JOHN ALLAN Callaway is the only trainer in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration (TWHNC) history to win the World Grand Championship four years in a row. In fact, the name “Callaway” has been synonymous with World Grand Champions since John Allan’s dad, Allan, won his big stake on Pride’s Jubilee Encore in 2001. John Allan’s brother, Bill, earned the title on Gen’s Black Maverick in 2017. John Allan’s daughter, Julia, won her first World Championship in 2022, then earned the title of World Grand Champion in 2023.
“My dad, Allan, has been a trainer my entire life and started when he was a young man,” said John Allan. “Both my brother and I have followed in his footsteps. When you start out riding at any age, the goal is to have a horse that can compete at the championship level. The first time I showed at the Celebration, I rode Shanlo’s Masterpiece in the juvenile [11 and under] class when I was 6, and I won my first blue ribbon on Dandy Don when I was 10.”
His mother, Karen, fondly recalls that when John Allan was a boy, he’d ride her retired show mare all around their farm. When it was time for his favorite cartoons to come on the television, he’d tie the mare to the hitching post long enough to watch his cartoons. Then, he’d slip right back into the saddle, and off he’d go.
“My dad, Allan, worked his whole life trying to achieve the goal of World Grand Champion, and I was so proud of him and the hard work it took to get to that point in his career,” said John Allan. “He is my greatest hero. All I ever wanted to be was a horse trainer, and my dad gave me that opportunity. I have no idea about the number of championships our family has won because I don’t really keep up with those statistics. I just try to keep focused on what is ahead of me for the coming weekend or our upcoming show schedule.”
The Callaways moved to Shelbyville when John Allan was 15. After graduating from Shelbyville Central High School, he attended Motlow State Community College in the evenings and worked in the barn most of the day. He and his wife, Jada, married in 2001, and in 2007, during the trainers’ show, their daughter, Julia, was born two months prematurely.
“My greatest accomplishment in life is the birth of Julia. She has been my greatest blessing. My family is extremely important to me, and they are the reason for everything I do.”
The Callaways live on a farm outside of town.
John Allan said, “I like that I can go to work and come home and enjoy the peace of our place. I enjoy being on my tractor and working on my land.” According to the Walking Horse Report, John Allan Callaway is only the third trainer to win championships on two different horses.
“I won my first big stake championship in 2020 on ‘Lurch’ [Master’s Razzle and Jazz]. That first win will always stand out in my memory, but for me to continue on to win again in 2021, 2022, and 2023 on Justified Honors is beyond my wildest dreams as a trainer. Justified Honors is the most talented animal I have ever trained and worked with. He has certainly never let me down, and he has such a big heart and a great mind.”
The first time John Allan saw Justified Honors when the horse was about 2 years old, he was smit- ten and knew in his gut that the impressive black stallion would be a future winner. John Allan wasn’t the only one who took note of Justified Honors’ potential. It wasn’t long before Lisa and Dr. Jim Baum decided to purchase the horse and officially join “Team Justified Honors.”
John Allan said, “Justified Honors has proven himself to be a winner. He has the total package and is the dream horse for any trainer. I have been blessed to work with some of the top horses in our industry, and I don’t take that for granted.”
His dad, Allan Callaway, said, “I am very proud of both of my boys, and I count myself blessed to work with them daily and spend time with them. They followed me into the horse business, and I am grateful for that every day. The [Tennessee walking horse] industry has been good to our family.” GN
