Along with Trainer of the Year, the WHTA also recognizes several other individuals in distinguished categories including Assistant Trainers of the Year, Youth Riders of the Year, Groom of the Year, Amateur Riders of the Year, Novice Amateur of the Year, Multi-Night and One Night Show of the Year, as well as the Living Legend Award and Friendship Club Induction. These awards are also voted upon by the membership.
For 2025, the honor of Performance Assistant Trainer of the Year went to Kameron Newsom. He was born and raised around horses in Olive Branch, MS. The same love that his father and grandfather shared for them grew in him at a very young age. At just eight years old, his grandfather, Eddie B. Newsom gave him his first horse—a strawberry roan filly—that turned his love for horses into a true passion.
Although his early years were spent around flat-shod horses, Kameron was introduced to performance horses at a young age. His parents, Reggie Sr. and Quirstan Newsom, never missed taking him to his favorite horse shows, including the Germantown Charity Horse Show and the Tunica Fall Classic.
It wasn’t long before he had his first performance horse. He admired the trainers and horses at those shows, never realizing that one day they would become his peers. This young man and his family competed at the amateur level, developing friendships and meeting new people along the way. Riding and spending time at the barn—late nights and early mornings before and after school or work—quickly became a daily routine and laid the foundation for his strong work ethic.
Driven by a desire to learn and compete at a higher level, he began participating in shows with a growing focus on excellence. At the age of 14, he started his first training job working with performance horses for the late Paul Hall Sr. in Southaven, MS.
After finishing school and exploring other ventures, Kameron made the decision at 19 years old to move to Shelbyville, Tennessee, where he became a full-time trainer with Dan Waddell Stables in the winter of 2022. From the moment he arrived at Dan Waddell Stables, this young man showed a natural feel for a horse—an instinct that simply can’t be taught. His quiet, gentle demeanor gained confident, willing performances, especially with young horses.
The 2025 season proved to be a breakout year for the young horseman. He earned a reserve championship in the Young Trainers class at the Walking Horse Trainers’ Show aboard My Brother In Arms. The pair carried that momentum forward, claiming his first blue ribbon at the Spring Extravaganza. Throughout the year, this young man was a familiar face in and out of the show ring, consistently putting quality horses into competition. His strength with young stock was especially evident as he started over 15 colts for the 2026 season, all showing promise for bright futures.
Away from the spotlight, he is often found alongside his brother, Reggie. The two are known for lending each other a helping hand and being one another’s biggest supporters.
“You won’t find anyone with a better work ethic or more natural talent,” says Dan. Dan is quick to tell everyone that this young man is like having another son. He is a great worker and even better person and a true blessing to the DWS team and family. He represents the next generation of Tennessee Walking Horse trainers—grounded, hardworking, and driven by a genuine love for the horse. With deep roots in the industry and accomplishments already stacking up, his future looks exceptionally bright. Congratulations, Kameron Newsom!
The 2025 Assistant Pleasure Trainer of the Year award went to Mackenzie Morgan. This young lady who began riding at just three years old, and by age five she made her first show ring appearance in Nettleton, MS, aboard World Champion Royal Sparkling Gen. Teaming up with Mr. Jessie James, she captured her first World Championship in 2007 in the Youth 6–11 Trail Pleasure division. She and Jessie repeated that win in 2008 and went on to claim the Youth Trail Pleasure World Grand Championship, making a memorable spotlight ride that year. This young lady wrapped up an impressive youth career with 12 World Championships and a World Grand Championship.
She then transitioned into training at ThorSport Farm in Murfreesboro, TN. In 2019, she joined Stonewall Farms, and over a five year span she helped earn multiple Celebration titles and personally trained two World Grand Champions. Most recently, Lady Whistledown in 2024.
Joining Joe Lester Stables in the fall of 2024, she has quickly become a dedicated and invaluable part of the team, contributing additional World and World Grand Championships during the 2025 season.
A lifetime of hard work and dedication to the Tennessee Walking Horse has shaped her into the horsewoman she is today. Tonight, we proudly congratulate her on this well-deserved honor—her second Assistant Pleasure Trainer of the Year Award, Ms. Mackenzie Morgan!
The 2025 Groom of the Year honor was awarded to Liz Hord-Hallauer! She is no stranger to the horse business and her work ethic and the love she shows to every horse she helps care for each day is second to none. She is the epitome of a team player, whether it is cleaning stalls or hanging blue ribbons, she appreciates the importance of both and everything in between. This honoree rarely misses a day of work and always has a smile on her face. Her attention to detail, along with her love for the horse, makes her a treasure to everyone that knows her. She is truly a valuable member of the team at Heritage Stables. Liz Hord-Hallauer, thank you for your dedication to your job, your barn family and to the horses you help care for everyday!
