The Germantown Charity Horse Show was founded by the Germantown Civic Club and the Oak Grove Hunt Show. Around 600 horses attended this spectacular event, which is one of the largest and oldest multi-breed shows in the nation.

Robin Edwards of Columbia, Tenn., was on hand to judge the walking and spotted divisions. Bill Carrington, another Germantown tradition, expertly handled the announcing duties for the evening shows and Jimmy Cole of Jackson, Tenn., served as the ringmaster. The year’s show was managed by the very capable Russ Walther, and Jack Schatzberg captured the memories on film.

Continuing the festivities tradition, on Thursday evening there was an exhibitors’ street party with live entertainment and plenty of food, on Friday evening there was a box supper, and there was an ice cream social on Sunday afternoon.

Many groups held their own special treats and parties. Also on Thursday evening before the show walking horse enthusiasts enjoyed fried chicken, blueberry pie and all the fixings at the White Oak Farm trailer hosted by Robert and Lisa Marbry.

The bowl-shaped arena was decorated festively and the ring was in excellent shape with the exception of the slushy conditions on Friday following rain, which is another tradition at Germantown.

The grand championship is always the highlight of the Saturday evening performances at Germantown. It is always held midway through the Saturday evening classes while the crowd is still at its largest.

Jimmy McConnell and The Black Night Shade created their own Germantown tradition this year. This powerful duo won the Germantown grand championship for the second year in a row after winning the preliminary this year as well. This win makes Jimmy McConnell’s third consecutive grand championship title at Germantown. In 2001 McConnell won the stake on Cut The Smoke. In 2003 they returned to defend their title and won it once again with deafening applause for their outstanding performance. Owners Tom and Judy Waite were proud of his four blues in two years at Germantown. Reserve in this strong class was General Takes Command and Don Crum of Crockett, Texas. The third position was awarded to Impressive Rising Sun and Shea Woods.

This year Germantown held up to its tradition of tough competition. The team from Whitter Stables of Collierville, Tenn., dominated the competition capturing 13 blues, which included six Germantown tri-colors. Formac Stables of Union City, Tenn., had a great weekend in Germantown as well, capturing 12 blues including dual tri-colors. One of these was won in the afore mentioned stake. Southern Serenity Ranch returned to Jackson, Tenn. with a total of nine blues.

Shea Woods of White Oak Stables of Atoka, Tenn., had five blues with one of these being a tri-color. Karla Massey was next in line with four blues, followed by Backward S Ranch and the James Sullivan family earning three blues each. These both included a tri-color victory.

Dual blues were earned by Ray Gilmer Stables and Donnie Jones of Summercrest Stables. One of the Summercrest Stables wins was a tri-color.

The remaining single blues were won by John Hughes, Keel Whitney, Holley Stables, Katie Moore, Cody Laster, Don Crum Stables, Britt Huffstattler and Edgar Abernathy.

The first blue for Whitter Stables was won by the team of Dr. Cash and Jackie McConnell. On Saturday evening McConnell returned to capture the Three-Year-Old MASCUP Championship on this talented young horse. On Thursday evening Beverly Sherman took the reins of Generator’s Flirtin to capture the Amateur Ladies Mare and Gelding Specialty on this world champion mare. This team also captured the Amateur Mares Specialty blue at the National Trainers’ Show earlier this season.

On Thursday Jackie McConnell rode to the winner’s circle in the Two-Year-Old Stallions class on Escalade. On Saturday they returned to win the Germantown Two-Year-Old MASCUP Championship to the delight of owners O & W Moody Ltd. This team was also named the two-year-old grand champions at the Mississippi State Charity Show this season.

Another star from Whitter Stables, Slick Willie was very impressive as he won the 12-entry Youth 12-17 Specialty on Thursday evening with Brad East in the irons. This current world champion returned on Saturday evening to capture the Junior Rider 12-17 Specialty Championship. Slick Willie’s wins earlier this season include the Gulf Coast Horse Show Riders 12-17 and the Mares and Geldings titles.

