Jake Dial’s passion for horses began when he was five years old. More than 78 years
later he still beams when he talks about the hundreds of horses he raised and sold and the
many awards the horses won.
Jake, one of 14 children, was born on property his father called the Red Field, a 240-acre
plot of red farm land near Boyd, Al. He was five when he rode his first horse, a gray gelding
named Smokey. His 90 year-old sister recalls that when she was 12 and Jake was seven every
Saturday they rode horseback three miles to Ramsey’s store in Boyd where she worked. Jake
never fussed about going to school on days when the Tee Ark creek was up because he
would be riding his horse yet another three and a half miles. As he grew older almost every
Saturday he rode his horse 15 miles to the outskirts of Epes, Al., where he fed salt to cattle on
land his father rented.
He and his siblings brought in stove wood and water, fed hogs and
milked cows. They helped their father set out potato plants, plant corn and peas. Cotton was
king and as years went by land was added and that meant more work. Nonetheless, Jake
always found time to ride mules and horses. Jake never cared anything about sports, just
horses and cattle.
In his teens Jake bought a book called Jesse Beery’s Horse Training Guide. Beery was a
renowned horse trainer from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Jake studied the book from cover
to cover until the pages were worn.
Jake was a self-taught roper at 19. He liked to rope in large, wide open pastures where it
was a challenge. He loved it and he was good at it. He also loved to herd and sort cattle. The
year 1949 was a good one for Jake. He married Mildred in August. In September he went to
Fort Worth, Texas, and bought his first registered quarter horse stallion, Brown Ceasar, as well
as a good-looking two year old mare named Queen. Brown Ceasar was used for racing and
breeding. He sired many good racing and ranch horses. Queen did not have papers but became
one of the best cow horses you could own. She was fast, quick and always ready for the big
and wild steers she had to round up. Later she became a great producing brood mare. After 63
years he still has quarter horses and the same wife who has worked diligently by his
side. Mildred named every foal they had and sometimes they had 35 in a year.
Jake was always looking for a horse that would test him a little and one to keep him on his
toes. He bought Appaloosas and bred some to quarter horses to get good conformation with
blanket hips. They sold good and fast for years. Later he added
thoroughbred stallions and mares. He sold their foals for racing. He also bred thoroughbred
stallions to the quarter mares which produced great English and jumping horses.
Jake has had many stallions that were trained for barrel, poles, roping, racing, cutting and
ranch work. The first that stands out was Sporty’s Joe by Joe Bailey Steeldust, owned byCliff
Chancellor of Pensacola, Fla. Sporty’s Joe was never for sale. Mr. Chancellor loved him too
much to sell him. Jake and Mildred kept him every year during breeding season.
Jake went back to Texas in 1980 and bought San Peppy Hand by Mr. San Peppy. Three or
four year’s later he went to New Mexico and bought Zan Parr Skip by Zan Parr. The cross of
these produced horses like the Joe Bailey Steeldust horses.These horses are very versatile and
they make great ranch horses or pen horses.
The stud Jake and Mildred have now is a palomino by ZanParr Skip. He is producing 70
percent palomino foals, that are good looking and easy to train.
Over the years Jake has received many phone calls and letters from people saying how
pleased they were with the horses they purchased. Jake welcomes you to come see him and his
foals.