The 2025 Performance Youth of the Year went to Ally Jo Jacobs. This young lady started her love of all things horses at the tender age of six months old. She has been very blessed to continue to fulfill her dreams of all things horses, and 2025 was no exception. Ally Jo Jacobs has distinguished herself as an exceptional representative of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry through her remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication throughout the 2025 show season. Demonstrating excellence across multiple disciplines—including versatility, performance, equitation, and model—she has set a standard of accomplishment rarely achieved at the youth level.
In addition to her success in the show ring, Ally Jo proudly represented the industry through multiple ceremonial flag presentations and by presenting the game ball at Middle Tennessee State University’s Homecoming. Her commitment to showcasing and promoting the Tennessee Walking Horse breed at numerous prestigious events has been one of the most meaningful aspects of her year.
During the 2025 season, Ally Jo competed in 106 rides, earning the following honors:
• 64 Blue Ribbon wins
• 1 World Grand Championship
• 6 World Championships
• 2 Reserve World Championships
• 1 Reserve World Grand Championship
• 2 NSSHA World and World Grand Championships
With a lifelong passion for horses and a deep respect for the traditions of the industry, Ally Jo embodies the qualities of a true ambassador for the breed. From daily work in the barn to the highest levels of competition in the show ring, her dedication, sportsmanship, and professionalism reflect great credit upon herself and the Tennessee Walking Horse community.
For her outstanding achievements and exemplary representation of youth in our sport, it is with great pride that we recognize Miss Ally Jo Jacobs as the 2025 Walking Horse Trainers Association Youth Performance Rider of the Year.
The 2025 Pleasure Youth of the Year went to Caroline Stanley. This young lady continues to live by her impressive mantra, “Always believe in your horse”. With a family of horse enthusiasts, it’s been no surprise that horses and riding came so naturally at a young age for this bright young lady.
Riding for fun quickly turned into a passion after a second-place tie on her first horse Let’s Get Rowdy at the Owingsville Lions Club horse show. Since then, over 197 blue ribbons have dressed her walls including seven World Championships and five reserve World Grand Championships. Her success reflects innate talent, hard work and a strong connection she has formed with her trainer, Hannah Pulvers and horses World Champion and Reserve World Grand Champion Vivian, World and World Grand Champion The Tiger Lily, and World and World Grand Champion Imagine Dragons, and her performance horse Reserve World Champion I Like Gin with her performance trainer, Ryan Blackburn.
You will often see this young lady in the barn and helping others at the show. Her humble and quiet demeanor is adored by all horses and her peers as well. Caroline Stanley serves as an excellent role model for all of us, and we are thrilled to see her recognized by this great Tennessee Walking Horse family as our Youth Pleasure Rider of the Year!
The 2025 Performance Amateur of the Year recipient was Kelly Manis. Excelling in the show ring is one achievement; dedicating time and leadership to the North Carolina Walking Horse Association and the Tennessee Walking Horse industry is another—one that this wonderful lady has consistently demonstrated. She has served as an NCWHA Director since 2010, held the position of First Vice President five times, and served four terms as President.
A respected competitor and thoughtful leader, she is recognized for her strong commitment to the industry and her sportsmanship. She actively supports fellow competitors and proudly shares her passion for the breed with her family.
Over the years, she has earned numerous blue ribbons, including world championship titles in 2024 and 2025. A previous winner of the NCWHA Ed Hubbard Sportsman Award and multiple high point division awards, she earned the 2025 NCWHA Ladies Auxiliary High Point Performance Rider Award, the 2025 Four-Year-Old Amateur High Point Award, and the 2025 Reserve NCWHA Member Specialty award. In recognition of her commitment to the industry and excellence in the show ring, Kelly Manis was chosen by the membership of the NCWHA to receive the NCWHA Senior Horseperson of the Year for 2025.
To top off her list of recognitions, tonight she adds “Amateur Performance Rider of the Year” to her credentials. We are honored to recognize her here tonight, Ms. Kelly Manis!
The 2025 Pleasure Amateur of the Year went to Maggie Moore. A talented photographer, a devoted wife, and a fierce competitor—those are just a few words that describe tonight’s recipient.
She began riding with her parents in Arizona at the age of nine and has never left the barn since. At 19, she purchased her first Tennessee Walking Horse, and in 1985—while competing on the tough West Coast circuit—she made the 2,500-mile trip to Middle Tennessee and claimed her very first World Championship.
