A Dream Passed Down: The Legacy of JB Performance Horses

An older couple and a horse standing in an open grassy field. An older couple and a horse standing in an open grassy field.

What was once a dream for a little boy in South Louisiana, has transformed into a multigenerational reality.

Jeff Butler grew up on a cow horse operation in south Louisiana. Growing up Jeff watched his father closely, learning the ends and outs. In hopes he would also one day have his own brand, name, and operation.

Jeff was given his first horse at three years old. Dolly, a 20 year old palomino horse. Despite the age gap, Dolly quickly became Jeff’s best friend and right hand girl.

She took care of him, “Dolly was a great horse,” Jeff said. “From then on, I knew I wanted to raise good horses.”

An older couple stands hand-in-hand in a sunny pasture, each holding the lead of a horse. An older couple stands hand-in-hand in a sunny pasture, each holding the lead of a horse.

The Start of Something Special

When Jeff was 20, he met his bride, Juliette. Juliette did not grow up with an agricultural or equine background but quickly learned the way.

“She has the eye, from the minute a horse stands up she can tell how they will grow, perform, and reproduce.” Jeff said.

They began working together on their own operation, purchasing mares and selecting sires.

They had their first stallion, JB Imalotta Lil Peppy. Whose grandfather, Jeff purchased years prior from King Ranch. They treasured Imalotta and as he grew, bred all of their mares to him. From that one small stallion, JB Performance Horses began.

An older couple walks hand-in-hand through a pasture, leading two horses, with their backs turned to the camera. An older couple walks hand-in-hand through a pasture, leading two horses, with their backs turned to the camera.

Just Good Using Horses

As JB Performance Horses started to grow, so did their little family. Jeff and Juliette had two children, Jeffry and Jodi Butler.

The two grew up helping around the family operation and rodeoed. Jeffry team roped with Jeff and rode stock. Jodi goat tied, ran barrels and breakaway roped.

Jeff said, “We had an old stock trailer that Jodi used to travel to rodeos. People would come up and ask, ‘What kind of horses do you have in there?’ and we always replied ‘Just good using horses,’” which became the motto for JB Performance Horses.

So much so, Jeff made a sign for the trailer that had the phrase, Just Good Using Horses, on it.

An older couple stands close together in the center of a sunlit pasture An older couple stands close together in the center of a sunlit pasture

Raised in the Saddle

As Jeffry and Jodi grew their own families, there became five granddaughters for Jeff and Juliette to spoil.

Each grandchild was able to go to the pasture each time there were new foals. They were able to pick any horse they wanted, name the horse, and sign the papers.

All five granddaughters became involved in the family operation, helping in every way they could. They all grew up in the rodeo and equine industry, learning trades of their own. It was officially a family affair, with everyone mounted on Just Good Using Horses.

An older man in a cowboy hat and blue button-down shirt stands beside a roan horse in front of a wire fence. An older man in a cowboy hat and blue button-down shirt stands beside a roan horse in front of a wire fence.

Passing the Reins

This family affair has continued to grow and evolve, with every hand pitching in. Jeff and Juliette shared they have begun spreading out horses between all of the children and grandchildren. Slowing down their own operations and allowing the kids to take over. They are excited to see where it takes them.

“It is so beautiful to see JB Performance Horses passed down generations,” said Julliette. “Keeping the spirit of ‘just good using horses’ alive.”

They are proud to say that, “One small dream, from one small little boy. Turned into a multigenerational operation.”