Prior to the initial J Bar J Classic held in 1990, the event was known as the High Desert Horse Faire, and had mixed success over a five year period.  Beginning in 1990, the Board of Directors of J Bar J Boys Ranch, Inc. agreed to provide the labor and effort required to resurrect the event, and to expand its impact across the Western United States.

Today, the Oregon High Desert Classics is the largest and most prestigious Hunter-Jumper competition in the Northwest, bringing over 500 of the finest horses and most talented riders from the United States and Canada to Bend, Oregon for two weeks in July each year.