by Debbie Graham and Linda Scrivner

GERMANTOWN, Tenn. – The Germantown Charity Horse Show, held June 10-14, 2008, held its first edition in 1948. This show, founded by the Germantown Civic Club and the Oak Grove Hunt Club, has developed a wealth of tradition. In its 60th year, Germantown provided another excellent horse show with tough competition, festivities, entertainment and profit for both the community and the horse industry.

Lynda Smith, president of the Germantown Charity Horse Show, welcome exhibitors with the following statement: “The members of the Germantown Charity Horse Show welcome you to our 60th anniversary celebration. We have many events set up just for you, and we have added several special events in celebration of our anniversary. We hope you experience our famous Germantown hospitality and show your fine horses in front of the greatest spectators in the country.”

The arena was surrounded with live size painted horses. These colorful and original horses will be auctioned off in October with 45 percent of the profits going to the Germantown Charity Horse Show, 45 percent going to the charity of the purchaser’s choice and 10 percent going to the artist who painted the horse. These were a favorite with the crowd and cameras flashed everywhere around the ring to remember these unusual horses. The bowl shaped arena was nicely decorated and a gala mood was in the air despite the 90-102 temperatures.

The show was definitely exhibitor friendly with a welcome reception that began on Monday with free food, fun, music and fanfare; wine and cheese on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; ice cream parties on all five days and a fish fry on Friday.

Nathan Clark of Arab, Ala., was on hand to judge the walking and spotted divisions. The $5,000 Ferguson Farms WHTA Riders’ Cup Grand Championship is always the highlight of the Saturday evening performance and was the final class of the show. 

Jimmy McConnell and Busting Special stepped into the limelight once again at the famed Germantown Charity Horse Show as they made their victory pass to the cheers of the crowd, just as they did Thursday evening in the Aged Stallion class. Busting Special carried McConnell to the top honors for owners Larry and Farrah McAlexander. Last year they were the reserve grand champions at this show and in 2006, they won the Four-Year-Old Stallion class and the Four-Year-Old Grand Championship in Germantown. 

Worth A Buck and Todd Claborn had their own fans cheering when they wore the reserve ribbon from the ring. This team was in top form to make the stake very interesting. Beverly Sherman proudly owns this talented bald-faced horse. Oops On Parole and Ray Gilmer claimed the third position for the Tommy Jowers family.

The Germantown competition was tough this year as it is traditionally. Formac Stables of Union City, Tenn., once again dominated the competition by capturing 15 blues. Within the 15 wins, five were Germantown tricolors.

Falcon Ridge Farm had a great weekend in Germantown, as well, picking up eight blues, including two tricolors. Brock Tillman trained entries proudly earned five blues, two of which were tricolors. Todd Claborn of Circle C Stables at Backward S Ranch returned home with four blues, including one tricolor. Ross Campbell Stables won three blues, one of which was a tricolor.

Steve Aymett Stables, Southern Serenity Ranch, Circle T Stables and Shea Woods Stables won dual blues each. One of Steve Aymett Stables’s blues was a championship tricolor. Edgar Abernathy Stables, Casee Crocker, Hunter Fikes, Donnie Jones of Summercrest Farms, Latham Stables, Jeff Sanderson, David Smith Stables, Stanfill Stables and Tim Thompson Stables collected the remaining titles.

This show introduced some new teams to the ring. Kelly Sherman and Opus One debuted to the blue in the Amateur Three-Year-Old Stallion class and then returned to win the Amateur Three-Year-Old Championship. Pam Bett directed her new chestnut stallion, Sun Dust With Attitude, to the Amateur Stallion Canter class blue and then on to victory in the Amateur Canter Championship. Molly Walters and The Who made their debut by winning first the Amateur Stallion blue and then the Amateur Specialty Championship tricolor. In the trainers’ classes, Star In The Making and Brock Tillman won the WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Stallion class in their debut, then returned Saturday night to claim the WHTA Riders’ Cup Two-Year-Old Grand Championship.

Proving that the Floyd Sherman family always has top horses, in the Three-Year-Old Championship the first three horses were owned by the Shermans. The blue was awarded to Stormin Willie and Steve Aymett followed by reserve winners, Dallas Maverick and Brock Tillman. The third place team was Gen’s Black Sapphire and Todd Claborn.

Complete results can be viewed by clicking here.