Jockeys and Juleps

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By Nancy Brannon

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Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy hosted its third annual, fundraising Jockeys & Juleps Derby Party on May 5, 2018 at the new location: 916 Billy Bryant Road, Fisherville, Tenn. The newly-acquired equestrian estate includes an over 10,000 sq. ft. house, a 2,500 sq. ft. guest house, a 12-stall barn, large covered arena, and 6 turnout paddocks. Greeting the nearly 800 guests, who wore their Derby finest, at the entrance were Longreen Foxhounds Huntsman Susan Walker, MFH and Whipper-In Chip Carruthers, mounted on their hunt horses.

There was plenty of Derby fare to enjoy from several food sponsors, including City Block Butchers, Gus’ Fried Chicken, The Debutante Farmer biscuit bar, Say Cheese! food truck, and Swanky’s taco bar. Guests received a julep cup as part of their admission fee, and there was live music by The River Bluff Clan. The therapy horses were available in the barn for guests to meet.

A live auction, with guest auctioneers Valerie Calhoun and Darrell Greene of FOX-13 News, raised over $40,000 for Southern Reins. In the massive “trophy room” of the house, guests could bid on numerous pieces of equestrian art and other art works in a silent auction.

The covered arena at Southern Reins’ new location came in very handy for the day’s event. It was beautifully decorated with multitudes of roses and furnished with numerous tables and seating ensembles, plus a stage for the band. No Derby party would be complete without a live broadcast of the 144th Kentucky Derby, which guests watched from several TV monitors placed around the covered arena. 

There were intermittent light showers early in the afternoon, but as guests were viewing the Kentucky Derby, the rain got heavier. Watching the pouring rain at Churchill Downs as the horses were going to the post, the rain poured heavily on the metal roof of the covered arena in a deluge!

Proceeds from Jockeys & Juleps underwrite operational expenses for its programs of therapeutic horseback riding, Hippotherapy, Equine Services for Heroes, and the Unbridled Horsemanship program.

 Southern Reins received the generous continued support of Presenting Sponsor FTB Advisors, as well as premier sponsors Lexus and LSI. Additional sponsors included Bryan & Kim Jordan, Stefan & Barbara Smith, Grinder, Tabor & Grinder, Inc., AutoZone, Athens Distributing/Woodford Reserve, Holliday Flowers & Events, FOX-13 News, Old Dominick Distillery, The Dabney Nursery, Deborah Dunklin Tipton, Collier & Trotz Families, Hollywood Feed, Cliff & Louise Hunt, Jim Keras Automotive, International Paper, Kimery Wealth Management, Regions bank, Reynolds Bone & Griesbeck, ServisFirst Bank, Wells Fargo, Trenary & Truitt Families, White Door Events, Hollis & Burns, Oak Hall, Lee Alexander, Brigance-Dionne Family, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh, Inferno, Friend of Southern Reins, SouthernSun Asset Management, Will & Angie Deupree, Jeff & Laurie Meskin, Annabeth & Mark Parker and Sophie & Mat Parker, Watkins Uiberall, PLLC, Hauber Foundation, Youth Villages, Solutions Medical Center, Mimi & Jim Taylor, Rhea Crenshaw House and directFX Solutions.

Southern Reins purchased the 27-acre estate on Billy Bryant Road for $947,030 in January of this year. Southern Reins launched a Capital Campaign early in the year with the goal of raising over $2 million to purchase the farm and make improvements; by March, they had raised $912,580.

Southern Reins has been expanding its mission outreach the past three years. Starting with 12 participants in the fall of 2015, Southern Reins now serves a roster of 128 program participants who take part in lesson sessions held throughout the year. 

Their programs include Therapeutic Riding lessons ($50 per lesson); Hippotherapy ($75/individual 30-min. session or $112.50/individual 45-min. session); Unbridled Horsemanship Program ($25/person per visit); Summer camp July 9-13 ($250/participant); Equine Assisted Psychotherapy ($300/30-min. group session weekly for 10 weeks or $600/1-hour group session weekly for 10 weeks); and Equine Services for Heroes, serving injured military personnel.

For more information, visit www.southernreins.org or call 901-290-1011.

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