Pine Top Farm, Thomson, Georgia

PINE TOP FARM
WANTS TO HOST YOUR HUNTER-JUMPER SHOWS

A Bit of history | Elite Eventing Site | Location | Lodging | Footing | Rings | Stabling
Tent Sites for Temporary Stalls | City Water | Irrigation Dust Control | Permanent Office | Jumps
RV Hook-Ups | Shade and Beauty | Concession Stand | Additional Equipment | Infrasturcture Summary

Glenn and Janet Wilson of Pine Top Farm wish to lease their farm to professional show managers for hunter-jumper shows. (Click on any of the images included below for a larger view.)

A BIT OF HISTORY
Pine Top is an 8th-generation family farm that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was granted to Thomas Watson in 1770. Glenn's father was James E. Wilson, MFH, whose mother was Norma Watson Wilson, a descendant of Thomas Watson.

Pine Top has a long history as a competition site reaching back to the 1970's, and it has an excellent show infrastructure already in place. The owners are avid riders and lifelong horsefolk and both are competitive event riders.

Glenn showed jumpers throughout the South in the '70's. The photograph to the left shows Glenn and Deck Commander winning the Open Jumper Championship at the Nashville Charity Horse Show in 1973. Glenn and Athboy George,an Irish Sport Horse, competing in Nashville at the 2002 Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials.

Janet has bred and raised numerous lovely thoroughbred crosses that have won many high point awards in dressage, eventing and show jumping. Janet and Crescent Moon, one of Janet's homebreds, competing at the 2002 Middle Tennessee Pony Club Horse Trials in Nashville. Janet has also bred and raised many fine litters of Welsh Corgis.

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ELITE EVENTING SITE
Since 1992, Pine Top has been one of the premiere eventing sites in the US. Its layout, facilities and staff are recognized as among the best in the sport, and its footing is unsurpassed. In addition to US Eventing Association-recognized events up to the Advanced level, we have hosted the FEI Heat Stress Study, Olympic teams and USET Selection Trials.

LOCATION
The farm is located just east of Thomson, GA, on US highway 78/278, 10 minutes south of Interstate 20. We are centrally located to draw from the Georgia-Carolina market. Atlanta, Camden and Tryon are all less than three hours away. Aiken and Athens are approximately one hour away. Reasonably-priced motels and restaurants are nearby, and highway access is excellent from all directions. Pine Top Location Map.

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LODGING
Thomson has over 300 motel rooms, all reasonably priced and all located within 10 minutes of the farm. Pine Top's host hotel is the White Columns Inn. Other motels are listed on the Thomson Chamber of Commerce page for lodging.

FOOTING
Pine Top's most valuable natural asset is its sandy soil and thick grass sod. Regardless of weather conditions, it performs well. We have run horse trials in drought and in monsoon-type rains. While the soil is sandy, it is not excessively so -- it will not turn to "sugar sand" when disturbed. The terrain is gently rolling, with enough slope to prevent standing water. Two-wheel drive vehicles can go anywhere on the farm, even in the rain. Our most popular events are in February and early March. This wouldn't be possible without exceptional footing and drainage.

RINGS
We have lots of rings and plenty of warmup space. Most of the rings are 150x200 and most have shade trees. All rings have a grass surface since the soil and the turf are so good. We also have a beautiful 200x300 jumping field with a judge's shelter and a pavilion. This field is the venue for Intermediate and Advanced show jumping in early March, and the riders invariably marvel at how good the footing is even after 200-plus horses have all jumped the same course.

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STABLING
We currently have 150 permanent stalls, minimum stall size 10x12. Barns are spread out to facilitate trailer parking. All stalls open to the outside with ample roof overhangs. Trailer parking areas surround the barns. No remote parking is necessary. No rig has ever been stuck in our parking areas. The main driveways are paved, and traffics flows smoothly into and out of the stable areas. Plans have been made and a site has been chosen to construct 100 additional permanent stalls as soon as they are justified by show bookings.

TENT SITES FOR TEMPORARY STALLS
Temporary stabling is necessary for our early March event. We have a very good site in a high, open field that has plenty of room for a large tent and parking all around. We have used as many as 150 temporary stalls at a time and there is room for more.

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CITY WATER
Water pressure and taste is excellent, supplied by the 8-inch city water line that runs past the property. A tank filler station fills the water wagons at a rate of 100 gallons per minute. The farm has a 2-inch tap for city water.

IRRIGATION and DUST CONTROL
Drought is not a problem at Pine Top for two reasons. First, the soil does not get hard even when dry. Second, all of the rings are irrigated by giant Nelson 200 irrigation guns. We have nearly a mile of underground 6-inch pipe that carries 400 gallons of pond water per minute to the guns, each of which can thoroughly wet an entire ring in 30 minutes. We also have two water wagons for dust control. Each has a high volume tractor-driven pump for quick, quiet application. This water wagon with pto-driven pump sprays 300 gallons per minute.

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PERMANENT OFFICE
Pine Top has a permanent climate-controlled office which includes a main office area, scoring office, kitchen and bath. There is also a nice covered deck in the rear for hospitality.

JUMPS
We have enough standards, fillers,and poles for building a show jumping course of 15 or more efforts. Equipment handling is streamlined by specialized trailers which also serve as storage platforms.

RV HOOKUPS
A total of 13 RV hookups with 30-amp RV receptacles are available and are conveniently located near the two main stabling areas. Water connections are also provided, but no sewer.

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SHADE AND BEAUTY
A centrally located courtyard is perfect for relaxation under the shade trees, with plenty of space for vendors. Twenty-five large oak trees provide welcome shade here and elsewhere. Beautiful vistas of manicured fields, forests and ponds greet the eye in every direction.

CONCESSION STAND
The concession stand is centrally located in one of the historic farm barns. The Thomson High School Band Boosters provide excellent concessions.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Pine Top is a working farm with tractors, water wagons, dump wagons, manure spreaders, commercial landscape mowers, field mowers, loaders, lifting forks, etc. Rings are trimmed with this new, heavy duty 10-foot mower.

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INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMARY

  • 150 stalls - 10x12, 10x13, 12x12
  • Permanent office with heat and air
  • Rings: 3@150x200; 1@150X260
  • Jumping field: 200x300
  • City water
  • Permanent PA system
  • Two highway entrances
  • Paved driveways
  • RV hookups
  • 400 gpm irrigation system
  • 3 stonedust dressage arenas for warmups
  • 3 large fish ponds
  • Plenty of open space -- 300+ acres
  • Plenty of nearby motel rooms, reasonably priced

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For additional information, contact Glenn Wilson
at 706-449-1907, or through the email link on our contact page.

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