kickin' Chicken and Olivia Stembridge
Amateur Two-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Charlie Sherman
Reserve – Capri
Weanling
Winner – Justa Hookup
Reserve – Just A Barbie Doll JR
Amateur Two-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Harvey Spector
Reserve – Chosen CSF
Yearling
Winner (tie) – Clarabel Chugga Choo Choo
Mona Lisa Mona Lisa
Rhythm Nation
Reserve (tie) – Dizzy Dean RW
Ah Ah Ah Choo
Two-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – A Gossip Girl
Reserve – Capri
Lite-Shod
Winner – Space Cowboy SN
Reserve – Senorita Carmelita
Two-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Rival
Reserve – Sho-Time
Youth Show Pleasure
Winner – Well Armed American
Reserve – I Am
Trail Pleasure
Winner – Blacklist
Reserve – Sweet Walking Matilda
Youth Pony
Winner – I Am Big Enough
Reserve – I Am
Amateur Country Pleasure
Winner – Luciano
Reserve – He's A Knight Rider
Amateur Adult Pony
Winner – I'm Charlie Black CFF
Reserve – Dark Rain
Amateur Novice Performance
Winner – I'm Senor Copperfield
Reserve – M.T. Pockets
Amateur Three-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Far Above Rubies
Reserve – Swanky L
Elite (50 & Over)
Winner – Jurist
Reserve – Born A Maverick
Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion
Winner –Tide Pride
Reserve – Hurrah!
Three-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Far Above Rubies
Reserve – Miss Lizzie McGuire
Park Pleasure
Winner – Gin's Slingblade
Reserve – He's A Dixieland Delight
Three-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Hell Or High Water
Reserve – Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Fine Harness
Winner – Cody James
Reserve – In Ted's Image
Model
Winner – My Miranda Lambert
Reserve – Magnificent THF
Ladies Amateur
Winner –TN Lineman
Reserve – A Neon Cowboy
Amateur Four-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Smoochen With Charlie
Reserve – She's Lined With Love 4G
Amateur Canter
Winner – Honor My Country
Reserve – I'm Jordan
Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Java
Reserve – Straight Republican
Amateur Park Pleasure
Winner – Jazzed Up Lady
Reserve – Dixie's Legacy
Four-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Gimme A Redneck Girl
Reserve – Sir With Honor
Amateur Lite-Shod
Winner – Roscoe Jenkins
Reserve – Big Time Bandit
Four-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Ohtani
Reserve – Wilhelm
Amateur Four & Five-Year-Old Country Pleasure
Winner – Crypto
Reserve – Bodie
Amateur Show Pleasure
Winner – Southern Soul
Reserve – The Honor Code
Amateur Four & Five-Year-Old Trail Pleasure
Winner – Cha Cha Ching SF
Reserve – Enticed
Park Performance
Winner – Limbaugh
Reserve (tie) –Draw A Line
Wakanda
Amateur All Day Pleasure
Winner – Just A Steel Magnolia
Reserve – She’s Never Been Kissed
Amateur Five-Year-Old Stallion
Winner – Sweet Black Gin
Reserve – Hotty Toddy Gosh A'Mighty
Youth 11 & Under
Winner – Da Hoss
Reserve – The Comanche
Amateur Two & Three-Year-Old Country Pleasure
Winner – B. Purdy
Reserve – Red Clay Stray
Amateur Five-Year-Old Mare or Gelding
Winner – Jimmer's Country Girl
Reserve –Time To Be Glamorous THF
Youth 12-17
Winner – Quite An Honor
Reserve – A Neon Cowboy
Amateur 15.2 & Under Stallion
Winner – Form A Line
Reserve – A Kingpin
Youth Trail Pleasure
Winner – Sweet Walking Matilda
Reserve – Imagine Dragons
15.2 & Over Mare or Gelding
Winner –Me And Pocahontas
Reserve – She's Lined With Love 4G
Amateur Trail Pleasure
Winner – Machete
Reserve – My Black Cadillac
Open Show Pleasure
Winner – Fist Full Of Cash
Reserve (tie) –YS Fly Like An Eagle
Charlie Danger
Two & Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure
Winner – Raylan Givens
Reserve – Lined Up To Bat
Open Specialty
Winner – Millionaire's Row
Reserve – Warbird
Amateur Two & Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure
Winner – Tony V
Reserve – Talkin' Tennessee
Youth Country Pleasure
Winner – The Tiger Lily
Reserve – Twenty Four Carrots ML
Amateur 15.2 & Under Mare or Gelding
Winner – Google.com
Reserve – The Jackalope
Amateur All Day Pleasure Five & Under
Winner – Cowboy Copper
Reserve – The Queen Supreme
Amateur Specialty
Winner – TN Lineman
Reserve – She's Salsarita
Youth All Day Pleasure
Winner – IB Smokin Joe
Reserve – Betrayal
Amateur Park Performance
Winner – DB Cooper
Reserve – A Touche'
15.2 & Over Stallion
Winner – Justified Honors
Reserve – Jura THF