Germantown, Tenn., has long been known as a quaint, small city right outside of Memphis. Anyone who has grown up or lives in the area immediately associates Germantown with horses, especially during the month of June. For 74 years horses have made their way to the heart of Germantown, following the painted horse shoes on Poplar Avenue that lead to the Germantown Charity Show Grounds.
Like most equestrians Nicole Harris of Memphis, Tenn., started riding as a child. She rode Hunter/ Jumpers and competed as a junior rider. Many things have changed in the Hunter/ Jumper world over the last 30 years. When she was younger the Thoroughbred was the top horse in the Hunter ring, now Warmbloods rule the ring.
Sixteen-year-old Avery Wilburn from Red Banks, Miss., is no stranger to the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) circuit. Riding ever since she can remember and entering the rodeo world at just eight years old was a natural progression for Avery.
With the recent large amounts of rain here in the Mid-South, several moisture-loving bacterial and fungal ailments are making themselves known throughout the equine population: thrush, white line disease, and rain rot to name a few. Combined with the already hot and humid conditions summer brings, the extended rainfall creates the perfect conditions for opportunistic organisms to thrive.