Suburbs

For the 74th time this week, horses are clomping their way around a dusty ring on the southern edge of Old Germantown – a gathering of steeds that continues the reputation of the suburb.

The Germantown Charity Horse Show is a long-standing tradition in the city, kicking off the summer season for almost a week full of festivities and competition.

The show was a major part of establishing the horse theme to go with Germantown – the show and the horse farms that were around the area. The suburb has embraced its theme from the Horses Speed Limit signs to a horse at a fence featured prominently in the city seal.

On Poplar Pike, there are horseshoes painted on the pavement leading to Melanie Smith Lane and the horse show arena.

Each night this week, spectators will stroll into the bowl, grabbing a seat in the bleachers built into the side of the hill or settling into the ringside boxes along the white picket rail. The summer insects will flutter in front of the lights as the dust rises from the arena floor.

Horses will jump, prance, gallop, trot and kick up their heels. It is quite a show, from the riding attire of those showing the horses to the ringmaster in all his fancy finery.

But a point I have continually made for decades is the Germantown Charity Horse Show isn’t some high-brow event for the rich and influential. It is an inexpensive night for the family, and you don’t need to know the difference between a walking horse and a Paso Fino.

Just go out, enjoy the pageantry and have a good time. - Suburbs editor Clay Bsiley

We hope you enjoy reading the latest news from our suburban reporters. If you’re a Daily Memphian subscriber, we appreciate your support. If not, consider signing up for unlimited access to all of our local news coverage.