HORSIN’ AROUND
EXPECT THE BEST FROM TRIPLE J RANCH
ONE OF THE SUNSHINE STATE’S PERMIER HORSE FACILITIES
Written by: Kym Rouse Holzwart
If you are interested in high-quality, spectacular American Quarter Horses or are looking for an outstanding venue for your equestrian event, Triple J Ranch in Sarasota, one of the premier horse facilities in Florida, is the place for you! Since the late 1990s, Triple J Ranch, home of Jay Holmes Performance Horses, has raised and trained numerous championship halter, pleasure, roping, cutting and reined Quarter Horses.
Triple J Ranch’s long-term breeding program produces and raises quality Quarter Horses with a focus on conformation, movement and temperament. Its training program produces willing and versatile riding horses. In addition to training services, the ranch offers lessons and boarding.
Together since high school in Colorado, Jay and Rhonda Holmes head the Triple J Ranch enterprise. Their daughter, Morgan, a champion equestrian herself, is also heavily involved in the family business.
After winning many rodeo titles for the University of Southern Colorado, Jay was invited to train horses for a sale at the infamous King Ranch in Texas. He did such a great job that he was asked to stay on as a trainer.
Then, after being asked to train horses for the Sanders family, Jay and Rhonda moved to Alva, Florida. With the help of many notable people in the Florida Quarter Horse world, the Holmes family later moved to Arcadia, Florida, and opened Jay Holmes Performance Horses, focusing on cutting, rope and reined cow horses.
Jay and Rhonda’s success and tremendous ability eventually got them noticed by Mary H. Clark, who owned Triple J Ranch. The Holmes family moved to Sarasota in 1998 and started managing and training for the ranch.
While the ranch had been home to halter and pleasure horses, under Jay’s experienced eye, a switch was made to roping, cutting, reining and cow horse events. Foundation stallions of Triple J Ranch include Photon and Dun It Big. Photon’s foals have won numerous world championships and hundreds of thousands of dollars and points in American Quarter Horse Association, or AQHA, events and also in National Reined Cow Horse Association, or NRCHA, events.
The team of Jay and Dun It Big won many AQHA, NRCHA and National Reining Horse Association, or NRHA, events and championships, as well as thousands of dollars in prize money. Photon and Dun It Big’s progeny have gone on and continue to win hundreds of points, hundreds of thousands of dollars and numerous world titles in AQHA, NRCHA and NRHA events for the Holmes family.
Over the years, there have been many improvements to Triple J Ranch. Amenities include indoor and outdoor arenas, cattle pens, stalls, a cantina and 30 RV sites. Many groups lease the facilities to hold events. Triple J Ranch, as well as JH Productions, host numerous events throughout the year, including many roping and cow horse events.
The Gulf Coast Cow Horse Association, of which the Holmes family is a founding member, holds events at the ranch. The ranch also hosts Alpha Dressage Shows, Featherstone Open Shows and NRHA Reining Shows.
Last November, Mary H. Clark turned 100 years old, and the ranch was recently sold to the Williams family. However, the legacy of the beautiful Triple J Ranch lives on with two great trainers—Jay Holmes and Jorge Puente.
ROUNDUP
Triple J Ranch
941-232-4617, triplejranchfl.com
rhondajjj@msn.com