Our History: Larry Hodge

Larry Hodge

As he reflects on Bradshaw’s talents, Hodge carefully leafs through a worn scrapbook that holds a place of honor in his den. Its yellowed pages hold Frank Bradshaw’s personal collection of memories — ribbons, judge’s badges, news articles, photos, show prize lists. “Frank was one of the greatest showmen I’ve ever seen,” Hodge says.

While waiting to become old enough to join his two older brothers working at their father’s grocery stores in Knoxville, Tennessee, Larry Hodge stayed at home on the farm, involved with the family’s Shetland ponies, cattle, and show horses and ponies. Ironically, as his youngest son approached a career decision,

the elder Hodge told Larry that he’d back him in any business he wanted to go into ... as long as it wasn’t horses. Today, Larry — the tall, polite man who may well be the most recognized trainer in the American Saddlebred business — offers a wistful smile as he says, “He was very pleased about it before he died.” Ironically, all of Max Hodge’s sons were involved with three different breeds of horses; Larry’s brothers chose Tennessee Walking Horses and Thoroughbreds.

A year after Larry’s graduation from high school, the young man headed for Kentucky, where he worked for the legendary Jim B. Robertson. “I lived in the house with the Robertson family. I met all kinds of people, attended the Florida shows, and hit all of the county fairs. I went there to groom, but within three weeks was working horses.”

During his two years at Robertson’s, Hodge worked with some of the greatest show horses of that era. “Jim B. knew how to handle people and not let the pressure get to him,” Larry reflects, and adds, “He was a great teacher and a great horseman.”

But facing his own mounting pressure from his parents to finish college, the athletic young man returned to East Tennessee State University for a couple of years. Kentucky, though, continued to beckon, and soon, he again departed Tennessee.

“Horses got between me and the books,” he chuckled, quoting a quip from Garland Bradshaw. Hodge found that he had much in common with the master trainer and showman — but first, he continued his Saddlebred schooling at Gwinn Island Stock Farm in Danville. “George Gwinn was the best salesman I ever saw. He could have made it in any business he’d wanted. He was a good horseman and a great judge of a horse.” Gwinn’s barn was renown for its sales volume; “one year, during the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, Mr. Gwinn had sold 45 or 46 horses. We sold 12 in one day,” Hodge recalls.

Packing the lessons he’d learned from Jim B. and George Gwinn, Larry left Gwinn Island Stock Farm and headed to what he called “finishing school” with headmaster Garland Bradshaw, who allowed his protégé to ride and show. “Mr. Bradshaw taught me how to gait a horse, and how to put the finishing touches on one."

Frank Bradshaw – who had trained for Kalarama Farm prior to his induction into service during World War II – was known for his more proper form in the saddle. His brother, however, was an energetic rider who rarely posted the trot, and delivered an exciting presentation in the show ring. Hodge, considered a student of Garland Bradshaw, smiles good-naturedly when Joan tells how one young horsewoman described Larry’s “put on a horse show” style.

“Bill and Marie Knight had a riding camp, and they took the kids to the Harrodsburg horse show. Larry won the five gaited championship. When the campers returned to the stable, someone who had stayed at the farm asked who won the gaited stake,” Joan Hamilton tells. “A little girl camper replied, ‘Mr. Bouncy!’”

“Mr. Bouncy’s” employment with the one Hodge calls “Mr. Bradshaw” took a turn when High Point Farm owner Tom Biederman died in an auto accident in the early 1970s. Garland Bradshaw gave Biederman's widow "the same advice he said he would give to his own wife: ‘Call [equine auctioneer] Art Roberts and tell him to sell them,’” Hodge remembers. But first, the horses needed readying for the sale … and Hodge accepted the job.

Larry with his sons David (left) and Max.

By early 1977, Hodge stopped in at nearby Kalarama, and declared it to be “one of the prettiest places [he'd] ever seen.” He leased the main training barn from Paul Hamilton.

“It was a challenge, starting on my own. There was no safety net, and I’d brought very few horses and clients with me,” Hodge remembers. Building his public training stable didn’t take long, however. His talent for taking young horses from start to finish was quickly noted, and soon, the main barn was full.

