The second week of June (7-11) brought Hunters, Jumpers, American Saddlebreds, Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, Roadsters, Carriage Pleasure Classes and fun classes for children together for five days of sportsmanship and fun at the Germantown Charity Horse Show, one of the few all-breed horse shows still around. The show is renowned for its hospitality and social events as well as a multitude of classes for many breeds.
Hunters and jumpers dominate, with hunter classes going on all day on the hill, and evening performances beginning with jumpers in “The Bowl.” Evening performances continue with Tennessee Walking Horses, Roadsters, Carriage classes, and Saddlebred classes. Special classes for children included the Costume Class, Lead Line, and Stick Horse classes.
Many traditional social events take place during the week. The show begins with the exhibitor’s dinner Monday night. The Nashoba Carriage Association hosted a “Beef and Brew” dinner Friday night. An afternoon ice cream social cooled off exhibitors on Saturday. And the grand finale was “Juleps in June” on Saturday night. Ladies used this opportunity to wear their best hats, and prizes were awarded for most beautiful and most outrageous.
The traditional Royalty at the Germantown Charity Show continued with the Queen and Princesses as representatives of their respective organizations and ambassadors to the community. They work every night of the show, mainly presenting ribbons to class winners.
Grand Prix Ends with Thunderous Applause
The Charity Show also has a reputation for having rain at least one night of the show. It looked like this year would be an exception, as skies were blue and clear for most of the week, with typical mid-south temperatures and humidity. But Saturday night near the end of the $25,000 Grand Prix Jumper class, the highlight of the show, the thunderstorm rolled in.
As the horses that had gone clear their first round began the jump off, the threatening sky opened, first with just rain, then building to a crescendo with wind, lightening, and pouring rain! The crowds ran for cover, but the determined riders continued.
As Michael Tokaruk entered the arena, the last rider in the jump-off, the black sky opened with torrential “blowing sideways” rain and nearby lightening. Unhampered by the downpour, Tokaruk and Lord Byron rode a clear round to give them second place. In addition, Tokaruk won the $25,000 Grand Prix on his other horse, Roger Rabbit, owned by Castle Point Farm LLC, and placed fifth on Gama Righter Z, owned by Peggy Jones of Germantown, TN. What an exciting night for Tokaruk!
“This is the second time I have won the Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix,” Tokaruk said. “The first time was on Lord Byron in 2005. Germantown has always been a fun event and a highlight on the local calendar.”
Tokaruk added that the excitement of the Germantown Grand Prix was topped by unpredictable weather. “The weather was very hot all week and severe storms rolled through just in time for the jump-off to begin,” he said. “The rain started when I was on my second jump-off horse, Roger Rabbit, and really opened up for my last horse Lord Byron. We didn't let it faze us, however, and the weather provided a very dramatic ending. The horses were all fantastic and I am thrilled to have a nice string of mounts to show in the Grand Prix right now.”
Hunters and jumpers dominate, with hunter classes going on all day on the hill, and evening performances beginning with jumpers in “The Bowl.” Evening performances continue with Tennessee Walking Horses, Roadsters, Carriage classes, and Saddlebred classes. Special classes for children included the Costume Class, Lead Line, and Stick Horse classes.
Many traditional social events take place during the week. The show begins with the exhibitor’s dinner Monday night. The Nashoba Carriage Association hosted a “Beef and Brew” dinner Friday night. An afternoon ice cream social cooled off exhibitors on Saturday. And the grand finale was “Juleps in June” on Saturday night. Ladies used this opportunity to wear their best hats, and prizes were awarded for most beautiful and most outrageous.
The traditional Royalty at the Germantown Charity Show continued with the Queen and Princesses as representatives of their respective organizations and ambassadors to the community. They work every night of the show, mainly presenting ribbons to class winners.
Grand Prix Ends with Thunderous Applause
The Charity Show also has a reputation for having rain at least one night of the show. It looked like this year would be an exception, as skies were blue and clear for most of the week, with typical mid-south temperatures and humidity. But Saturday night near the end of the $25,000 Grand Prix Jumper class, the highlight of the show, the thunderstorm rolled in.
As the horses that had gone clear their first round began the jump off, the threatening sky opened, first with just rain, then building to a crescendo with wind, lightening, and pouring rain! The crowds ran for cover, but the determined riders continued.
As Michael Tokaruk entered the arena, the last rider in the jump-off, the black sky opened with torrential “blowing sideways” rain and nearby lightening. Unhampered by the downpour, Tokaruk and Lord Byron rode a clear round to give them second place. In addition, Tokaruk won the $25,000 Grand Prix on his other horse, Roger Rabbit, owned by Castle Point Farm LLC, and placed fifth on Gama Righter Z, owned by Peggy Jones of Germantown, TN. What an exciting night for Tokaruk!
“This is the second time I have won the Germantown Charity Horse Show Grand Prix,” Tokaruk said. “The first time was on Lord Byron in 2005. Germantown has always been a fun event and a highlight on the local calendar.”
Tokaruk added that the excitement of the Germantown Grand Prix was topped by unpredictable weather. “The weather was very hot all week and severe storms rolled through just in time for the jump-off to begin,” he said. “The rain started when I was on my second jump-off horse, Roger Rabbit, and really opened up for my last horse Lord Byron. We didn't let it faze us, however, and the weather provided a very dramatic ending. The horses were all fantastic and I am thrilled to have a nice string of mounts to show in the Grand Prix right now.”