Making her official move to Murfreesboro, TN, in 2007, Maggie has built an extraordinary show ring career, earning 3 World Grand Championships and 25 World Championships, with wins in both performance and pleasure divisions. In 2025 alone, she entered the show ring 108 times, winning 87 of those appearances, and she has claimed the WHOA Quest Amateur High Point Award an incredible 14 of the last 15 years.
Alongside her husband, Jim Leek, she was also honored with the Dr. & Mrs. Bob Womack Presidential Award in 2025. Tonight, we are proud to recognize a true competitor and ambassador of our sport—please join me in congratulating Maggie Moore!
The 2025 Novice Pleasure Amateur of the Year award was honored to Karen McGee. Though this is the Novice Amateur Pleasure award, tonight’s recipient is anything but a stranger to the show ring—or the winner’s circle. And if you’ve ever met her, you know she knows no stranger. She has shown cattle, pigs, and just about anything you can put a halter on.
Her love for the Tennessee Walking Horse began at the age of 15, when she went to work for Charles Gleghorn, who taught her everything he knew about halter competition. That knowledge paid off quickly and in 1999, she won her first Halter World Championship. In 2003, she claimed her first Halter World Grand Championship. Since then, she has earned countless World Titles in the model, weanling, and yearling divisions.
Yet through all that success, one goal remained just out of reach—earning a World Championship ride. In 2023, she teamed up with Nacho Business, owned by herself and Phyllis Langley, and together they became a true force in the Novice Pleasure division, earning two Reserve World Championships.
Then, in 2025, after several years of hard work and patience, it all came together. She made her first World Championship ride in the Novice Country Pleasure class—unanimously—and capped it off as the Reserve Country Pleasure World Grand Champion.
To top her list of accomplishments, Karen McGee now adds Novice Pleasure Amateur of the Year to her list of credentials.
The 2025 vote for multi-night show of the year went to The Columbia Spring Jubilee. Held at the Maury County Parks & Recreation the final weekend in May, this show featured some of the largest, most competitive classes of the season.
This was their 74th anniversary show and they were blessed with beautiful weather. A definite rarity for this show that is known for rain showers throughout the event. Dee Cantrell accepted the award on behalf of David Sisk and Callaway Dial.
The honor of best One Night Show of the Year went to The Money Tree Classic. Thoughtfully planned, organized, and carried out by The Walking Horse Trainers Auxiliary, the Money Tree Classic is always one of the biggest and most exciting shows of the year. Held during the famous fourth of July weekend at Cooper Steel Arena, this show is the largest fund raiser for these hard working ladies.
The first living legend honoree tonight is truly a walking horse legend and a friend to all. This young man was born in Garrard County, KY on December 31st, 1936. After graduating from Paint Lick High School, he worked in construction for 6 years and started riding horses on the side with his father-in-law, Leeds Ballard and brother-in-law, George Ballard. He was immediately addicted and attended his first Tennessee Celebration in 1956 and continued attending through 2024. This gentleman started training full-time in 1962 for John Bright. There he trained hackney ponies, gaited horses and a few walking horses. The result was his first blue ribbon aboard the two year old, Merry’s White Lady. He left the Bright’s Stable in 1965 to begin training for Claude Brown in Morehead, KY for 1 year, and from there he went to work for S.M. Tutt at the 3T Farm in Lexington, KY for 3 years. The rest is history……
In 1969, Bob and his wife Nancy, daughter Georgia, and 2 sons, Allen and Keith, began McQuerry Stables in Harrodsburg, KY, where the business still remains today. The following year, in 1970, Bob won his “first” World Champion on Go Boy’s Midnight Rambler in the 15.2 & Under class. Success continued to follow Bob, with not only championship horses but numerous awards. Bob has had multiple “Trainer of the Year” awards with the Kentucky Walking Horse Association and Kentucky Walking & Racking Trainers Association, as well as being inducted into the KWHA Hall of Fame. He was named Trainer of the Year by WHTA in 1981 and inducted into the Celebration Hall of Fame in 1984. He is a 5-time International Champion, which few have come close to. There are numerous boards he has served on, over the years, to keep the walking horse industry protected and in the forefront.
He has presented many champions over the years including Reve’s Little Boy, Ebony’s Go Go Girl, Rave, Eb’s Black Charger and Pusher’s Sport, just to name a few. However, the highlight of his career came in 1981 where he rode the World Grand Champion The Pusher C.G. This horse became a celebrity by representing the Tennessee Walking Horse industry on the global stage. He represented the industry in the International Lions Club Parade in Chicago, IL, which was attended by 123 countries, and he traveled to London England to participate in the prestigious Olympia International Championship. Over the span of his training success, he would be the first to tell you that it wasn’t just a business but a love of horses and people. He has many friendships that have spanned well over 40 years. He has the respect of all who have had the pleasure to know him and will always be remembered as one of the best and will continue to be a friend and mentor to many. We are blessed to honor a true living legend with Mr. Bob McQuerry.
