Prior to the year 1962, there were only two AQHA Shows held in Tennessee. The two shows were Franklin, TN. and the Mid-South Fair Show. The Franklin show being the first held in the state, in conjunction with their rodeo.   Both AQHA Shows were always large, with most exhibitors from Texas and Oklahoma, and the smaller group consisted of Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi.   The AQHA Shows back in those days consisted of halter, reining, cutting, roping and one Western Pleasure class. Western Pleasure was just getting started in AQHA Shows and it was ? point class.   There was a lot of difference in the exhibitors then compared to the exhibitors of today. The exhibitors were mostly stock people, nothing fancy for them.   Everybody wore blue jeans, white shirts, a good hat, and a good pair of boots.   Their equipment was everyday useable equipment. You didn't see any fancy silver equipment.   The trailers used in those days were mostly two wheel home made or a Carleton Evans trailer. The Texas exhibitors pulled a two-horse, four-wheel, in-line trailer. Many of the exhibitors would travel in a caravan to help each other if a break down did occur.   The horses they showed were fairly muscled type, standing 14-1 to 14-3 hands. If you saw a 15-1 horse, it was considered a giant. Most of the horses displayed a lot of bone for hard work. They were shown with a roached mane and a thinned tail that reached to the hocks.   In 1962 a group of West Tennessee horse people decided to organize an association to promote quarter horses and encourage quarter horse owners to exhibit their horses at AQHA Shows in the Mid-south area.   These charter members were:   George Tackett Memphis Bev and Ski Lubinski Jackson Irene and J.D. Hughes Brunswick Jean & Roy Rimmer Raleigh Mary & Harry High Memphis Harold Paysinger Memphis Doris & Roy Fulton Memphis   George Tackett of Memphis was voted in as President and Bev Lubinski was voted in as Secretary and Treasurer. The association took on the name of Tri-State Quarter Horse Association, which would cover Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.   The first year was a learning year, how to put shows on, how to cope with some of the unexpected problems that occur at any horse show.   There were six AQHA Shows held in the Memphis area and three AQHA Shows held in the northern part of Mississippi. The membership grew leaps and bounds. The next two years, 1963 and 1964, the Tri-State QHA had shows in Jackson, Milan, Alamo, Humboldt, Trenton, Parsons, Savannah, Selmer and the Memphis area.   By the end of 1964, it was clear in the minds of the charter members that Tennessee was ready for its own State Quarter Horse Association.   In January 1965, the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association was born. The association started to move its activities into the eastern direction of Tennessee.   In 1966, the TQHA crossed the Tennessee River with AQHA shows held in Dickson, Fairview, Columbia, Mt. Juliet, and Nashville. The membership continually grew with new members from the Cookeville and Knoxville area. The following year, TQHA had shows across the whole state.   During the period of 1965 to 1973, the TQHA saw many changes occur due to AQHA rule changes, new point system for AQHA, new requirements for AQHA Champions, and the Youth Program was established.   The Tennessee QHA members displayed their talent as horsemen by producing many Register of Merit horses, a couple of AQHA Champions, one Supreme AQHA Champion, and a winner at the Congress in Youth Hunt Seat.   In 1979, the West Tennessee Quarter Horse Association was formed. Mr. Joe Elkins called a small group of horsemen together at the Trenton Fairgrounds. Using a flatbed trailer for a stage and asking for the support of these first members, a set of by-laws were established and adopted. From the foresight of this small group of horsemen, the West Tennessee Quarter Horse Association has grown into one of the most successful Quarter Horse Associations in the Southeastern United States.   Tennessee QHA President 1965 thru 1973   1965 George Tackett Memphis 1966 Ski Lubinski Jackson 1967 Ski Lubinski Jackson 1968 Bill Smith Trenton 1969 Bob Stanworth Jackson 1970 Ski Lubinski Jackson 1971 George Price Fairview 1972 Bev Lubinski Jackson 1973 Gary Norton Columbia