"It's God's country; it's beautiful," said farm manager Kevin Dickson,
who was formerly with Vessels Stallion Farm and managed the
career of leading California stallion In Excess (Ire) in addition to the
all-time leading Quarter Horse stallion First Down Dash. "Stunning.
We're so blessed. To be honest, there's not many other places I think
I'd want to go."
While Barton did not disclose the farm's purchase price, rest as-
sured there were a number of zeros in the transaction. While viticul-
ture and tourism are the primary drivers of the economy in the im-
mediate area, with over 70 wineries and tasting rooms in the vicinity,
there are plenty of horses too, as evidenced by the world-renowned
and long-established Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center literally
five minutes away from Barton Thoroughbreds.
If horses have been entrenched in Santa Ynez for decades, the
Bartons are admittedly newcomers.
