UPHA Announces the 2025 Inductees to the UPHA Jesus Gonzales Gomez Caretaker Hall of Fame
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Inducted at the 2025 Lexington Junior League Charity Horse Show
UPHA Inducts Santiago "Shorty" Gaona into the UPHA Caretaker Hall of Fame
Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate excellence—but to honor a man whose life's work has helped define it. A man whose quiet commitment and extraordinary skill have elevated every barn he’s worked in and every horse he’s cared for.
It is my privilege to stand before you as we welcome Santiago “Shorty” Gaona into the UPHA Jesus Gonzales Gomez Caretaker Hall of Fame.
Shorty’s story begins in Taretan, Michoacán, Mexico, where he grew up before following a path that would ultimately bring him to the heart of the American Saddlebred industry. He began his career with the late Randy Tabor, then continued working with the late Bill Wise, building a reputation for excellence and dependability long before he stepped foot on Kalarama Farm.
In 1981, Kalarama had an opening, and fate stepped in. The head caretaker at the time, the late Jesus Gonzales Gomez, already knew Shorty’s capabilities and urged Larry Hodge to bring him on board. The rest, as they say, is history.
This connection makes tonight even more meaningful. In 2015, Jesus Gomez was the very first recipient of this Hall of Fame honor. He set the standard, both in how he cared for the horses and how he mentored and uplifted others in this business. With his passing, the UPHA Board of Directors has renamed the award in his honor: the UPHA Jesus Gonzales Gomez Caretaker Hall of Fame. And tonight, it is only fitting that Shorty, whose career was launched by Gomez and whose values so closely mirror his, becomes the newest inductee.
Read the entire induction speech here.
Jude and George Komer Inducted into UPHA's Caretaker Hall of Fame
Tonight, it is my profound honor to stand before you and celebrate not one, but two extraordinary individuals whose names are etched into the very heart of our industry. With great pride, we welcome Jude Komer and George Komer into the UPHA Jesus Gonzales Gomez Caretaker Hall of Fame.
This award honors those who have dedicated their lives to the care, welfare, and well-being of the show horse — individuals who give their all behind the scenes, not for accolades, but out of love for the animals and the people they support. It’s not only about what they do, but how they do it — quiet determination, humility, loyalty, and unwavering steadiness. Jude and George Komer embody all of that — and more.
Kentucky natives, Jude and George, have spent more than four decades tending to some of the most iconic horses to step into the ring. Their names may not always be listed in bold print, but their hands have readied champions, and their hearts have steadied both horses and humans alike. Among the long list of horses they've touched are WCC CH Classic Vintage, RWCC WCC CH Rick Rack, WC CH Match Point, WC CH Flamenco, RWC Country Tune, W.W.F. Summer And Smoke, Trouble In Mind, WCC Santana’s Charm, Sweet Echo, WC CH Rocky Santana, RWGC WC CH Zoraya, WCC SS Music Man, WC Delightful Folly, WC A Day To Remember, Found Treasure, All Powerful, WC CH Hank Heiron, Hackney pony Taylor-Duff, and so many more. These were more than show horses. They were beloved partners, lovingly groomed, tenderly handled, and treated like family.
Read the entire induction speech here.
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