– Every Farmer has a Story with Howard Hamilton –
The equine entertainer
Trainer Howard Hamilton is passionate about true horsemanship
Story and photos by Page Haynes
– Every Farmer has a Story with Howard Hamilton –
The equine entertainer
Trainer Howard Hamilton is passionate about true horsemanship
Story and photos by Page Haynes
Having a special connection with horses just seems to come naturally to Howard Hamilton of Carroll County. The West Tennessee native has a deep understanding of horse behavior and communication. Not only does he enjoy training them for the national showring, but he also works with horses to perform various tricks. Amazingly, he can be on the outside of a ring and guide them with his voice to walk through obstacle courses alone in exhibitions.
“Horses are my life, my hobby, and my business,” says Howard, a customer of Carroll Farmers Cooperative, where he purchases feed (#93569) and equine supplies. “Each one is special, and they are all wonderful in their own unique ways. I love training them. Basically, I just deal with a horse’s mind. If you can train the mind, you can get them to do anything you want them to do.”
Howard and his wife, Clarenita, own Southern Serenity Ranch in Cedar Grove, a small community just outside of Jackson, where Howard grew up. They purchased the expansive equine facility in 1989, and Howard soon had some 30 families who requested his training services. Howard says that as his business grew, so did his stable occupants. Eventually, the picturesque facility would house around 70 horses, all cared for, trained and shown by Howard and his crew.
“We’ve shown more than 350 World Grand Champion horses in my career, and they’ve primarily been flat-shod Tennessee walking horses [TWH],” says Howard, generally considered one of the most beloved and recognizable trainers in the TWH industry, garnering him induction into the TWH National Hall of Fame. “Training horses has been great, and we’ve had a lot of success with it.”
Possibly one of most famous horses that Howard trained is Ebony’s Double — a full son to Ebony Masterpiece, the 1962 World Grand Champion — and owned by Elvis Presley.
The horse was purchased by Elvis as a 2-year-old and was never shown in competition, yet in 1983, was invited to be officially retired at The Celebration in front of about 40,000 enthusiasts. Howard was selected to prepare Ebony’s Double for his gaited exhibition. That night, with Priscilla Presley and other Graceland executives on hand, Ebony’s Double performed beautifully.
“To be a good horse trainer, you need to love horses and have a passion to work with them and teach them.” — Howard Hamilton
“I learned how to train horses from a great, great horseman, Joe Webb, from Searcy, Arkansas,” says Howard. “He understands horses and how to think like a horse. And that’s what I really like.”
Howard says he’s worked with all sorts of horse breeds over the years to perform different gaits, performances, stunts, and tricks. He admits, however, that his favorite horses are Tennessee walking horses, the breed he grew up with at his parent’s former stable, Madison Downs in Madison County.
Madison Downs now serves the community as a first-class event venue. Howard and Clarenita’s daughter, Jenna Hamilton King, owns a formalwear boutique on the property and her sister, Lauren, is the bridal consultant there. To date, the business, through an annual fundraiser, has raised more than a million dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their other daughter, Anna, enjoys being involved in the community, too. All three of their daughters have won championships on Tennessee walking horses. The whole family enjoys trail riding whenever they get a chance and have trailered their horses throughout the nation.
Whether trail riding, competing in an arena, or training horses, Howard says he enjoys taking part in anything and everything that involves being with horses and horse enthusiasts. He enjoys putting exhibitions on with his horses to show others what they can be taught to do and to share their versatility with others.
Through lots of patience, time, and understanding, Howard can train horses to count by stamping their feet, answer questions by shaking their head up and down for “yes” and side to side for “no,” march, smile for the camera, sit on a bale of hay, pick hats up off the ground, kneel, and lay down, among other things.
“Horses are just like kids,” he says with a chuckle. “They are all wonderful in their own ways, with their own personalities. Some aren’t as talented as others, but if I can get one to do something just a little bit better, I’m just as happy with that progress as I would be if we had won a World Grand Champion title.”
In 1983, Howard, fourth from left, trained Ebony’s Double for Priscilla Presley, holding frame, in preparation for an exhibition at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.
“Smile for the camera” Howard tells his 12-year-old palomino Southern Sundown.
Howard gives his daughter, Lauren, a big high five after his horse, A Titleist Masterpiece, was named 2023 Park Pleasure Champion.
Matthew Tillman of Carroll Farmers Co-op, left, visits with Howard at his Southern Serenity Ranch in Cedar Grove, just outside of Jackson, TN. Howard says his family has been purchasing horse feed from the Co-op ever since his father started feeding it long ago.
Howard Hamilton was named the Trainer of the Year in 2002 and was inducted into the Mid-South Horse Show Association Hall of Fame in 2004. He says his facility has shown more than 350 world or world grand champion horses since his career first started.
Howard enjoys teaching horses all types of tricks and says working with horses is very rewarding.
“Have a seat,” Howard tells Sundown, who follows orders to back up and sit down with him on a bale of hay with his back legs lifted off the ground.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com