Barbara Boothe: Wild Turkey Farm, Horse Breeding and the Ellison Family

Barbara Boothe, also known as Barbara Ellison, is a horse breeder who founded Wild Turkey Farm in 1989. She was once married to Oracle founder Larry Ellison. Their children, David and Megan, went on to work in film. Barbara built a life in the horse world and won a major owner award in 2020.

Her name comes up when people read about the Ellison family. Yet her horse farm has its own long past. It grew from a small place in California to a large site in Oregon, with a team that breeds and trains sport horses.

In this article, you’ll learn how Barbara got her start, what the farm does, why the move to Oregon mattered, and how she earned praise from the horse world.

A Love of Horses Came First

Barbara grew up in Oregon. As a girl, she loved horses but could not keep one at home. She saved money to ride on family trips. Later, she found ways to ride horses owned by other people.

In a 2008 interview with The Chronicle of the Horse, she recalled work on trail rides and lessons she took as a child. Those chances meant a lot to her. They gave her time with horses when her family could not pay for a horse of her own.

She kept riding as she grew older. School and adult life led to breaks, but the wish to ride did not fade. In the 1980s, she took lessons again. One lesson a week grew into far more time in the saddle.

That path matters because her later farm did not begin as a quick way to make a name. It grew out of years spent learning how horses move, act and need care.

The First Farm in California

Barbara set up Wild Turkey Farm in 1989 in Woodside, California. The name came from Wild Turkey Lane, the road where the family lived. At first, the farm was small. It was not the large horse center that came later.

She bought a horse named Wizard, a stallion she liked for his skill as a jumper. That choice helped start her work with breeding. She began to learn how to plan for horses that might do well in sport.

The first steps were not all part of a grand plan. Barbara later said she had to learn as she went. A farm needs horses, land, care and people with skill. Each new horse brings more work and more cost.

Over time, she added mares and stallions. In 1996, she bought Liocalyon, a horse the farm later named as a key part of its growth. She also saw that the first site had limits. The herd was growing, and the work could no longer fit well on a small piece of land.

What Wild Turkey Farm Breeds

Wild Turkey Farm works with warmblood sport horses. These horses are bred with goals such as jumping and good movement in mind. The farm has been known in hunter and jumper sport, where horses and riders train for set tasks.

Breeding is a long process. A foal needs time to grow before it can start hard work. The people who raise it must think about health, care, training and how the horse acts. A good start may help the horse learn new tasks as it gets older.

A breeding farm is not the same as a riding school. It may have young horses, mares, stallions and horses that are ready to show. Each group needs its own plan. A mare with a foal does not have the same needs as a trained jumper.

The farm’s team page names Barbara as its owner. It also notes her hands-on role in planning the farm and working with young horses. That is a clearer view of her work than a list of famous people in her family.

Why the Farm Moved to Oregon

Woodside had been a good place to start. But it was not large enough for all the horses and tasks that came with growth. Some horses had to be kept away from the main site. That meant more travel and more work.

In 2001, Barbara found a large piece of land near Wilsonville, Oregon. It had been used for hazelnut trees. She saw a chance to build a horse farm with more space for barns, fields and training.

The new land also let her plan for each stage of a horse’s life. Young horses need room to grow. Show horses need safe places to train. Older horses still need care when they no longer compete.

The move was not just a change of address. It was a chance to set up the whole farm around the needs of its horses and staff. The work took time and a large amount of planning.

The Team Behind the Horses

A farm of that size cannot be run by one person. It takes people who know how to train, feed and care for horses. Wild Turkey Farm names Kelli Johnston as a longtime trainer and equine manager.

Riders have also been key to the program. Mandy Porter has shown horses linked to the farm. The riders do their part in the ring, while the farm team does its work before and after each event.

Barbara has given credit to the people who helped her build the program. That includes those who care for young horses and those who help them learn new skills. The work can take years before a horse reaches a major show.

It is easy to see a rider and horse win a prize. It is harder to see all the daily care behind that moment. A breeding farm is built on those small jobs, done well and done often.

An Award for Long-Term Work

In 2020, Barbara received the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award. The honor came from the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association. It marked her long work as an owner in horse sport.

The farm’s award notice names Barbara Boothe Ellison and shares her thanks to the team. She gave credit to riders, trainers, staff and people who had bought horses from the farm.

The award is not the same as winning one horse show. It looks at a longer record of support for the sport. That can mean raising horses, backing riders and giving a team the tools it needs.

It also shows why Barbara’s work should not be seen as just a hobby. She had spent decades building a program. The honor came from people who knew the horse world and the work that goes into it.

Barbara Boothe and Larry Ellison

Barbara was married to Larry Ellison in the 1980s. He helped build Oracle, a major software firm. They had two children, David and Megan, and their marriage ended in divorce.

That family link is why many people first search for Barbara. Larry’s work drew great fame in tech. Later, David and Megan drew fame in film. Their names have often been in the news, but each built a career in a different field.

Barbara’s path was in horses. It did not depend on working for Oracle or a film studio. Her own public record points to land, breeding, training and years of work with the farm team.

It helps to keep these careers apart. Larry’s business record is his. The film work of David and Megan belongs to them. Barbara’s horse farm and award belong to her.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who Is Barbara Boothe?

Barbara Boothe, also known as Barbara Ellison, founded Wild Turkey Farm in 1989. She is a horse breeder, Larry Ellison’s former wife and the mother of David and Megan Ellison.

What Does Wild Turkey Farm Do?

It breeds and trains sport horses, with a focus on horses used in hunter and jumper events. The farm began in California and later grew in Oregon.

When Did Barbara Boothe Marry Larry Ellison?

They married in 1983 and divorced in the 1980s. They have two children, David and Megan.

What Award Did Barbara Boothe Receive?

She received the Mrs. A.C. Randolph Owners Legacy Award in 2020 for her long work as a horse owner and her support for the sport.

Is Barbara Boothe the Same Person as Barbara Ellison?

Yes. The farm and its award notice use the name Barbara Ellison or Barbara Boothe Ellison. They refer to the founder of Wild Turkey Farm.

Final Thoughts

Barbara Boothe is linked to a family known in tech and film, but her own work has a clear place in horse sport. She took a love from childhood and turned it into a farm that needed years of care and skill. The 2020 award marked that long effort. It also gave credit to the people and horses who helped make it real.

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