Twenty life-size painted horses have been stationed in position around Germantown, drawing attention to the fact that 2008 is the 60th anniversary of the Germantown Charity Horse Show.

Each horse has been individually painted and sponsored, and each one has a story to tell.

The sponsor of each horse has paid $3,500 for the privilege, and in mid-October the horses will be auctioned to the highest bidder for charity.

Perhaps one of the most striking or unusual horse is “Race for the Cure,” an unashamedly pink horse stationed at the corner of Poplar and West Street. Sponsored by Saddle Creek and painted by Lori Cook, the horse is, just as its name implies, a statement for the Race for the Cure held in Germantown each year. It even has on pink running shoes.

When Saddle Creek volunteered to sponsor a horse, Kenneth Taylor told Tempe Chancellor, who helped organize the painted horse campaign, “I wish we could have a pink horse.” That sounded far-fetched at the time, but the very next day an artist's concept came in for a pink horse. “I called Kenneth and told him, ‘“We have your pink horse,” Chancellor said.

She described Saddle Creek as a very special sponsor, for they have volunteered to have the party in mid-October at which the horses will be auctioned to the highest bidders, providing everything needed for the festive affair.

Standing across the street from The Germantown News at the West Tennessee Iris Garden is “Purple Rein,” painted by Dr. Tom Monaghan and sponsored by Meegie Glass and Joy Monaghan.

One horse that must be viewed indoors is “Candy Coated Companion,” painted by Leah Freeman and sponsored by Saybrook Stables. The horse must be kept inside because parts of it, the tail and mane, are made of candy.

“Gift Horse,” displayed at the Oral School for the Deaf, was painted by Cheryl Hibbs and has a cochlear implant in its ear. It was sponsored by Richard and Susan Glassman. The gift tags on the horse bear the names of each of the students at the school.

Artist Sandee Sander painted “Bloomer,” which is displayed at the Germantown Community Library entrance and was sponsored by Friends of the Suburban Garden Club.

At the Germantown Depot, one can see “Going on a Phlox Hunt,” painted by Caroline Winters and sponsored by the Germantown Beautification Commission. This horse is covered with daffodils and has phlox painted on its nose.

The silver horse named “Reflections” is located in front of Cold Water Creek in Saddle Creek and is the second of four horses located at various Saddle Creek locations. Painted by Lauren Spiotta, it was sponsored by Monograms by Cie. The other two horses in Saddle Creek are “Liberty,” painted by Tom Foster and sponsored by Millard and Stevens, and the green horse with gold named “Mystic Pastures,” sponsored by Fulmer Farms and painted by Miranda Griffin.

A very special horse, “True Blue,” can be seen at the entrance to Farmington Boulevard, next to the holiday tree that the City of Germantown decorates each December. “True Blue” looks bronze, and is the only horse bearing a rider. The artist, Ann Moore, works in bronze, and the model for the young rider on the horse was Virginia Barry, granddaughter of Mary Liz Foster.

Germantown Charity Horse Show is the sponsor for “True Blue.” On the back of the rider is the number “60” emblematic of the horse show's 60th anniversary and every detail of the horse has been modified to make it a true hunter/jumper.

“Horse Cents,” painted by Linda Seidman and sponsored by First Tennessee Foundation, has more than 15,000 coins glued to it. It is located at First Tennessee Bank.

The only painted horse that has not found a sponsor or a home is “Champ,” the 21st horse, painted by Sandee Sander and Cheryl Hibbs. He is a bay horse, and his blanket has Germantown's old logo on one side and the Seal of Germantown on the other.

“We are looking for a home and a sponsor for “Champ” Chancellor said.

The horses weigh a hundred pounds each and they are anchored to concrete pads, each of which weighs 300 pounds.

Artists were given a $300 stipend for materials and will receive 10 percent commission when the artwork is sold. The remaining 90 percent will be divided between the artist's charity of choice and the horse show.

For pictures and locations of all the painted horses, go to www.gchs.org.

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Painted Germantown horses have stories to tell

Twenty life-size painted horses have been stationed in position around Germantown, drawing attention to the fact that 2008 is the 60th anniversary of the Germantown Charity Horse Show.