Simons Show Horses Comments on Closing Breeding Portion of Business With Complete Dispersal
By: Brittany Bevis
After four decades in the business, Simons Show Horses recently made the decision to close the breeding portion of their operation in order to refocus efforts on their training program. Their upcoming complete dispersal sale, July 12-15, will give the public a unique opportunity to purchase a piece of a family legacy that has influenced, not only the Paint Horse breed, but the entire horse industry as a whole.
“Lynn and I got married in 1977 and, that first year, we stood Jetalito,” Andrea Simons says. “Prior to that, my parents and I had a few studs in Florida, so I’m looking at almost forty plus years of having done this.”
Andrea Simons with the late, great Zippos Sensation
Established in 1977 by newlyweds, Lynn and Andrea Simons, Simons Show Horses sought to cultivate a breeding operation with bloodlines that were hand-picked from some of the best stallions and mares the industry had to offer. The family has stood stallions like Jetalito, First Class, and Hot Scotch Man, but the program’s crowning glory came in 1993 with a colorful colt named Zippos Sensation. The 1993 APHA stallion by Zippo Pine Bar and out of Satin N Lace sired his first foal crop in 1998. Over the past 20 years, Zippo rose through the APHA performance ranks dominating nearly every category to become the most recognizable and decorated stallion in Paint Horse history. He was the APHA Leading Breeders’ Trust Sire for 15 consecutive years, the only Paint Horse to be inducted into the NSBA Hall of Fame, and an Equi-Stat Million Dollar Sire. At the time of his death in 2016, at the age of 23, he had sired 956 registered foals- 469 with show records, 170 World Champions, and 162 Reserve World Champions, a number that has continued to rise, posthumously.
READ The Loss of a Legend- Remembering Zippos Sensation (1993-2016)
The decision to shutter the breeding portion of their business comes as Simons Show Horses seeks to reassess their vision for the future with a newfound focus on training, showing, and judging. “I’m optimistic that our dispersal will preserve our legacy,” Andrea says. “Losing Lynn was tremendously difficult. It was hard to carry on without him. Then, we lost Zippo. The years since have given us time to evaluate the pace at which we’re raising foals and promoting stallions. People might not realize that, along with managing a full barn of client horses, we also own a rather large herd. So, while we plan to remain totally involved in the horse industry in the future, it’s just time to close the breeding operation. The only considerable change to our operation, that will result from the sale, is that we will no longer be standing stallions and raising dozens of foals. Sara and RJ have such a successful training operation here at the ranch, and they plan to continue to expand their business into AQHA and ApHC as well as APHA events. After 40 plus years, I feel fortunate to have had such immense success in the horse industry, and I’m excited for the future. I hope to judge more shows; which, until now, has been limited during breeding and foaling season.”
“I’ve gotten so many positive messages from people about our family and the impact we’ve had on the industry. I’m humbled to read everyone’s kind words. I’m proud to have raised my family on the backs of these horses, overcome the loss of my husband, and made a wonderful life in this business. I want my kids to be able to continue the foundation that Lynn and I established.”
The decision to offer their stallions, broodmares, and foals in an online auction has to do with both convenience for buyers and the timing of major summer events. “We recognize how busy everyone is, so we felt that offering these horses in an online sale would be convenient for buyers, giving people an opportunity to purchase, regardless of their ability to come to Texas. People coming into town for the summer events, like the APHA Youth World and Appaloosa World Show, are welcome to come and look at the horses.”
The upcoming auction, which will be conducted by USAHorseAuctions.com will include the Simons’ two stallions, Original Cowboy and Havin A Record Year. The sale will primarily consist of young horses, sired by Zippos Sensation, Original Cowboy, and Havin A Record Year, including weanlings, yearlings, and 2-year-olds, totaling 40-50 head of horses. While many of the prospects offered are the result of embryo transfers out of show mares, the sale will also feature many proven broodmares.
Original Cowboy
Original Cowboy is the 2010 seal brown APHA/AQHA multiple World Champion sire by Lazy Loper and out of Good Tobe An Asset (Investment Asset X Dee Dee Did). “We raised Original Cowboy and he has been central to our breeding program for the past few years. We will continue to promote his offspring for years to come. He’s been a dream come true, especially after losing Zippo. He has so much personality, and his progeny are talented and very trainable.”
Havin A Record Year
Havin A Record Year is a 2014 red roan overo stallion by Zippos Sensation and out of Hotroddin Gucci (Zippos Mr Goodbar X Jet Set Gucci). This up and coming sire receives some pretty high praise from Simons. “He’s wonderful, and I just love him, but we haven’t been able to promote him like Zippo. With having so many client horses to show, it can be difficult to find the opportunity to show your own horses. He’s amazing and really has the ability, pedigree, and color to be a strong sire like his father. I hope to be able to breed to him in the future.”
“We’re hoping the stallions will go to people who will carry on our legacy, and theirs. I’m excited to see the results of this sale, because there is so much quality in it. It’s a lifetime of breeding, of trying to get the crosses right. I get so much joy out of seeing horses that we’ve raised go on to have successful careers.”
The Simons Show Horses Complete Dispersal Sale will take place July 12-15 with online bidding to open on Thursday and close on Sunday. A complete sale catalog will be released after June 15th. Stay tuned to EquineChronicle.com for more information.