In their debut performance, Show Me The Money and Wilsene Moody captured the Two-Year-Old Amateur Stallions blue on Thursday. They returned to claim the Two-Year-Old Amateur Championship on Friday. Moody was thrilled because her two-year-olds, one by Santana and one by Generator’s Showboat, earned four Germantown titles.

Whitter Stables not only laid claim to the two-year-old titles, they made a clean sweep of the 11 and Under classes at Germantown with two tiny hard-riding youngsters both in their first year in the show ring. Current world champion Sunrise Que Sera Sera carried Christina Butler to the blue in the Youth Riders 11 and Under on Mares class on Friday evening following their previous wins at the 2003 Mississippi State Charity and at the 2003 Holly Springs Charity Classic. Another current world champion, Flashy Pride carried his smiling rider Rachel Hyneman to victory in both the Youth Riders 11 and Under on Geldings and the Junior Exhibitor 11 and Under Championship classes. Their earlier victories include Faith Haven Walking Horse Show’s 11 and Under class and the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival’s 11 and Under.

Jackie McConnell directed Santini to the tri-color in the competitive Junior MASCUP class, concluding Saturday night’s show. This victory follows the team’s early season win at the National Trainers Show.

Formac Stables made their way to the winner’s circle 12 times at this year’s Germantown Charity Horse Show. World Champion Barracuda repeated his 2002 Germantown victories by winning the mares and geldings class with Jimmy McConnell directing and then the Amateur Specialty Mares and Geldings class with owner Mary Medina directing. These wins follow the team’s 2003 victories at the Mississippi State Charity, the Gulf Coast Show and the Spring Fun Show.

Another repeat Germantown winner from 2002 for Formac Stables was Grandy’s Rhythm Lady. Mary Medina and this beautiful sorrel mare claimed the Open Amateur class Friday night on a sloshy track.

Formac’s Gail McConnell directed Lock & Load to the Trainers’ Auxiliary class win on Tuesday evening. In 2002 daughter Stacy Blackburn won a Germantown blue on Lock & Load. Gail McConnell also won the Mid American Spring Amateur Ladies Specialty this season.

On Friday evening, Jimmy McConnell and World Champion Walkin All Over repeated their 2002 Germantown win in the 15.2 and Under class. Mary Medina borrowed husband Bob’s Walkin All Over and won the 15.2 and Under Amateur Specialty title on Wednesday. Walking All Over holds previous wins at the 2003 Mississippi State Charity and the 2003 Gulf Coast Show. Charmed & Dangerous and Jimmy McConnell captured the win in the Junior Stallions class on Tuesday evening. McConnell also won the Mid American Charity Three-Year-Old Stake this season.

On Thursday 13 three-year-old amateur mares and geldings teams entered the show ring. Mary Medina took the reins of their home raised Orient Express to win this tough class. This victory comes after her husband, Bob Medina, took home an earlier win in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings class at the 2003 Walking To Make A Difference.

Contaminated and Vickie Garland claimed the 11-entry Three-Year-Old Amateur Stallions title. They returned on Friday night to make the tri-color victory pass in the Three-Year-Old Amateur Championship. Garland and Contaminated have stacked up earlier victories this season at Martin, Tenn., Faith Haven Show and Mid American Charity.

Anna Hamilton won four of the nine Germantown blues won by Southern Serenity Ranch in 2003. She directed Pusher Color Coded to victory in the Spotted Saddle Horse Lite-Shod Juvenile class, followed by wins with My Finders Keepers in the Trail Pleasure English/Western Specialty, with Thunderstruck By CK in the Spotted Saddle Horse Two and Three-Year-Old Trail Pleasure class and with Cotton’s Medicine Man in the Spotted Trail Pleasure Juvenile class.

Also under Southern Serenity’s banner, Billy Crockett carried the talented Freman’s Sonny to victory in the Spotted Trail Pleasure Specialty at Germantown. Jackie Medlin and CK’s Mystery were the Park Pleasure Specialty Champions on Wednesday.

Gen’s Painted Apache won dual blues for Stephen Hodjkins. They won the Spotted Saddle Horse Open Shod and the Spotted Saddle Horse Open Shod Amateur titles. Southern Serenity Ranch proudly prepares this team for the show ring. David Ashmore and Ali were the Two and Three-Year-Old Spotted Open Shod winners on Wednesday.

