Renfrew resident Sarah Wise shows her horse Gypsy Gentleman during the Kentucky State Horse Show in Louisville earlier this month. The horse won a world championship in its division.

RENFREW — Renfrew resident Sarah C. Wise and her horse, Gypsy Gentleman, were awarded a world championship recently.

Wise entered and showed the 8-year-old horse in the American Saddlebred division at the Kentucky State Horse Show in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 22.

“You don’t often get a horse of this caliber to enter at a show like this,” Wise said. “Horses are entered at this show from all over the world.

“If the horse isn’t up to that level of competition, it would be a waste of money to try it.”

The American Saddlebred division involves showing the horse with a two-wheeled buggy. Gypsy Gentleman was presented in three different gaits — walk, trot and show trot.

Judges determine the winners of each division.

“We entered (Gypsy Gentleman) in this division last year and we finished on down the line, somewhere around sixth,” Wise said. “The trainers worked hard and really improved him this year.”

There were more than 2,000 American Saddlebred horses showing in different divisions at the Kentucky event. The total prize money exceeded $2 million.

The division in which Gypsy Gentleman earned a world title had 14 horses entered.

Wise has been showing American Saddlebred horses in riding and driving classes at major national horse shows for more than 40 years.

Her last national title horse was in 1971, when Gentleman Jim earned the title of Horse of the Year, an award based on accumulated points.

“The one this year was more exciting because it was a live competition,” Wise said.

Wise and her husband, Vern, own approximately 30 horses on the Oaklane Farm.