From toddlers to teens, they roam the alleys between the stables and haunt the concessions stands. They come from different parts of the country -- even different parts of the world -- but they all seem to know each other.

You might even say they belong to the same club, and the only membership requirement is horses.

The children of the horse show are as much a part of the landscape as the grooms, the trainers, even the horses themselves. Some are here because they have families who train, ride, own, show or even shoe. Some are here with friends, and some are here just because they love horses.

"This is what I want to do," said Brant Horne, 15, who was at the Spring Fun Show Friday night with Wink Groover Stables. "I have a horse in training and I work for him (Groover). I ride other horses, I help groom, get the horses in the crossties, get them ready for their classes."

Alex Blackburn, daughter of Franklin trainer Knox Blackburn, grew up in the business and doesn't mind helping out at all.

"I love it," she said. "I show plantation, performance, country pleasure ... anything I can."

In fact, on her horse Hurricane Hazel, Alex took fifth place in Friday night's Youth Country Pleasure class.

Trip McCrory of Summertown inherited his love for walking horses from his grandfather, Larry McCrory. At least, that's what his grandmother, Mary, claims.

"He's just got this thing for horses," she said. "We are thrilled that he's involved; it's something constructive. He works at the barn every summer."

Trip's trainer, Wayne Dean of Lewisburg, teased the 15-year-old by turning to a 13-year-old girl nearby, a friend of Trip's.

"What do you think about him riding horses?" he asked Kailin Kessering.

"He's a dork," she said, laughing. "But I must be a dork too, because I ride!"

Kailin and Trip are friends, even though he lives in Summertown and she's from Florida. Where did they meet? At the Trainers' Show this year. Only a month or so ago, but they already have a common interest -- horses.

Farrier Josh Vaughan's daughter is a bit young for that teenage crowd at 2, but he expects her day will come. Even as he spoke, she was getting her face painted with the famous silhouette of the Tennessee walking horse head. The face-painting booth on the concourse is free to children, courtesy of The Celebration.

"She's crazy about horses," Vaughan said of his daughter, Haliegh. "Dogs and horses. She likes to ride horses and coon hunt."

Savannah and Jackson Latham, ages 5 and 7, are also eager to get into the ring.

"She doesn't show yet, but she rides," said her mother, Rayna Latham, whose father trains horses in Murfreesboro. "She's just waiting, waiting. She'll want to show the big lick."

In the meantime, the brother and sister like to peek through the windows on the concourse at the horses warming up in the practice ring below, and the young riders on their backs.

Just waiting.