Page 84 - April 2017

The huge tragedies, hard work, vision and unrelenting passion – these qualities have the flavor of great movies like Lonesome Dove. However, this is the real story of a man with strong character and purpose who lived a simple life in the rugged west and achieved great success. It is about
a quiet man who suffered huge personal tragedies, yet remained committed to family, principles, work, vision, and “his horses.” The story takes place in
the remote west in Wyoming, Idaho, and Eastern Oregon, far from the center of the horse industry and all the related activities and people. It is the story of great horses, dedicated individuals, and outstand- ing accomplishments resulting from the freedoms of our great country that have made the Quarter Horse industry what it is today.
A few years ago, I walked through the newly constructed American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo, Texas, after the dedication and opening ceremonies. This is a hallowed place that cre- ated great emotion in me to the point that I wept as I read information on the people and horses. This place is full of stories of great people and special horses. It is about their lives and accomplishments. It is said that organizations that don’t celebrate the past have no future. I couldn’t agree more, and the AQHA has done a wonderful job recognizing and preserving the past, great people, horses and accomplishments.
A great highlight in my life was being present the evening Walter Merrick was inducted into the Ameri- can Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. He has always been
a hero of mine and I marvel at his vision and work
in developing horses. I met and visited with Walter that evening and we had our picture taken together. He was a wonderful, warm, open and approachable man with a great story. I was proud to be a part of this great celebration of a cowboy who had lived his dream and developed his vision. While he was developing his dream in Oklahoma, a quiet horseman in the remote west was creating “his horses” that would help pro- duce the great World Champion Easy Jet for Walter Merrick and bring dynamic changes to the Quarter Horse industry and its horses.
James V.A. Carter was born in 1887 in Wyoming, before automobiles and airplanes and when horses were an essential part of life. As a young married man, he moved from Wyoming to Nampa, Idaho, with his wife, her mother, his children, and “his horses.” Shortly after arriving in Idaho, he purchased a ranch on Cow Creek near Jordan Valley, Oregon. The three states of Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, join together near the town of Jordan Valley, Oregon. This is remote, high desert country with sage, grass, rock and broken ground. It
is cattle country. There are no white fences, tall green pastures, ponds, large oak trees, or paved roads. It is acres-per-cow not cows-per-acre country. Horses are a necessity of life in this vast country, as it is very rugged and formidable to other forms of transportation and management of cattle. Carter spent most of his life on this ranch. He eventually purchased a 40-acre parcel in Clovis, California, and built a horse facility to support his racing and breeding activities.
JAMES V.A. CARTER
An American Story: The Forgotten Man
story by & photos courtesy of Ed McNelis
82 SPEEDHORSE, April 2017