Tim Barnes of Galatia, IL has shown horses extensively as a youth and amatuer for all of his life. His parents, Curt and Priscilla Barnes, have been longtime Appaloosa enthusiasts and breeders for over 20 years. They purchased Tim his first horse when he was four years old. His first couple of horses were quarter horses, before the Barnes family fell in love with the Appaloosa breed. The first Appaloosa horse the Barnes' purchased in 1983 was a leopard mare by the name of SSP'S Misty. The mare went on to produce fourteen offspring that went on to win multiple World and National Championships. SSP'S Misty was inducted into the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) Hall of Fame in 1996. She has produced more ApHC Medallion winners than any other Appaloosa mare in history. SSP'S Misty's first foal, Misty Eyed (who is by a son of Two Eyed Jack AQHA), went on to win 14 World and National Championships for the Barnes family. Misty Eyed also took Tim on to win the ApHC Youth Superior Lifetime Award in 1992 and the ApHC Non-Pro Supreme Champion Lifetime Award in 1994. Tim is the only male rider in ApHC histoy to win both of these awards and the youngest amateur ever to win the Supreme Award at 19 (in one year). Tim has felt blessed that all of the great horses he has shown over the years were all ones his family raised. Some of the Appaloosa's he has shown are Misty Eyed, Zippos Misty Lady, Jack Quest and Freddy Freeloper.
Tim has always had a passion for the arts growing up. In 2002 he graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art education, minoring in art history. Some of his favorite artists that he is inspired by are those of the post-impressionist and surrealist movements, such as Picasso, Matisse and Chagall. Most of his work consists of charcol, pastel and colored pencil. Recently, he has been shown a new door into computer graphics. He is excited for the opportunity to incorporate his artistic gift using graphic and digital imagery in the horse industry.
Tim wants to thank his family, trainers and friends for supporting him throughout the years. He looks forward to making new friendships and memories in the years to come.