Jerome Parker, a third-generation horseman, is the grandson of the renowned black Morgan and American Saddlebred trainer Joe Parker. Jerome’s father, Hugh Parker, specialized in the Arabian horse industry. Jerome himself started out as a successful Morgan and American Saddlebred trainer before moving into judging and serving as a ringmaster.
My dad gave me the best advice that I have carried into my career as a professional. He always emphasized to treat each horse as an individual. Whatever worked for the last horse might not work for the next one. So try to work with them and their abilities and try to make them stand out instead of telling them, “You have to follow my lead.” I try to see what the horse wants to do, how they react to different things, and then move forward that way. I stay as natural as possible. That was probably one of my dad’s biggest things, to keep them natural. Whatever their movement is, you try to get a little more out of it, but do not try to reshape it. You always try to work with them instead of against them. My mom and dad were adamant about never allowing color to be an excuse for not being able to do something. That wouldn’t fly in our house, even if there may be truth to it, but we weren’t allowed to use that as a crutch. We knew that things wouldn’t always be fair because of the color of our skin, so we figured out that we’re just going to have to work harder. I’ve carried that through my life, into the horses. Whenever I felt like I’m not getting a fair shake I think, “I have to go home. I have to work harder, try to do better, and keep pushing my way through.” My grandfather would have had a much rougher time than what I’m going through. So for me to use that as a crutch would be a disrespect to his legacy. I try to do my best and hope that that’s good enough for other people also. If you look at my history, everything that I saw was successful men of color. I’m surrounded by my uncles, my dad, my older brothers. There was no reason to think I couldn’t do it, too. We might have to work harder or do a little more, but I also had a legacy that was propping me up. I was standing on my uncles’ and my dad’s and my grandfather’s shoulders, so to speak. I already had a blueprint where some other kids coming up didn’t. In the horse business, you come across some people that aren’t very nice and have not very nice things to say about you or your color. But in my life, there’s predominantly been so many good people. They are lifelong friends or customers, and now judges, that have given me such good advice and support, so that keeps me motivated. If you try to understand somebody else’s hardship, it gives you a new light on things, just like when we’re training horses. If I’m a negative person, that horse is never going to be able to reach his full potential. But if I’m positive, I can help him reach his full potential, the horse will perform better, and you’ll look better because the horse looks better. So it’s honestly true [for horses and people] that if you come in contact with enough good people, your life is going to get better. Some days [my family’s last name] is a heavy burden, and other days it opens doors that I might not be able to get open. I try to add to the legacy so that it lives on and the name still means something 50 years from now. Ultimately, I love the sport. I love the people in the sport and I think I’m supposed to be a voice for the people that don’t have a voice. If I got this opportunity five years ago, I would have said, “No, thank you.” I don’t want to be judged. I don’t want people to think I’m pulling the race card. And now I just don’t care. I know I’ve lived the life I’m proud of, but what good is it unless I lend my voice to somebody who may be struggling and needs a leg up? That should be my job because my family did it for me. I hope I can do that for others.
Northford, Conn.
Jerome Parker (left) with young competitor Lucas Kampfer at the Connecticut Morgan Horse Show. 64 FALL ISSUE 2020
PHOTOS: HOWARD SCHATZBERG, TAYLOR PENCE/US EQUESTRIAN (OPPOSITE)
JEROME PARKER