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Celebrating the Celebration

MIKE INMAN’S LOVE FOR THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE ★ STORY BY MARK MCGEE

ike Inman remembers the Texas with his family as his father
excitement and anticipation relocated in the military.
Mevery time he and his wife, “I dated a girl whose family had
Karen, crossed into Bedford County for a a farm and her father had horses
Tennessee Walking Horse Show. stabled there,” Inman said. “I
“If you are local you can’t understand wanted to date her so I started riding
the thrill of pulling into Bedford County horses.”
for a horse show,” Inman said. “You have But during his time in Dallas he
to experience it. It’s, oh, my gosh, we and Karen were introduced to the
are in Bedford County. It is special and Tennessee Walking Horse.
unique.” “My wife said she wanted to Mike Inman
Karen and Mike are full-time residents own a horse,” Inman said. “She had
of Bedford County with Inman in his sixth always wanted one since she was a spectators was the National Trainers’ Show
year as the CEO of the Tennessee Walking little girl, which was typical. I told her if I when it was held in Houston one year.
Horse National Celebration. Prior to his got a promotion I would buy her a horse. “We had never seen anything like
job at the Celebration he was an exhibitor “I got the promotion and our fi rst that,” Inman said. “After that we wanted
of walking horses for 26 years. horse was an Appaloosa. We then bought to see the Celebration.”
Inman knows the Celebration attracts a half walking horse-half quarter horse that Inman managed publicly-traded
residents to the area because it drew him was gaited.” residential home building companies
and Karen to the county. That horse was located in barn before becoming the CEO of the
“We lived in Dallas, Texas for over a operated by Steve Holt, the brother of the Celebration serving in a variety of levels of
decade,” Inman said. “We stayed a decade late walking horse trainer Sonny Holt. The management.
in Atlanta so there was the appeal of large Inmans were using self-care to stable their “Our vacation from 1985 until we
cities for us. horses which meant they were responsible moved up here permanently was to come
“We would vacation here. We bought a for chores such as cleaning out stalls. to the Celebration,” Inman said. “We
second home here in 2000. It was Dallas, “One day they brought in a string of would save our pennies.
Atlanta, and Shelbyville.” show horses to the barn that were walking “To show at the Celebration and win
Inman points out that a lot of those horses,” Inman said. “They were the fi rst some titles is the main thing. You can’t
who own second homes here plan on show horses we ever saw back in 1984. explain the draw.”
retiring in Bedford County not only for the Karen wanted one and we bought one. For Inman every trip into the show ring
horses, but for the fellowship. “We had a walking horse and a quarter at the Celebration brought a new level of
Inman fi rst had an interest in horses horse. We did a lot of trail riding and we excitement
in general. Growing up in Rantoul, Illinois drew straws to see who was going to ride “No matter how many times I showed,
he started riding horses. His father was in each horse. The winner always chose the and it must have been a couple of dozen
the Air Force and based at the Chanute Air walking horse.” times, every time you go down that chute,
Force Base. He also lived in Oklahoma and The fi rst horse show for the Inmans as especially on championship night you
can’t feel your arms,” Inman said. “It is
Indoor Air Quality feeling that only athletes or performers
who compete on that type of stage ever
feel.”
Inman’s passion for the walking horse
industry was one of his draws to take the
CEO position at time when the breed was
not having its best days.
“We want to do whatever we can to
SERVICEYOU help,” Inman said. “The board is very
CAN TRUST FOR
46YEARS! supportive. There is a lot of guidance
there. Having been a horse owner and an
exhibitor has been a plus for me in this
931.684.0339 • ReddsHeatingAndAir.com job.” ★

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