After hanging around mule and donkey people for 6 years, we decided this was the year to check out the Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show in Shelbyville, Tennessee -- which is also the official home (since 1939) of the famous Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration. The Shelbyville show is the mule mecca of the East with Bishop Mule Days being the famous equivalent in the West.

This year was the 15^th annual Celebration and a NASMA (North American Saddle Mule Association) “A” level show for mules as well as world champion classes by AGMA (American Gaited Mule Association). The NMDA (National Miniature Donkey Association) held their main national show on the grounds at the same time and the ACOSA (American Council of Spotted Asses) also had championship classes.

The show was 3 days (Thursday thru Saturday) of  FULL schedules (9:00 am til after 10:00 pm each day) in 2 huge venues . . . the Calsonic Arena (indoor) and the outdoor  Championship Arena. There were 277 total classes for mules and/or donkeys that ranged in size from 3 to 28 animals per class and 18 states were represented.

There were classes for Halter, Color, Pleasure (English and Western, gaited and regular), Driving (single, double and team), Jumping, Hunter, Hunter Hack, Ride/Drive, Costume, Game/Gymkhana, Obstacle, Weight Pulling, Reining, Ranch Riding, Style Racking, Speed Racking, Tennessee Walking Mules and more. And there were classes for different ages of animals – Junior (4 and under) or Senior (5 and over), different shoe characteristics – flat shod, lite shod and barefoot, different ages/abilities/gender of riders – Adult (19 & over), Youth (18 & under), Youth 13-18, Youth 10 & under, Amateur, Professional, Ladies, Gentlemen . . . you name it, there was a class for it!

Since we have gaited mules (2 Tennessee Walkers and 1 Foxtrotter), we were particularly interested in the gaited classes and finally learned the real difference among some of the gaits. Some of the more exciting gaited classes were the Style Racking and Speed Racking events where no break to canter was allowed but, oh-my-gosh, could those mules motor! A few gaited classes required a canter but most prohibited that gait, instead requiring the flat walk, running walk and rack. There were even gaited versions of Western/English Pleasure classes. In this part of the country, fans go a little nutty about their gaited animals and the gaited mule classes were no exception, drawing the biggest noise and cheering, especially for the racking (Speed or Style) classes.

A 3-day admission pass cost only $15 per person (and parking only $3/day with come & go privileges) so we watched classes day and night until we were nearly dizzy. It was always easy to find a great seat as the arenas are huge and most of the attendees are exhibitors and their groupies – not really very many “just spectators.” And when we needed a change of scenery, there were lots of vendors to visit (our own WDMS member Pat McNamara was there with TheMuleStore.com). There was always something to watch in the large barn areas as animals were groomed, exercised, displayed “for sale” and generally shown off. Our ears were particular tuned in to the even 4-beat gait noise that was common along the paved barn streets. It was in the barns that we found a couple more WDMS members, Robin and David Irlbeck of Cyderbay Farm in Mishicot, WI. They had 6 young minis there in the NMDA show.

There were food vendors on the Celebration grounds and lots of franchise fast food in Shelbyville. There aren’t too many motel rooms in Shelbyville but we booked early (February) and got a room about a mile away from the Celebration grounds. Some folks weren’t so lucky and had to drive the 40 miles to Murfreesboro, a much larger town, for a room.

We also enjoyed running into some old and some new friends, such as an acquaintance of Hal’s from one of his mule e-mail groups and the Kentucky trainer from whom he bought Gabby. The Kentucky folks had another “perfect gaited mule” for Hal but he did manage to keep his wallet in his pocket.

We were thoroughly entertained for the 3 days watching some of the finest looking and finest stepping mules and donkeys in the country. The quality of the training and competition was very high and it was extremely rare to see an animal misbehave. The weather was great, the facility was great, the animals were great and, as usual, the mule/donkey people were great. What more could we ask? We’ll certainly return to the Celebration Mule and Donkey Show in Shelbyville. Maybe next time with a mule . . . ??   

The 16th Annual Great Celebration Mule and Donkey Show will be held July 12-14, 2007.

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