When Vandy Starnes entered UT in 1978, she had already achieved the pinnacle of success in Tennessee Walking Horse competition. She and her glossy-maned show mount, Copy’s Sensation, were five-time World Champions at the Shelbyville Walking Horse Celebration. They had won 108 first places of a possible 115 and had appeared on the cover of the national walking horse publication Walking Horse Report. She had also ridden her walking horse in Neyland Stadium at halftime of the homecoming football games, dressed in an especially tailored Big Orange outfit. She subsequently graduated from the University of Memphis and in 2004 became the practice manager at Franklin Equine Services.