All You Need is Luv

Cooper Evans of Star Performance Horses and Broken S Ranch carries on the legacy of Lazy Luvah.

By Delores Kuhlwein

“It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations.” – Christine Gregoire.

Anyone who has observed trainer Cooper Evans and partner Jodi Richard with their son, Smith, can plainly see the importance of legacy and horsemanship they impart to the young man.

So when Cooper was approached about the opportunity to add Lazy Luvah to his stallion lineup and into his more than capable hands, he knew it was a chance to continue the sire’s impact on the industry he loves.

The Superstar Sire

The World Champion and World Champion producing 2011 bay roan overo 15.2hh APHA stallion by Lazy Loper and out of Luv Me Good already has a huge following, thanks to his athleticism and his uncanny ability to pass his multitude of desirable characteristics to his offspring.

In addition, his owner of 13 years, Kerry Hunter of Topline Breeding in St. John, Florida, has provided incredible support to mare owners via Shannon Yeaton, Stallion Manager and “Mom” for the last for four years.

“His babies do anything, from Hunter Under Saddle to Western Riding and Western Pleasure,” Shannon reveals. Their structure in the halter lends itself to performance in the riding events, she says, which in part explains his progeny record as of September 2024, with 139 foals registered and an impressive total of 61 with show records.

Lazy’s disposition, which he passes to his offspring, has also become legendary – a trait that has made his foals into successful horses for DIY amateurs and trainers alike.

“There are truly not many stallions who can breed and show at the same time, but I’d haul him to the facility to collect him and come back, and he really never raised an eyebrow about it,” says Shannon. “Nothing really rattles him; he’s even keeled and kind and finding that in breeding stallion is few and far between.  I’ve roped a cow off my own show mare, Lucky In Luv, when she was four, and that alone attests to their mind as far as what they’re capable of doing.”

Carrying the Torch

APHA friends who are familiar with Cooper and his success have seen him with Lazy Luvah’s babies, including LL Cool N Lazy, aka “George,” who is out of My Legs R Sensational.  So Cooper was already a fan, he explains, and when he was approached about ownership, he felt very blessed.

“I kind of have a busy life and have been involved in cutting for the past year, so when Shannon Watters approached me about this, I explored the idea, and everyone made this so easy – Shannon Watters, Topline Breeding, and Shannon Yeaton – they encouraged my partner, Jodi, and I to take this step and I’m very thankful. It’s an exciting shift.”

Cooper offers a wealth of experience as manager of stallions such as VS Total Heartthrob, Lopealicious, Pleasure Power, and Lope Factor during his 14 years as owner and trainer at Star Performance Horses. “I’ve always been really intrigued by stallion promotion and showing,” he explains.  Long ago, however, he gained an understanding of the importance of what a horseman produces, and how it reflects upon the industry and himself, thanks to his mentors.

Cooper’s family of horsemen also owned champion stallions, and “I worked for Highpoint Performance Horses, Simons Show Horses, and Elite Show Horses at the point we had The Big Sensation. I always found mentors who helped foster that foundation,” Cooper says.  “The creation and the possibility and the potential gives us so much more than simply buying the finished product.”

His father’s cattle ranch also often provided the backdrop for Cooper preparing his show horses by using them to bring steers up the return alley on the weekend.  Those experiences naturally led to his vision of influencing a stale industry by bringing in new blood and new crosses for Lazy, such as Smart Little Lena bloodlines for ranch horses, and show lines for longe line and show babies.

The Future for Lazy

Fans of Lazy Luvah will be able to see him at the upcoming APHA Western National Championship at South Point with Cooper in Western Riding and Ranch classes, and they can look forward to a meet and greet there in Las Vegas (stay tuned for the announcement of date and time).

“He will be standing out of a facility here in Utah, Elwood Equine, but he’s going to live with me,” says Cooper. “I plan to keep him in show shape, and we’ll also be at Copper Country, followed by Zone 2 next spring, and then he’ll come back to the breeding shed.  We want to people to be able to breed as late as possible.”

Lazy Luvah, his son, LL Cool N Lazy, and Cooper will make an appearance at APHA World and Pinto World next year, too, to showcase their lead changing talent.

“George is a phenomenal lead changer like his dad, and my goal is to win Western Riding with both next year,” says Cooper, who is looking forward to expanding Lazy’s ranch repertoire. “Lazy works really well for me because he’s had a really good start to his ranch career; it’s so easy for him, and he enjoys it so much. It’s so organic, and you can make a lot of horses very happy if you allow them to move more freely. Lazy has bionic legs no matter what he’s doing – he has that frame, he has that work ethic, so this is almost a reward for him having such a good show career in the past because he loves to change leads and be-bop around.”

As Cooper crosses back and forth between the ranch and the show world, he laughs that he will 1000 percent going to be taking Shannon up on her offer to help make smooth transitions for mare owners. “I’m his new dad, and she’s always going to be his mom, and she has visitation rights,” he says.  “She has done a phenomenal job of breeding relations, and really personalized Lazy.  She has made these amazing connections, and she has such a cool relationship with those breeders.”

As they navigate the change, Shannon says she’ll be able to liaison with Cooper if mare owners choose to use her as a resource, and she’ll rely on skills she’s learned when other stallions she has managed have changed hands to ease their stress. “Cooper knows I love this stallion as much as he does, and that’s a testament to the stallion.”

A Scenic Impulse

Cooper went to Texas to spend a week with Shannon to learn Lazy, and also to work with Kollin Fischer, who has been helping him with some of his pleasure horses. “I knew I needed to get Lazy a couple more girlfriends, so I went to Christensen Show Horses to look at a couple of daughters of A Scenic Impulse, and I came home with a couple of broodmares, and with A Scenic Impulse,” he says.

The 2002 APHA sorrel overo stallion, aka “Lloyd” or “Scenic” is by A Danson Impulse and out of Ima Scenic Pinebar, and he boasts a remarkable record as a renowned sire of multiple World, Reserve World, and Reichert Celebration Champions.

“He still looks phenomenal and has great motility.  I’ve been reaching out to others about breeding success with a senior stallion, and everyone had amazing things to say about semen quality and getting mares in foal,” says Cooper, who will have five stallions next year:

♦ Lazy Luvah

♦ A Scenic Impulse

♦ VS Total Heartthrob (co-owned with Candice Monsen)

♦ Infinite Power (owned by Christine Heathman)

♦ Vow To Be Sensational (owned by Anne Cornell Murray)

“All are five really amazing Paint stallions, which I’m very excited about,” explains Cooper. “I really do love and want to promote APHA stallions, and I’ve been able to come full circle with stallions I’ve managed and known.”

As Cooper, Jodi, and Smith move forward as an indelible part of the APHA industry’s legacy, everyone is looking forward to seeing their journey – and a video we hear is coming in which Smith is brushing Lazy Luvah’s forelock (Smith says his whole name when he speaks of him) out of his eyes asking if he likes it brushed that way.

—————-

For breeding information on any of the five stallions at Broken S Ranch, contact Cooper:

Cooper Evans

307.272.7420

Coop241@gmail.com