Jared Griffin is no stranger to hard work.

He is up and running before sunrise and he’s still on the go after the sun goes down.

That is what it takes to run his business — Griffin Cattle and Equine Center —The Vernon native was raised in the ranching business, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

With his spurs jingling as he walked from stall to stall around the indoor arena, he explained that he started leasing the facility from Jack Ayers of Holliday at the first of the year.

“It was a dream to have something like this. I had been doing stuff for other people,” he said. “I was pre-conditioning cattle for people, including Bill Easter (Wichita Livestock Sales).

Griffin Equine Center offers a variety of services,  including  training horses,  birthday parties, barrel racing, reining clinics, along with team roping practice and jackpot roping.

The facility has a wash rack and a horse walker, too.

He said birthday parties are for individuals and companies. He has hosted a party for NATO pilots and their families.

“And I did cattle and roping demonstrations for them,” he said.

He also has hosted a fundraising concert in his huge indoor arena.

“This is the only place around that has all of this stuff, including round pens for training,” Griffin said.

Often, folks pitch in and help him, but for the most part he handles everything on the sprawling property along Holliday Creek just inside the Holliday city limits.

“I’m up before sunup and work until after dark. I just love working horses and cows. For me, I am on vacation every day,” he said.

Asked about the hard life of a working cowboy, he quickly responded, “It is the only thing I ever grew up doing. There was nothing else I wanted to do. I like to see what I can get out of horses and cows.”

Griffin spent years living and helping his dad Dennis Griffin work on the 77 Ranch, located just east of Wichita Falls.

To get to the center from Wichita Falls, take Sisk Road off of Southwest Parkway (FM 369) At Stop sign, turn right onto FM 1954. The arena is five miles down the road on the left. The telephone number is (940) 704-8840.