December 1, 2007

American Paint Horse Zippos Sensation was recently added to the National Snaffle Bit Association's prestigious Hall of Fame - the first Paint Horse to be accorded this honour. The NSBA, which promotes the pleasure horse, includes elite equines that have had significant impact on the industry through their breeding or show qualifications.

"We were excited when we learned about Zippo being inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Andrea Simons of Simons Show Horses, LLC in Aubrey, Texas, who co-owns the operation with daughters Sara and Jana.

"It is an honour for not only us, but also for the Paint Horse industry. Of course, as his owner, I think he is extra-special - he and his colts have opened the door to the pleasure horse industry. Horses like Zippos Sensation have made it possible for all Paints to be on an equal playing field with Quarter Horses in the pleasure horse arena."

Sired by Zippo Pine Bar (AQHA) and out of Satin N Lace, the 14-year-old sorrel overo stallion is the American Paint Horse Association' s (APHA) leading sire of performance winners and point-earning performance horses. The stallion began passing on his winning traits early, with his first get born when he was a 3-year old. From that first crop came APHA World Champion Brightly Zippo - a sorrel overo gelding out of Morning Whispers that excelled in Western pleasure. Brightly Zippo is still showing today, recently winning a Reserve World Championship in 2007 with Youth exhibitor Laurel Hanlon of Elizabeth, Colo., aboard.

To date, Zippo' s foals have earned 75 world and reserve championship titles, as well as having placed on APHA' s Honor Roll. In addition, they have made him a six-time leading sire of money-earning foals through the association' s Breeders Trust program. In 2006, 85 of his offspring earned a total of $88,941.94 in added money through the incentive. "We are very proud of what Zippo has accomplished for us this far, and hope to continue to produce even better top-quality foals in the future," said Simons.