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Several more wins included the Money Tree Classic, Division C World Championship, and the unanimous choice as the 4-year-old World Grand Champion. The team also won the Money Tree Classic and the Marshall County Horseman\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the first Saturday night of the TWHNC, they topped the A division of the Aged Stallions class, which features stallions age 5 and older. They also won the Canter class unanimously. Their top recognition came on Aug. 31, when they were named World Grand Champion \u2014 also by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Cavender isn\u2019t showing off, he has a sweet tooth like many of us. He loves to nibble on apple oat horse cookies, vanilla wafers, carrots, and even peppermints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith grew up outside of Birmingham, Alabama. When he turned 18, he applied for his trainer\u2019s license. \u201cI grew up around horses as my dad, Tex Smith, was a trainer, and I really began my love for horses with my first pony, Domino. In high school, I played football and trained horses with my dad after school. At that time, we owned the horses that I showed on the Alabama circuit, and we had a few outside customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He credits his love of the TWH breed to his dad, but says his mom, Joan, supported both of their dreams. \u201cMy dad doesn\u2019t miss watching a show online now. My in-laws, Becky and Walter Nichols, and a lot of my wife\u2019s family come to the shows to cheer me on. And, although we compete on the weekends, many of my fellow trainers are good friends. We bounce things off each other and really lean on each other. And then, there are the great customers that I have, and have had, over the years. Their trust in me with their horses really means a lot and keeps me wanting to do the best job I can all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tim\u2019s wife, Sarah, is a Shelbyville native. \u201cIn 2002, thanks to a mutual horse industry friend, I met my wife. I moved to Tennessee in the spring of 2003, and we married the next October.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Smiths have three children: Abi, Lexi, and Andy. \u201cMy wife, as well as our girls, have also won World Grand Championships at the Celebration. Andy loves horses and going to the shows, but he is really into basketball, so his focus is on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to Cavender, Tim said, \u201cCavender has been special since day one. He has the best personality. He just wants to please. He is truly a talented animal.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" EVERY EYE was on the center ring. The floodlights overhead, which had previously illuminated the arena for dozens of Tennessee walking horses (TWH) and their riders, switched off. A subtle hush fell over the crowd as a single spotlight zeroed in on Cavender and his trainer, Tim Smith. This wasn\u2019t Cavender\u2019s first ride beneath the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":24063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n