Amateur exhibitor James Story of Birmingham, Alabama may not look like the typical horse show exhibitor, but he has always marched to the beat of a different drum.
Story is the youngest sibling of eight brothers and sisters and the only one that went to college. Story received a Master’s Degree in Business after becoming a Registered Nurse, and he is currently the Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. This is a unique occupation for most males, let alone an African-American male.
Last year was Story’s first full year showing on the Quarter Horse circuit in the halter events. At year’s end, he managed to get his amateur and open Register Of Merit on two horses, two top tens at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, Alabama’s Justin Rookie of the year, top five Rookie in the nation, year end awards for both Alabama and Georgia, and Chambers County Saddle Club High Point Champion.
Story also has some rather unusual hobbies including hunting, taxidermy, raising Koi fish, and he is also an expert in plant identification and gardening.
“I love hunting, and own a lot of camouflage,” James tells us. “I’m probably the blackest redneck in Alabama,” he says laughing.
Story’s story is not one we hear often. He grew up on a farm, but he was deathly afraid of horses, and he never set foot on a horse until he was twenty eight years-old. Three years later, he bought his first beginner horse for $5,000 and he showed at an open show once before deciding that he wasn’t comfortable riding in front of people since he is “such a big guy.” That is where his interest in halter horses came into play.
In 2010, James was at work thinking that he would like to have a new project to show in the halter events. In the boardroom at a previous job, Story bought a halter prospect on-line with his Blackberry phone from Kathy Snodgrass using PayPal “It was a little crazy,” James says. “I leaned over and showed one of my friends what I had bought sight unseen.”
The young colt he bought was named, Excentricity, who was out of Shes Gone Cool and by Telusive By Design.
“I started winning with him, mainly because he was straight and correct, but all the judges told me that I needed to get more weight on him,” he recalls. “I had gotten to know Georgia trainer, Todd Grant, at the shows, and I asked him if he could help me out. He took him home and got him more fit, and then I decided to take him to the Big A in Conyers, Georgia. When I was there, I saw a huge three year-old bay gelding named, Maestro (Mo) that was being shown by Jason Smith, and I thought he was gorgeous.”
Story hadn’t planned on upgrading to a world caliber horse quite so fast, but he ended up buying him at the Big A, and he showed him the next day.
“I was so nervous and shaking in my boots,” he remembers. “Here I was a huge black man showing this 17 hand horse in the arena, and it was obvious I was very green and I definitely stood out in the pen. It is really funny to think about the first time I showed him. I have definitely improved since then.”
In October, Story took Maestro to the All American Quarter Horse Congress and placed in the Top 10 in both the Limited Open and Amateur Three Year-Old Geldings.
“James really wants to learn and puts forth the effort in the show pen,” his trainer, Todd Grant, told GoHorseShow. “It is really refreshing and fun to be around someone that is new to the industry and who is excited about things like getting an ROM and placing at the Congress for the first time. Many people would take that for granted, and I am really excited he has done so well his first year.”
When GoHorseShow asked James what he likes about halter horses, he says that he enjoys working with them and seeing them improve. “I always thought halter horses were beautiful even when I was scared of them,” Story says. “I am also OCD (Obsessive Compulsive) so as long as I don’t have a palomino or a horse with a lot of white, I enjoy grooming and banding. If you ever need someone to band your horse, let me know–I’ll be happy to do it!”
Why be involved in a hobby where there are only a few African-Americans involved in the sport? “My father was one of a few black farmers in the town we grew up, and I’ve always chosen to be involved in activities that are not the norm in black society. So, I’m used to being the odd man out.”
Story says that he was inspired by exhibitor Deacue Fields, who was a black man he saw showing at a Montgomery, Alabama show in 2010. “He was the first black man I saw at a horse show, and he gave me the extra push to continue showing. At first, people who I didn’t know kept saying hello and calling me, ‘Deacue’—at first I thought I was being mistaken as the shavings and stall guy like I have in the past, but they actually thought I was this other black guy that showed. It is definitely an experience being one of the few black guys in the industry.”
James adds, “As far as whether I feel like I have ever been not placed fairly because of my race—sometimes I wonder why three judges place me first and then another judge doesn’t place me–but that’s horse showing. It is what it is, and I don’t let anyone stop me or worry too much about things I can’t control.”
Well said, James! Look out for James Story and Maestro in the Amateur Geldings this year–they definitely are a team that can’t be missed!
