Cody Woodford – Shelbyville, Tennessee

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING HORSES PROFESSIONALLY?
I have been training horses full time since I graduated high school in 2017.

TELL US SOME FAMILY HISTORY OF RAISING AND SHOWING WALKING HORSES.
My family first got in the walking horse business in the early 1970s and have been involved ever since.

OF ALL THE HORSES YOU HAVE TRAINED, OPEN AND AMATEUR, DO YOU HAVE A HORSE YOU FEEL MADE YOU INTO THE TRAINER YOU ARE TODAY? WHAT HORSE WAS THAT AND WHY DO FEEL THAT WAY?
There is not a single horse that stands out. I love to work a horse that someone isn’t getting along with and see what I can do with it.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ASPIRING TRAINERS?
Just work as hard as you can and listen to all the advice any trainer gives you.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN THE PERFECT YEARLING?
When looking at yearlings I look for a colt with a good neck and long back legs. I like a colt that moves with plenty of slip to it.

HOW ARE YOU MANAGING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK? IS YOUR BARN ON LOCKDOWN? ARE YOU STILL HOLDING YOUR REGULAR CLIENT APPOINTMENTS? HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR TRAINING?
It hasn’t affected us too much other than not being able to show. We still have customers that come but not too many at a time.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PAST WORLD GRAND CHAMPION AND WHY?
I Am José is probably one of my favorite horses. I loved the way he went.

IF THERE WAS ONE AREA OF THE INDUSTRY YOU COULD CHANGE OR RAMP UP, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I would just change the way the public sees our breed. We need more positive publicity.

IF YOU WERE NOT AT THE BARN OR A HORSE SHOW, WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING IN YOUR FREE TIME?
If I am not at the barn or at a horse show, I am either fishing or hunting.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TV SHOWS, MOVIES OR NETFLIX FEATURES HAVE YOU BEEN BINGE WATCHING DURING THE PANDEMIC?
There has not been anything I have been watching. I do not watch a whole lot of TV.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER THUS FAR?
My biggest highlight so far is getting a job at Philip Trimble Stables and getting to work some great horses.

WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM CAN YOU GIVE TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY ON THE PANDEMIC?
Just use common sense and stay home as much as possible!