Invitation Only Named AQHA All-Time Leading Point Earning Sire

14 October 2014 robynd

Invitation Only has officially become the AQHA All-Time Leading Point Earning Sire, surpassing the late, great Zippo Pine Bar’s record set in 1987 with 77,056 points.

Foaled in 1990, by the great Barpassers Image and out of Bears Raisin Kane, Invitation Only has sired 1,250 foals in 21 foal crops. Bred by Gene and Frieda Maxwell of Waterford, California, he spent most of his younger days owned by David James at Paws Up Ranch, who helped the stallion initially rise to fame.

1996 was the breakout year for Invitation Only’s first foal crop, when two of his get emerged as rising stars at that year’s Quarter Horse Congress, Irish Invitation and Dee Invitation. He quickly began to become a household name, siring not only Western Pleasure champions, but also winners in Hunter Under Saddle, and the all-around events. Trainers including, but certainly not limited to, Gil Galyean, Nancy Sue Ryan, and Jeff Long had remarkable success with notable offspring including Irish Invitation, Hope By Invitation, Only In The Moonlight, The Only Escape, and the list goes on and on.

At age 24, Invitation Only has become AQHA's All-Time Leading Point Earning Sire. — At age 24, Invitation Only has become AQHA’s All-Time Leading Point Earning Sire.

Invitation Only rocked the quarter horse industry in 2005 when he was sold for a record $2.35 million, the most ever for a quarter horse stallion. Since then, he has consistently been at or near the top of every major sire standings with his get’s list of accomplishments continuing to grow. As of press time, Invitation Only has sired 32 World Champions, 36 Reserve World Champions, 1,350 performance point earners, 922 performance point ROM earners, 357 Superior Performance Awards, 75 AQHA Champions, and 8 High Point Winners.

Previous owner David James says there was never any doubt in his mind that “Invy” was destined for greatness.

“Even as a colt, he always had something special about him. When his first foals hit the Congress show pen in 1996 and walked away winners, we knew he would make a name for himself in a very profound way, even if we had no idea just how profound,” James says.

The legendary Invitation Only still looks regal at 24. Image courtesy of Debbie Trubee of Pine View Farms. — The legendary Invitation Only, here with Roger Landis still looks regal at 24. Image courtesy of Debbie Trubee of Pine View Farms.

Now, at 24, Invy is owned by Mike Farina and stands at Pine View Farms under the watchful eye of managers Roger Landis and Debbie Trubee, and is treated like the rockstar stallion he is. Landis doesn’t even call it a night until Invy has been triple checked to ensure his comfort with fresh water and hay every evening.

“There’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t take my breath away,” Trubee explains. “There’s just an aura about him that I’ve never seen with any other stallion before, and we are beyond in awe of him.”

Congratulations to everyone in the Invitation Only family who have helped this spectacular stallion make AQHA history, from the breeders, owners, trainers, managers, and exhibitors. Be sure to check out the upcoming November/December issue of Show Horse Today for in-depth coverage of this historic event.