Longtime Paint Horse breeder Larry Sheriff of Sheffield, Iowa, was recently honored by for his longstanding commitment to the halter industry with an induction into the World Conformation Horse Association Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place during the November 2014 WCHA banquet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Breeding Paint Horses since the 1960s, Larry’s first was Sheriff’s Star, a 1965 bay tobiano mare by Bill Cresson (QH) and out of Bar Gal, an unregistered Paint mare. The mare launched Larry and his wife, Nancy, into APHA and the world of showing.
A noted breeder, Larry’s Sheriff Stock Farm soon become synonymous with quality Paint Horses, famous for their good conformation, great temperament and cherry-and-white color. Several notable stallion have been part of the program as well, including Apache Norfleet, Chief’s Norfleet, Mr Norfleet and Red Sonny Dee (QH). By Larry’s records, the farm has bred, raised, shown or sold more than 150 world and reserve world champions in the last 50 years.
“Larry was honored to be selected for the WCHA Hall of Fame Class of 2014,” said daughter Jennifer, who is carrying on Larry’s legacy at Sheriff Stock Farms. “He is proud to be in a class of legendary horsemen that have helped the industry moving forward. Larry thanked the Hall of Fame committee and the WCHA for rewarding his efforts for breeding, raising and showing halter horses and, most of all, making it a family business.”
Larry’s contribution to the Paint Horse industry is featured in the January 2015 Paint Horse Journal. To order a copy of this issue or to subscribe to the Paint Horse Journal, visit phj.apha.com.
Others inducted into the WCHA Hall of Fame include George Tyler, former husband of APHA Founder Rebecca Tyler Lockhart; Jerry Vawter; and Quarter Horses Te N Te and Emotions.
The World Conformation Horse Hall of Fame is the repository of the conformation segment history of the equine industry. Primarily representing stock horse breeds, inclusion in the Hall of Fame is the highest honor the World Conformation Horse Association can bestow.
“We congratulate these new members of the Hall of Fame and thank them for their work in improving our sector of the equine industry,” WCHA President Tim Finkenbinder said.
For more information about WCHA, visit conformationhorse.com.
[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.