Music Country Grand Prix Thrills & Fulfills for Saddle Up!

The summer sun blazed on Franklin’s Brownland Farm, but it wasn’t enough to deter guests from showing their support for Saddle Up! at the 35th annual Music Country Grand Prix. This family-friendly fundraiser is a beloved summer outing for horse-crazy kids and grown-ups alike: an afternoon of premiere show jumping competition, friends, food, fun and a fabulous silent auction.

VIPs were grateful to find some shade under the Patrons Tent or a private cabana to enjoy the festivities, and attendees had the chance to display their own show jumping prowess by competing for prizes and bragging rights in the popular “People Prix” — a miniature version of the Grand Prix course.

A founder of Saddle Up! was this year’s Music Country Grand Prix honoree: Alton Kelly, who passed away suddenly in December 2022, was not only influential to this program, but to the Nashville community at large. Saddle Up! riders and their attending volunteers joined service members to present the colors; then the crowd watched intently as this year’s crop of competitors vied for the $50,000 purse, mesmerized by the power and athleticism of the horses and riders as they navigated tight turns, tall jumps and time constraints. Congratulations to the winning pair, Holly Bachor aboard her own Caddie R.

Since its inception in 1990, the Music Country Grand Prix has raised more than $1,900,000 to support Saddle Up! and its transformative programs. Trina Hayes, who serves as board president for Saddle Up! and as co-chair for this event, said, “The Music Country Grand Prix continues to bring the equine and equine-assisted therapy communities together, and we are honored to support the Saddle Up! mission.” For over 30 years, Saddle Up! has made a profound, lifelong impact on the physical, cognitive, social, emotional and mental abilities of participants by providing therapeutic, educational and recreational experiences with horses.