In many ways, horses are true headliners in American history. They fill our language ("horsing around," "rein him in," "hot to trot," "putting on the feed bag"). And they fill much of our folklore, art and popular culture.
They also fill about 20 hours of Doral Jex's day."I work with them every day," he says. "It started out as a hobby. Now look at me."
Jex began innocently enough as a member of a posse. Now he, his son Don and the stable helpers could form a posse. They run a show horse operation in the Salt Lake Valley. Doral's business card may read "Retired: If the urge to work should strike me I lay down till it goes away," but everyone who knows him knows that's a bunch of road apples. No horseman in the West works harder.
In the days of yesteryear, of course, a horse would pay for its keep by working and serving as transportation. People needed them the way we need Chevrolets today. But now the expenses are so steep and the practical uses of horse power so minimal, perhaps the principal reason to have horses around is because you love them.
"The cost of the animal is the least expensive part of raising horses," explains Jex. "Back in 1949 we'd rent a summer pasture for $25 then feed the horses on hay for $15 during the winter. Now pastures aren't available and hay can reach $110 a ton. Add to that the grain, grooming and medical expenses - which cost about as much as treatment for people - and you have quite an investment."
Still, people will pay what needs to be paid to love and keep a horse. Utahns especially. The state ranks among the top five nationally for horses per capita. And Utah has more horses now than at any time in its history - even back in the days when every man, woman and child had one.
And there are horse clubs for every taste and age. Special groups cater to the owners of paint horses, quarter horses, mules, Clydesdales, Arabians, Morgans, saddle horses and miniatures. And once in the club you can choose to race them, show them, use them for Western pleasure riding - whatever. The Utah Quarter Horse Association has sponsored 11 shows since April alone. The association has 4,615 members who have 87,000 animals. The Futurity (held recently) handed out more than $34,000 in prizes and money.
"No state has more nationally known animals than Utah," says Jex. "The quality of our horses is known around the country."
Right now the Jex family is getting the bloodlines of its animals to a national level. Establishing a stallion is a key, and the family has done that. (One world champion stallion from out of state was recently valued at $300,000. It's stud fee is $5,000 and the animal has produced 3,000 offspring.)
"It's a long way from the days when we kept horses just for the fun of it," says Jex.
Given the big bucks and pressurized world of horse trading today, does he ever wish he could drop back to 1830 when horses and men led simpler lives?
"I think of it all the time," he says. "The old cattle drives are gone - though some people still work their cattle from horseback. But things aren't the same. Still, with a good trailer you can still get back to the open country on a trip or two."
Doubtless, Doral Jex will be going there soon. Amid all the hubbub and glamour of the horse industry, it all comes down to one person on one animal on a mountain ridge looking into the sunset.
After all the trimmings and high-powered dealmaking, it all comes down to a scene from Zane Grey's "Riders of the Purple Sage."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Utah horses
Here are some Utah horse facts you may not know:
1. The quarter horse trainer who's had the most winners since 1989 is Ed Giles of South Jordan.
2. There are 87,000 registered horses in the state (and more than 87,000 unregistered horses). By contrast, state has only 83,000 dairy cows.
3. 90 percent of all Utah horse owners also own their own homes.
4. Utah ranks fourth nationally in number of breeders of quarter horses.
5. The average Utah quarter horse owner became interested in horses at age 13 and bought his or her first one at age 21.
6. 82 percent of Utah horse owners listen to country music.
7. 90 percent of all the horses that run at Wyoming Downs come from Utah.
8. 6 percent of all horse owners are millionaires.
9. 33 percent of all Utah horse owners have college degrees.
10. The average owner will spend $7,529 on horse-related travel expenses each year.