Despite Larry Hodge’s own take-no-prisoners show style, he opts for a quieter, more prepared method of putting riders into the ring. “Riders each have their own individual needs, as does every horse. I really enjoy selecting and preparing a horse for an amateur, juvenile, or a lady rider,” Larry says.

“We’ve built a heck of an organization here,” he says as he looks around the spacious, historic Kalarama Farm. “We try to surround ourselves with good, talented employees who want to be here, and understand our desire to achieve excellence."

Achieve excellence, he has.

With the help of his expert staff, Larry has trained and developed horses to win more than 100 world's championship titles, including multiple world's grand championships in all three divisions. Young horses trained by Larry Hodge have won world's championships at ages two, three, and four ... in every division. For clients, he has selected and trained horses that have won world's championship titles in the juvenile, ladies, amateur and open ranks.

Larry Hodge was the 2002 recipient of the UPHA Richard E. Lavery Horseman Of The Year award. From left: UPHA President Chuck Herbert, presenter Elisabeth Goth, wife Joan Hamilton, Hodge, and UPHA Vice President Jimmy Robertson.

“I’m excited about things going on here at Kalarama. We’re breeding better horses than ever before. We’ve got the best bunch of young horses we’ve ever had and a great staff to help us get them ready,” he says eagerly.

He pauses only a moment, reflecting on Kalarama Farm’s 100 years of producing the world’s finest American Saddlebred horses — and the farm's continuing success at selecting and developing champion horses for a growing family of loyal clients, many of whom have placed their confidence in Hodge for more than 25 years. It's obvious that Larry Hodge isn't content to discuss history when there are horses to be prepared and horse shows to be won. He bounds to his feet, exuding his own brand of infectious enthusiasm, and draws a young horse from a stall, presenting the colt for a guest as if Hodge were preening the contender on Freedom Hall's hallowed green shavings. "With horses like these," he exclaims, “the sky’s the limit!”