The second recipient for the Living Legend award went to a 91 year old who would tell you that Ebony Masterpiece was the most talented horse he ever trained. He rode him to the 2 year old World Grand Championship at the 1958 Celebration. In the preliminary class, he tied Ebony Masterpiece 3rd and the judges said they missed him since there were so many black colored horses and most trainers wore dark suits. So…he returned on championship night wearing a white suit and got a white gangster hat…and said, “Well, they will see me now!” This recipient trained at many different barns through his training career including Blue Bonnett Stables, Oakley Hays Stables and Solitude Stock Farm before settling down at Bud Seaton Stables in Melton, TN. Perhaps, his most favorite stop during his training career was at Solitude Stock Farm. This is where he met his future wife, Mina, who worked as the office manager. This was just the beginning of something great.
One in particular memorable ride for this recipient was at the 1967 Columbia Spring Jubilee in the Stake class. Picture it, two great horses, Go Boy’s Chatterbox and Go Boy’s Sundust competing in a long two horse workout. Go Boy’s Chatterbox won and our recipient was riding. In the previous year, 1966, he had ridden this horse to the Reserve World Grand Championship. Other great horses that are listed in his resume include 1979 World Grand Champion Threat’s Supreme, Ebony’s Untouchable, Merry Stormy Boy, Son’s Shadow, Ebony’s Touch Me Not, and several others. Most of us remember our recipient for carrying the Flag at the Celebration from 1994 to 2020 and from his induction into the Celebration Hall of Fame in 1984.
Let’s welcome our newest recipient into the Lifetime Living Legend Club, Mr. Bud Seaton!
In 1991, Walking Horse Trainers’ Association President Mack Motes created the Friendship Club. The goal of this club was to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond in serving our industry. Despite a five-year intermission, the Friendship Club was restarted in 2021, and its honorees were reestablished. For 2025, the WHTA would like to recognize two individuals who have shown support, friendship, and quietly give of themselves to both the association and the industry at large. This award is intended to recognize the ones who step forward whenever they are needed, who serve without expectation, who make our industry feel like family, and whose kindness and generosity have made a lasting impact on those around them.
The first gentleman to join the Friendship club is one who perfectly fits that criteria; is always there to support both this association and the industry as a whole, whose friendly face, positive spirit, and giving heart have made an impression on us all. While his family history led him to the Walking Horse business, it was far from his dream growing up. However, he took the bull by the horns so to speak. He stepped forward and embraced the challenge. He has supported both this industry and our association at a level that may never be surpassed. The time, energy, and support physically, mentally, and financially that he gives goes far beyond what most will ever see or fully understand. He is a true spokesperson and ambassador of our breed, a protector of our horse, a colleague, mentor, friend, and everything in between – he is always there when called upon. Mr. Jeffrey Howard, there truly aren’t enough words to express our gratitude for all that you have done and continue to do for the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association and for the industry as a whole. Please know how much we appreciate you and your unwavering support year after year. We proudly honor you as a newly inducted member of the Friendship Club and sincerely thank you for the continued support, encouragement, and friendship you have shown us.
The next member to join our Friendship Club tonight is a gentleman who has worn many hats, and worn them well. He has been a dedicated horse owner and breeder for many years, contributing to the success and growth of our industry through his passion for the Tennessee Walking Horse. Beyond the barn, he devoted countless hours working with SHOW HIO, serving as a DQP and later as a Coordinator, helping support the integrity and operation of our shows.
But many of you may know him best in another role, one that has brought people together time and time again. As the founder and chef of Rowdy Ranch Catering, this gentleman has fed hundreds upon hundreds of people across our industry. From early mornings to late nights, in good weather and bad, whenever the call was made, he answered. He has generously donated countless meals, supported events big and small, and helped create moments of fellowship around the table that strengthen the bonds of our Walking Horse family. Tony’s generosity extends far beyond our industry. He donates the meat for lunches four times each month to the Veterans Association, giving back to those who have served our country. And during the COVID pandemic, when many were struggling, he quietly and faithfully fed the Soup Kitchen in Shelbyville free of charge each day simply because it was the right thing to do. Whether at the rail, behind the scenes, in the community, or in the kitchen, Tony Edwards represents what this award truly stands for — friendship, service, generosity, and heart. He is always welcoming, always dependable, and always ready with a smile and outstanding hospitality. For the kindness and dedication he has shown to us, it is our great honor to present the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association Friendship Award to Tony Edwards.
