The Paint Horse Journal has signed on as a Platinum Sponsor of the inaugural Lynn Simons Memorial Halter Futurity, which takes place in conjunction with the World Wide Paint Horse Congress July 30–August 3 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The futurity was created in the memory of industry icon Lynn Simons, who died in a car accident in December 2005. The patriarch of Simons Show Horses in Aubrey, Texas, Lynn was passionate about Paint halter horses and was responsible for countless champions. Jennifer Sheriff and Tim Finkenbinder—well-known halter industry supporters—recently approached the Simons family with the idea for a yearling halter futurity in Lynn’s honor.
“If it wouldn’t have been for Jennifer and Tim, I’m not sure we’d be doing this. I think it’s an amazing deal, and the halter industry can definitely benefit from more classes with additional hype,” Jana Simons said. “My dad gave his life to the halter horse industry—he loved it. It’s one of those things you look back and think, ‘He would really like this.’ He would definitely have made sure he had a horse for it.”
Open to both Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred horses, the inaugural event features a trio of Non-Pro yearling classes—mares, stallions and geldings—and a Champion of Champions Open Paint Horse Yearling event, with payouts in each class. The Champion of Champions class will invite the first- and second-place winners from Open yearling mares, gelding and stallions classes (Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred) to compete for the overall title of Champion of Champions Paint Horse Yearling.
Those interested in sponsoring the Lynn Simons Memorial Halter Futurity are encouraged to contact the Simons family—Andrea, Sara or Jana—or Jennifer Sheriff by May 1. More information is available on the Simons Show Horses website or on Facebook.