Our History About Kalarama Farm Joan Hamilton Larry Hodge Paul Hamilton		Larry Hodge As he reflects on Bradshaw’s talents, Hodge carefully leafs through a worn scrapbook that holds a place of honor in his den. Its yellowed pages hold Frank Bradshaw’s personal collection of memories — ribbons, judge’s badges, news articles, photos, show prize lists. “Frank was one of the greatest showmen I’ve ever seen,” Hodge says. While waiting to become old enough to join his two older brothers working at their father’s grocery stores in Knoxville, Tennessee, Larry Hodge stayed at home on the farm, involved with the family’s Shetland ponies, cattle, and show horses and ponies. Ironically, as his youngest son approached a career decision, the elder Hodge told Larry that he’d back him in any business he wanted to go into ... as long as it wasn’t horses. Today, Larry — the tall, polite man who may well be the most recognized trainer in the American Saddlebred business — offers a wistful smile as he says, “He was very pleased about it before he died.” Ironically, all of Max Hodge’s sons were involved with three different breeds of horses; Larry’s brothers chose Tennessee Walking Horses and Thoroughbreds. A year after Larry’s graduation from high school, the young man headed for Kentucky, where he worked for the legendary Jim B. Robertson. “I lived in the house with the Robertson family. I met all kinds of people, attended the Florida shows, and hit all of the county fairs. I went there to groom, but within three weeks was working horses.” During his two years at Robertson’s, Hodge worked with some of the greatest show horses of that era. “Jim B. knew how to handle people and not let the pressure get to him,” Larry reflects, and adds, “He was a great teacher and a great horseman.” But facing his own mounting pressure from his parents to finish college, the athletic young man returned to East Tennessee State University for a couple of years. Kentucky, though, continued to beckon, and soon, he again departed Tennessee. “Horses got between me and the books,” he chuckled, quoting a quip from Garland Bradshaw. Hodge found that he had much in common with the master trainer and showman — but first, he continued his Saddlebred schooling at Gwinn Island Stock Farm in Danville. “George Gwinn was the best salesman I ever saw. He could have made it in any business he’d wanted. He was a good horseman and a great judge of a horse.” Gwinn’s barn was renown for its sales volume; “one year, during the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, Mr. Gwinn had sold 45 or 46 horses. We sold 12 in one day,” Hodge recalls. Packing the lessons he’d learned from Jim B. and George Gwinn, Larry left Gwinn Island Stock Farm and headed to what he called “finishing school” with headmaster Garland Bradshaw, who allowed his protégé to ride and show. “Mr. Bradshaw taught me how to gait a horse, and how to put the finishing touches on one." Frank Bradshaw – who had trained for Kalarama Farm prior to his induction into service during World War II – was known for his more proper form in the saddle. His brother, however, was an energetic rider who rarely posted the trot, and delivered an exciting presentation in the show ring. Hodge, considered a student of Garland Bradshaw, smiles good-naturedly when Joan tells how one young horsewoman described Larry’s “put on a horse show” style. “Bill and Marie Knight had a riding camp, and they took the kids to the Harrodsburg horse show. Larry won the five gaited championship. When the campers returned to the stable, someone who had stayed at the farm asked who won the gaited stake,” Joan Hamilton tells. “A little girl camper replied, ‘Mr. Bouncy!’” “Mr. Bouncy’s” employment with the one Hodge calls “Mr. Bradshaw” took a turn when High Point Farm owner Tom Biederman died in an auto accident in the early 1970s. Garland Bradshaw gave Biederman's widow "the same advice he said he would give to his own wife: ‘Call [equine auctioneer] Art Roberts and tell him to sell them,’” Hodge remembers. But first, the horses needed readying for the sale … and Hodge accepted the job. Larry with his sons David (left) and Max. By early 1977, Hodge stopped in at nearby Kalarama, and declared it to be “one of the prettiest places [he'd] ever seen.” He leased the main training barn from Paul Hamilton. “It was a challenge, starting on my own. There was no safety net, and I’d brought very few horses and clients with me,” Hodge remembers. Building his public training stable didn’t take long, however. His talent for taking young horses from start to finish was quickly noted, and soon, the main barn was full. Despite Larry Hodge’s own take-no-prisoners show style, he opts for a quieter, more prepared method of putting riders into the ring. “Riders each have their own individual needs, as does every horse. I really enjoy selecting and preparing a horse for an amateur, juvenile, or a lady rider,” Larry says. “We’ve built a heck of an organization here,” he says as he looks around the spacious, historic Kalarama Farm. “We try to surround ourselves with good, talented employees who want to be here, and understand our desire to achieve excellence." Achieve excellence, he has. With the help of his expert staff, Larry has trained and developed horses to win more than 100 world's championship titles, including multiple world's grand championships in all three divisions. Young horses trained by Larry Hodge have won world's championships at ages two, three, and four ... in every division. For clients, he has selected and trained horses that have won world's championship titles in the juvenile, ladies, amateur and open ranks. Larry Hodge was the 2002 recipient of the UPHA Richard E. Lavery Horseman Of The Year award. From left: UPHA President Chuck Herbert, presenter Elisabeth Goth, wife Joan Hamilton, Hodge, and UPHA Vice President Jimmy Robertson. “I’m excited about things going on here at Kalarama. We’re breeding better horses than ever before. We’ve got the best bunch of young horses we’ve ever had and a great staff to help us get them ready,” he says eagerly. He pauses only a moment, reflecting on Kalarama Farm’s 100 years of producing the world’s finest American Saddlebred horses — and the farm's continuing success at selecting and developing champion horses for a growing family of loyal clients, many of whom have placed their confidence in Hodge for more than 25 years. It's obvious that Larry Hodge isn't content to discuss history when there are horses to be prepared and horse shows to be won. He bounds to his feet, exuding his own brand of infectious enthusiasm, and draws a young horse from a stall, presenting the colt for a guest as if Hodge were preening the contender on Freedom Hall's hallowed green shavings. "With horses like these," he exclaims, “the sky’s the limit!”

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