Jim Paul was born in 1937 in Sacramento, California.  Jim learned how to become a horseman at an early age from NRCHA Hall of Fame member Barbara Worth, as he visited Barbara’s stables as often as possible and rode anything she would let him throw a leg over.  In 1959, Jim began training for the public in Scottsdale, Arizona.  For the next twenty years Jim Paul-trained horses would dominate the Reining, Working Cow Horse and Western Riding events at all the Arizona shows, both Quarter Horse and Open.  Jim also served as President of the Arizona Horse Shows Association.

Jim Paul was instrumental in starting the Arizona Reined Cow Horse Association and served as their president. In the early years, Jim, along with John Hoyt, hauled their own cows to the horse shows so cow classes could be offered.  Jim was also present when the decision was made to form the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 1968.  He served as an NRCHA Board member from 1968-1971.  Jim served as the first judge’s monitor at the 1983 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno.  Having judged some of the most prestigious NRCHA and stock horse events, Jim’s judging was always in high demand.  He was a Snaffle Bit Futurity judge four times, judged the World’s Greatest Horseman three times, and the Magnificent 7 twice.  He has also judged the NRCHA Derby, the Hawaii Snaffle Bit Futurity, the High Desert Snaffle Bit Futurity, the Wyoming Snaffle Bit Futurity, the Idaho Snaffle Bit Futurity, and the first All Around Stock Horse Contest in Long Beach, California.  Jim was an approved AQHA Judge for 27 years, judging the AQHYA and AQHA World Shows numerous times.  Jim Paul was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Jim Paul rode and trained some of the early super stars in the Arizona show arena.  AQHA Champions Bull Parker, May Dodger, Smoke Eye, AQHA Champion and AQHA World Champion Poofy Parker, Skeeto, NCHA earner of over $ 37,000, and many others.  In recent years Jim helped train and manage NRCHA Champions Shiners Dulena, Masters Nu Fox and Primos Bob Acre who were ridden and also trained by Dema Paul.

Jim was instrumental in molding the futures of horsemen and World Champions Al Dunning, Cal Cooper, Jimmie Paul, Laurel Walker Denton, Debbie Phalen Cooper, Randy Paul, and Dema Paul to name just a few.  Jim Paul has three sons, Jimmie, Randy and John.  Jim and Dema Paul are still active training horses in Cave Creek, Arizona.  Jim also crafts handmade bits and spurs that are always in high demand with every horseman across the United States.

Jim Paul was inducted to the AzQHA Hall of Fame in 2014.