Written by
state Rep. Pat Marsh
Today, Middle Tennessee kicks off the 74th annual Tennessee
Walking Horse National Celebration. The Celebration is one of
Tennessee’s most treasured, age-old tributes to one of the state’s most
valuable assets: the Tennessee Walking Horse.
Founded in 1939 by Henry Davis, a walking horse enthusiast from Wartrace, the 11-day annual summer festival takes place in Shelbyville. More than 1,500 horses compete in 171 classes and the event names 39 world champions. The Celebration’s culminating event is the crowning of the world grand champion on the Saturday night before Labor Day, a momentous occasion filled with a multitude of festivities.
For more than 70 years, this tradition has exalted the rich history of the sport and at the same time left an indelible mark on the state that is both economic and civic. The Celebration brings in nearly $40 million annually to the Middle Tennessee economy in direct spending, and provides a venue for local civic clubs to raise funds to support their chosen charities. The well-being of the horses is a top priority. The Celebration partners with the strictest Horse Industry Organization in the business to ensure that the treatment of all the animals complies with regulations, and that they are safe and content. The event is truly a celebration of one of Tennessee’s richest cultural traditions, as well as a means of bringing revenue back to the state and giving back to the community.
Drawing more than 170,000 fans from more than 40 states, the Celebration’s impact on Middle Tennessee’s economy is undeniable. The festival is one of the top revenue generating events in Middle Tennessee. Many of the area’s local civic clubs and charities depend on the 11-day event each year to ensure that they raise the funds needed to serve their community. Last year 17 civic clubs, such as the American Legion, the Quarterback Club and the Kiwanis Club used the Celebration as their annual fundraiser. The groups raise funds through the sale of food, concessions and other services at the event. The proceeds are donated to various initiatives throughout the county, including youth programs, sports leagues, scholarship funds, schools, veterans, impoverished children and many other notable causes.
The Celebration is not merely a sporting event, but a means for founding organizations such as the Shelbyville Lions Club and the Shelbyville Rotary Club to raise awareness about new community initiatives. This year, their theme for the Celebration is “Civic Pride,” and they are using the festival as an opportunity to involve more young people in helping to build and strengthen their local community.
Most importantly, the Celebration seeks to preserve the integrity of the Tennessee Walking Horse tradition, which has become such an integral part of the state’s culture as well as a regional pastime. The safety of the horses is an unquestionable priority for the organization. Their inspection process is the strictest, their penalties the strongest, and their compliance rating the highest, at 98.5 percent.
The organization is deeply invested in ensuring that its greatest assets, the horses, are trained safely and humanely. After all, the Celebration centers on the unique Tennessee tradition of the walking horse, one that we hope endures for years to come.
I encourage everyone in Middle Tennessee to head over to Shelbyville and visit the Celebration! It runs from Aug. 22-Sept. 1 and is a great way to spend a day with friends or family immersed in Tennessee tradition.
Founded in 1939 by Henry Davis, a walking horse enthusiast from Wartrace, the 11-day annual summer festival takes place in Shelbyville. More than 1,500 horses compete in 171 classes and the event names 39 world champions. The Celebration’s culminating event is the crowning of the world grand champion on the Saturday night before Labor Day, a momentous occasion filled with a multitude of festivities.
For more than 70 years, this tradition has exalted the rich history of the sport and at the same time left an indelible mark on the state that is both economic and civic. The Celebration brings in nearly $40 million annually to the Middle Tennessee economy in direct spending, and provides a venue for local civic clubs to raise funds to support their chosen charities. The well-being of the horses is a top priority. The Celebration partners with the strictest Horse Industry Organization in the business to ensure that the treatment of all the animals complies with regulations, and that they are safe and content. The event is truly a celebration of one of Tennessee’s richest cultural traditions, as well as a means of bringing revenue back to the state and giving back to the community.
Drawing more than 170,000 fans from more than 40 states, the Celebration’s impact on Middle Tennessee’s economy is undeniable. The festival is one of the top revenue generating events in Middle Tennessee. Many of the area’s local civic clubs and charities depend on the 11-day event each year to ensure that they raise the funds needed to serve their community. Last year 17 civic clubs, such as the American Legion, the Quarterback Club and the Kiwanis Club used the Celebration as their annual fundraiser. The groups raise funds through the sale of food, concessions and other services at the event. The proceeds are donated to various initiatives throughout the county, including youth programs, sports leagues, scholarship funds, schools, veterans, impoverished children and many other notable causes.
The Celebration is not merely a sporting event, but a means for founding organizations such as the Shelbyville Lions Club and the Shelbyville Rotary Club to raise awareness about new community initiatives. This year, their theme for the Celebration is “Civic Pride,” and they are using the festival as an opportunity to involve more young people in helping to build and strengthen their local community.
Most importantly, the Celebration seeks to preserve the integrity of the Tennessee Walking Horse tradition, which has become such an integral part of the state’s culture as well as a regional pastime. The safety of the horses is an unquestionable priority for the organization. Their inspection process is the strictest, their penalties the strongest, and their compliance rating the highest, at 98.5 percent.
The organization is deeply invested in ensuring that its greatest assets, the horses, are trained safely and humanely. After all, the Celebration centers on the unique Tennessee tradition of the walking horse, one that we hope endures for years to come.
I encourage everyone in Middle Tennessee to head over to Shelbyville and visit the Celebration! It runs from Aug. 22-Sept. 1 and is a great way to spend a day with friends or family immersed in Tennessee tradition.
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