Shea Wood’s string of five blues began Tuesday night with Tenderoni’s victory in the Junior Mares and Geldings class. His next blue came with the exciting new Beam’s Clowning Around in the Show Pleasure Specialty Trainer To Ride on Wednesday evening. This team returned on Friday to win the Show Pleasure Stake. Beam’s Clowning Around debuted at the recent West Tennessee Strawberry Festival where the talented horse joined Dusty Carpenter to claim the Amateur Show Pleasure Specialty title.

Shea Woods directed Generator’s Sensational to make the victory pass in the Two-Year-Old Mare and Gelding class following a blue in the same class at the Holly Springs Charity Classic. White Oak’s final blue came with Black Sails and Tyler Herndon’s victory in the Walking Pony class on Friday evening. Black Sails also won the Open Amateur this season at Holly Springs Charity Classic.

Karla Massey’s four Germantown blues came with two horses winning two apiece. Eagle’s Legacy won first the Walking Country Pleasure Open and then the Walking Country Pleasure Amateur. Current reserve world champion One Knight At A Time carried her to both the Four-Year-Old Lite-Shod and the Lite-Shod Specialty blues.

Backward S Ranch proudly claimed three Germantown blues this year. Beverly Sherman directed her current world grand champion Papa’s Smokin Pusher to a win in the 60 and Over class and the Amateur Specialty Championship on Saturday evening. Earlier this season they claimed a blue at the Mississippi State Charity show as well. Daughter Kelly Garrett and Watch And Bedazzled claimed the Four-Year-Old Amateur Mares and Geldings title on Thursday evening.

Current reserve world champion Stormy’s Black Rain claimed three Germantown victories for the James Sullivan family. Summer Sullivan first claimed the win in the Owner/Trained Specialty on Wednesday evening with this talented horse. Jim Sullivan then claimed the victory in the Men’s Amateur class. He followed that by winning the Amateur Championship on Saturday night. Stormy’s Black Rain has had numerous wins in 2003 including the Amateur Owned/Trained Specialties at West Tennessee Strawberry Festival; Nettleton, Miss.; Mississippi Charity; Martin, Tenn., and Starkville, Miss.

Ray Gilmer Stables claimed dual blues. Gilmer directed Kat Man Dude to the Open Specialty victory on Thursday evening. World Champion The Great Escape and Paula Sanders won the 11-entry Show Pleasure Amateur Specialty for Ray Gilmer Stables as well.

Olympic’s Godfather and Stephanie Carter captured two Germantown blues for trainer Donnie Jones of Summercrest Stables. This exciting team was victorious in the Four-Year-Old Amateur Stallions class and the Four-Year-Old Amateur Championship. They also claim title to the Four-Year-Old Stallion Amateur at the 2003 Holly Springs Charity Show.

Marvelous Poison and John Hughes were victorious in the Yearlings class at Germantown. They previously won the 2003 Nettleton, Miss., title as well.

Whitney Keel and Above The Law made an exceptional ride to win the Spotted Juvenile title at Germantown. Holley’s Stables trained the 15.2 and Under Mares and Geldings Champions I’m Hammering Hank and Pam Russell. This was Russell’s first Germantown blue.

Katie Moore and Extra’s Bad Boy took the win in the Stallions Amateur Specialty. Wade Crum trains Extra’s Bad Boy.

Cody Laster and Inlaw Outlaw claimed the Two and Three-Year-Old Spotted Lite-Shod title Thursday evening. Under trainer Don Crum’s guidance Kathy Rastt and Restless claimed the Two-Year-Old Amateur Mare and Gelding blue.

Britt Huffstattler and Patch’s Moondancer won the 2003 Spotted Lite-Shod title on Thursday. Edgar Abernathy and Powers Of Charm made the victory pass in the Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings division.

This highlights the wins from the 55th annual Germantown Charity Horse Show. Complete results follow and can also be viewed, printed and searched at our web site at www.walkinghorsereport.com.