ZipN’ To Paradise- A Lifetime of Memories

By: Brittany Bevis

Longtime horse enthusiast, Roger Gollehon, recently retired at what he describes as being “three quarters of a century old.” While the experienced horse breeder now has more time for some of his favorite activities, like fishing, he couldn’t stop completely.

“I’m retired now after being in the business for 40 years,” he says. “I still have two broodmares that I raised from my stud, Good Cowboy Margarita. They’re in foal to Heart Stoppin, so I couldn’t totally quit! I’m three quarters of a century old, but the babies keep me going.”

Recently, Roger received a letter in the mail informing him that his former stallion, Zip’N To Paradise, is being inducted into the Appaloosa Horse Club Hall of Fame, a notable accomplishment that brings back a lifetime of memories.

Roger purchased “Paradise” when he was two years old, in 1991, and sold him to Cheryl Pozzi when he was 19, in 2008, where he remained, “living the good life,” until his passing. “I knew she would give him a very good home,” Roger says.

“I first saw Paradise when I went to do a stall check at 10 PM at the 1991 Appaloosa Nationals in Oklahoma City. A longtime friend, Sandy Campbell, had been telling me about her father, Hadley, having a really nice, two-year-old that he was doing Trail and Western Pleasure with. When I saw him, I couldn’t stop thinking about how good he was, so I decided I needed to figure out a way to take him home.”

“One of the things that kept me alive in the horse business was my ability to pick a horse that I could make money with. I took him home and got him ready for some fall shows.”

Paradise was a striking, chestnut stallion by Zippo Pine Bar (AQHA) and out of Fly To Paradise (ApHC). He was born in Paradise, TX, hence his name. Roger is particularly proud of the fact that Paradise’s second dam was Leon San, breeding that came directly from the famous King Ranch.

“He had great cadence, a soft way of moving, trainability, and the charisma that a sire should have to be a good breeding horse. Paradise really stamped his babies with the look!”

“I remember when he bent a shoe going into the ring at a major show in Columbus, Ohio. It was like the Congress for Appaloosas. He still placed fourth of 50 or so with Danny Henson riding him. Then, he won the  Indiana All Breed NSBA Two-Year-Old class, which was a pretty big coup. The next year, we started breeding mares to him.”

As a three and four-year-old breeding stallion, Paradise put out two foal crops that won 18 major titles, and they were out of mares that hadn’t produced champions before. “That says a lot. It put him on the map as a breeding horse,” Roger says.

“His first foal was named Harrison Paradise after the famous farrier, Craig Harrison. He helped me a lot with Paradise’s shoeing. Craig is in charge of the farriers at the Quarter Horse Congress. Harrison Paradise went on to be a two-time Reserve World Champion.”

Paradise’s first two-year-olds, in 1995, were first and fifth at the ApHC Nationals in Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure. “All the trainers were looking for them by then. They were a hot item to sell. Further proof of his ability to produce became quite apparent at the 2003 ApHC World Show in Ft Worth. In the Junior Western Pleasure class, his get were first, second, third, and seventh. What a day to remember! That get win record has never been broken in any breed!”

During the course of his career, Paradise sired 253 registered foals. Of that total there are 112 performance point earners, 75 Halter point earners, 59 ROM earners, 29 bronze medallions earners, and 2 silver medallion earners. Some of those foals include Ticket ToParadise, Lady Paradise, Paradise Moon, and Call Me N Paradis.

Roger is pleased that Paradise’s impact on the Appaloosa industry and Western Pleasure industry, in general, is still ongoing. Although he didn’t produce a stallion that could carry on his legacy, his mares have produced many World, National, and NSBA Champions.

Congratulations to Roger, Cheryl, Paradise, and his many fans following this notable achievement.

If you have a story to share, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com.