The Germantown Hunter Jumper Scene Has as much history and legacy that rivals the Bluegrass State by Lauren Pigford When people think of horse country they automatically think of Kentucky. The image of big, open pastures filled with horses is the initial thought. Then people think of the barns, the multiple events that take place and the variety of horses. Just east of Memphis, Germantown, TN has its own horse country filled with just as much history and legacy that rivals the Bluegrass State. When springtime hits Germantown it is an exciting time of year. Not just because of the warming weather and the blooming dogwoods, but also because its native horse lovers come out, mount up, and ride. Over the last month the Germantown Charity Horse Show grounds have been full of trailers, horses and the people who have experienced the love of horses, for most, since birth. The Hunters/ Jumpers in the Germantown area “rule” the show grounds this time of year. The style of riding has developed over Germantown’s long love affair with horses and riding. Since the early 1900s when Memphis hosted the Tennessee Derby, a Thoroughbred Stakes Race rivaling in popularity with the Kentucky Derby, and the mid-1900s with the development of the Oak Grove Hunt Club, the widely popular English Saddle Seat riding of American Saddlebreds, and the development of the Germantown Charity Horse Show the English riding styles dominated the area and its history. Today that same style lives on and the active shows give Germantown its heart beat. During April, hunter/ jumper riders competed in West Tennessee Hunter Jumper Association’s Springtime in Dixie and Springtime Encore rated shows. Hunter’s Edge Stables, a hunter/ jumper training facility in Germantown, and the Longreen Hounds, a hunt club in the Mid-South area also hosted hunter/ jumper schooling shows. Now in May, and with June quickly approaching, the hunt seat riders will come out again for more shows; WTHJA’s Memphis in May and Germantown’s longest and biggest multi-breed and multi discipline show, The Germantown Charity Horse Show. Germantown’s legacy is the love of horses and its riders. The continuous love and competition keeps it active. The hunter/ jumper discipline is not the only riding style in the area. The legacy includes all breeds and disciplines, English and Western, but during April the hunter riders took over the show grounds and celebrated their trained techniques and their love of horses and competition. To learn more about Germantown’s Horse legacy visit www.gchs.org.