Zippo Pine Bar. The name is well known among horse people, and even
among people who don't have anything to do with horses.
The stallion has become a legend in the Quarter Horse industry. He has
been the most outstanding sire that anyone can remember. He bred
almost right up to his death this year at age 29. Born in 1969, the
young colt even then had a style, a gentleness about him that drew people
to him. He did well in the show ring, and was an AQHA champion as a 3-year-old.
His quiet personality was uncharacteristic of most stallions. His owner
early on, Norman Reynolds, remarked that it wasn't unusual for him to take
Zippo out to check the cattle, or ride him bareback with just a halter
to bring the mares in from pasture. And he also allowed visitors to hop
up on the stallion bareback and trot around, he so trusted the stallion's
disposition.
As time passed, word began to spread around about this stallion. And
he became more and more in demand. One of his most outstanding offspring
is Zip's Chocolate Chip, who did extremely well in the show ring, and has
gone on to be a superior stallion standing next to his sire for several years.
In 1985, at the age of 16, Zippo was sold to Bob and Ann Perry, sight unseen.
At the time, they said, they thought it would have been great to have had even
3 or 4 breeding seasons left of the stallion. It turned out to that he bred
for 12 more seasons!
As the years passed, Zippo had an unbelievable impact on the Quarter Horse
industry. His offspring were fantastic in the show ring, and went on to
be good sires and brooders. His name, or part of it, can be found through
hundreds of horses. His sons, daughters, grandsons and daughters, and on and on.
Zippo has become a house-hold word in many homes.
I myself am not in the breeding industry. I don't have any of his offspring,
though I crave one. I never saw him. I never had any direct contact to him.
I have never even come close enough to have seen any of his offspring that I know
of.
So why have I added this? Well, as the years have gone by, I've read about him,
I've read his life story through articles in magazines.
I've tried to keep up with his breeding performance, his career. And through it all,
he somehow crept into my heart. This gentle giant with a heart of gold, a record unsurpassed,
and outstanding beauty won me over. I feel proud to have been alive in a time that such a horse was.
And you can bet that I'll tell my children, as they are learning to work horses and train, about this horse.
And I'll try to have one of his offspring for them as well. So that they may experience it, even in part.
In my opinion, he truly deserves the right to be called one of the greatest horses that has ever lived.
When I learned of his death, first shock hit, then the pain that comes with loss.
I cried. Some may call it foolish of me, but I believe that the world has lost much by losing him.
But then, they will never really lose him. Through all of his offspring, he will live on.
In our hearts, too, he will always live. For as long as someone, somewhere remembers,
he will never really be gone.
Sympathy to Bob and Ann Perry, and to all of the ones who have worked with Zippo
and grown to love him.
Zippo, you're a legend of greatness. We miss you and love you.
