About Us
James has been a professional trainer for over 25 years. He began exhibiting American Saddlebred horses as a family hobby when he was 7 years old. With no formal instruction, he "figured things out for himself" and successfully exhibited across the Southeast as a Juvenile exhibitor.
He worked as the head trainer at Jones Valley Farm in Anniston, AL and Omega Farm in Anderson, SC before opening his own business in 1995. Having made a name for himself in the development of young horses, perhaps most notably, he started CH Wall Street Week and captured the Reserve World Championship title in the Three Year Old Five Gaited Stallion/Gelding class in 1988 when James was only 22 years old.
James is an active member of the United Professional Horseman's Association, the American Saddlebred Horse Association and the United States Equestrian Federation. James served UPHA as the Chapter 8 Chairman from 2005-2012 and was named the UPHA Ch. 8 Horseperson of the Year in 2006. The only licensed USEF (R) Judge in Alabama, he has judged major horse shows both nationally and internationally, including Asheville Lions Club, Blue Ridge Classic, Devon, St Louis, the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show and the South African National Championships in Bloemfontein, SA.
Over 50 years of professional experience....
Jackie got her start in the Saddlebred industry much the same way James did, with Mom and Dad acting as trainers, truck drivers and grooms. She began showing at age 8, competing in and around Alabama. Upon graduation from Birmingham-Southern College with a degrees in English/ Communications and Political Science, she returned to the show horse world in 1990, exhibiting across the Southeast and teaching riding lessons part-time. Her professional career path led her into the Advertising/Marketing fields and she and James were married in 1996.
She is on the national Board of Directors of the American Saddlebred Horse Association based in Lexington, KY and serves on the Marketing, Publications, Convention and Riding Lessons committees and is the 2014 ASHA Convention Chairman. Jackie is also a Professional member of the United States Equestrian Federation and the United Professional Horseman's Association, and was named the UPHA Chapter 8 Horseperson of the Year in 2007.
James and Jackie were honored with the Gordon Jenkins International Service Award by the American Saddlebred Horse Association in 2010 for their work with the ASHA of Europe. They also coached the first-ever Saddleseat Equitation World Cup team from Germany in 2010.
Together James and Jackie have developed a successful business by combining their talents: James' ability as a trainer and keen eye for a prospect, partnered with Jackie's teaching and marketing skills. JHS has a balanced mix of Academy, Juvenile and Amateur riders and always a nice selection of Prospects and Consignment horses to choose from.
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In addition to JHS, the Hale’s own and operate Southern Saddlebred Sales, Inc. Answering the need for a public auction for American Saddlebreds, Hackneys and Roadsters following the dissolution of TSE Tattersalls in 2011, Southern Saddlebred Sales was formed in January, 2012. The sale company holds two public auctions each year - in April and October - at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN. Each sale is held in conjunction with a horse show. Visit www.southernsaddlebredsales.com for more information.
