Mike Gentry Inducted into the Jesus Gonzales Gomez UPHA Caretaker Hall of Fame
Friday, July 14, 2023
The United Professional Horsemen’s Association Jesus Gonzales Gomez UPHA Caretaker Hall of Fame award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to providing the highest level of care for show horses. During the Thursday evening performance of the Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show held in Lexington, Kentucky, the UPHA honored Mike Gentry, as the 2023 inductee into the Jesus Gonzales Gomez UPHA Caretaker Hall of Fame.
This year's recipient has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to providing excellent care of horses. He has shared his enthusiasm and loyalty with each of his barn families over the years and has certainly maintained perseverance in the face of adversity.
In 1970, at the age of thirteen, Mike began working for the Catron family in Tennessee. He groomed horses, worked in the stable, and traveled to horse shows with the family. In the 1980s and ’90s, Mike worked for Jim Ragsdale, followed by a stint in the Carolinas where he worked for such trainers as Claude Shiflet, Randy Cole, Johnny Payne, and Cash Lovell, Jr. He then moved on to breaking colts for Glyndle and Randy Tabor at 3-T Farm in Kentucky. Mike would later work for Donnie and Lisa Pyburn at Happy Valley Farms in Georgia, before returning home to Tennessee to work again for Lisa Catron and Kathryn Moore at Bridle Path Farm.
Mike decided to slow down in 2017 and work only at horse shows, most often for Adam and Desiree Clauson. He also helped Christy Parker, the Lavery family, and Vicki Gillenwater at shows before his cancer diagnosis in 2021. Powering through his treatments, Mike returned to helping the Clausons at shows in 2022. Ashleigh Barron Edwards, Smith Lilly, and Will Harris are other trainers fortunate enough to book his help at major horse shows.
Recently Mike has been working at shows for Mercer Springs Farm, Smith Lilly said, “Mike has been a professional caretaker his entire life, cares deeply for his horses, and loves the sport of showing horses as much as anyone I have ever met. We are honored to have Mike on our team at Mercer Springs Farm!”
Known for turning his horses out to perfection, Mike has spent decades devoted to the show horse industry. An expert caretaker and incredibly hard worker, Mike is trusted by trainers and loved by their clients.
Congratulations once again from all of us Mike, on your well-deserved induction into the Jesus Gonzales Gomez UPHA Caretaker Hall of Fame.
|