Page 61 - December 2017

they were first and second at Congress. It was just mind-boggling. That’s when Invitation just kind of took off. It changed the whole dynamics of his career. I think that he was a great show horse and a great horse to be around, but I think as a breeding horse, that’s what separated him in my mind.”
For the next several years, James enjoyed the fruits of his labors with Invitation Only, watching the stallion climb the sire ranks year after year. Then, when the horse was in the peak of his career, James made another pivotal decision. He sold him.
“That horse had accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish with him, and I wanted to do something different. I decided I just wanted to move away from the pleasure horse thing,” James said. “I like to rope, and I wanted the freedom to go do some things like that before I got too old to do it anymore.”
So in November 2005, James held a dispersal sale and got out of the pleasure horse business. Invitation Only made headlines as the highest-
The opportunity to stand PYC Paint Your Wagon in 2011 introduced James to the Quarter Horse racing industry.
selling Quarter Horse at public auction when he brought a $2.35 million bid from Ohio Pineview Farms. In October 2014, Invitation Only passed Zippo Pine Bar as the all-time leading sire by points earned.
James, in the meantime, got busy roping. He attended the first World Series of Roping events in Las Vegas, and while he says he isn’t good enough to make a living at it, the checks he picks up as a header and the enjoyment he gets of it makes it worthwhile.
James might have been content to hone his roping skills for several more years. But when an opportunity presented itself, he couldn’t turn it down.
“The opportunity came up in 2011 to stand PYC Paint Your Wagon. That’s really how I got started with the racehorses,” James said.
Next came A Streak Of Fling, who opened the door for James Ranch to step into the barrel horse world, as well. Since then, James’ interest, and business, has grown to encompass a strong string of stallions for both racing and barrel
racing. This year, he’s even signed on a reined cow horse stallion in a move that pays homage to his early days with Ingersoll in Northern California.
“I just really enjoy good horses. And obviously right now I’m blessed with some of the nicest horses I’ve ever been around and some really good clients,” James said. “I’m learning more about the racehorse thing all the time and I really enjoy it. The day’s coming when I’m not going to be able to ride and rope and do that stuff, and I can see myself being able to enjoy some racehorses.”
James isn’t ready to slow down yet, though. While he relies on employees that have been with him for 25 years, he is still a hands-on owner and manager.
“I’m pretty involved every day. It’s just my personality. I have some key people, but I’m here. I like being involved,” James said. “There are days, like during breeding season, when you’re going those long hours and you get a little tired. But I just basically love the horse business, and I love dealing with really nice horses.”
“...I’m blessed with some of the nicest horses I’ve ever been around and some really good clients.”
A Streak Of Fling opened the door for the ranch to enter the barrel horse world.
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