The Morgan Horse Blog

Primavera Valdez—A Tribute

This is a love story—a love story of a horse and his people; for in this story, the horse and the people cannot be separated, so closely entwined were they. It is a story about a beautiful golden buckskin, nearly lost to the breed, but saved and loved and treasured so that not only he himself shall live on in the memory of so many, but also his genetic heritage shall live on.

Primavera Valdez was born in 1979, bred by Dick & Phyllis Nelsen. The Nelsens appreciated the old California Morgans, basing their breeding program on this branch of the Western Working Family. Valdez’s pedigree is one of close breeding. His sire, Primavera Vaquero, was the result of breeding two half siblings, both by Ro Mac, together. Ro Mac was by Gay Mac and out of Bessie Ro. The maternal granddam of Valdez’s sire, Gay Berta, was also by Gay Mac and out of a full sister to Bessie Ro. Bessie Ro and her sister Roberta Ro were bred by Roland Hill and were by Querido and out of a Richard Sellman bred Red Oak daughter. The paternal granddam of Primavera Vaquero brings in more of the old Sellman breeding and a concentrated dose of Old Brunk breeding in the mare Jane Abbey who was closely linebred herself to the old foundation stock of J. C. Brunk.

Valdez’s dam, Tia Margarita, brings in more of the Sellman lines as well as some more Brunk, and then some of that valuable Old Midwest blood of Will Rogers. There is also some Brunk behind her coming from the L. U. Sheep Co. of Wyoming; it is this line that brings the golden color. Tia Margarita’s dam is Gay Berta, also found behind Valdez’s sire.

This is a pedigree strong in the blood of Richard Sellman’s ranch horse program. It is also a pedigree with much of the Government breeding too, although the Government horses were those chosen and tested by ranchers for sound using horses. The Brunk and Old Midwest help to add even more typiness and beauty to the mix. And it is a pedigree made for breeding strength and potency, to carry on the heritage of the people who knew what made a good working Morgan.

But in the early 1980’s, it was not the pedigree that drew Bob & Carol Simpson to Valdez. Rather it was something that cannot be defined or put into words; something about the horse himself—a majesty, the heart, the look in his eyes—that changed their direction and their lives. They certainly did not set out to get themselves a Morgan stallion, although they were indeed involved with horses and had been for some time. And if they wanted an easy entry into the Morgan world, this was not the path to be taking, for at the time the golden color was usually met with prejudice and disfavor and his bloodlines were mostly unappreciated. Then to add to the burden, they chose to take him into reining competition which was a new world for Morgans at that time although historically it was not new to Morgans at all but had been forgotten for some decades that Morgans were once treasured ranch and western competition horses. So not only did the Simpsons end up promoting their stallion, but promoting the using Western Morgan.

Valdez came home to the Simpson’s and they built a small band of mares for him. Slowly, other people learned of him and brought to him mares. His get got to an age for use and more people came to appreciate the qualities that Valdez passed to his get. He competed in reining and more people had the chance to meet him and fall under his spell. His get were out on the trails, in the reining arena, in the rodeo arena, wherever good horses were to be found. Carol put together an excellent promotion packet of written material and video and sent it to all who asked. She advertised Valdez regularly in various venues. She believed in her horse and that belief and love always shined through for all to see.

Early on, she was offering semen transport. This involved dedication and in breeding season a near stoppage of everything else in life to get the job done. Through family health problems, through whatever came up, Carol fulfilled her promises. It was not for money, but for love. All who saw Carol and Valdez could see that love between them and the trust and belief each had in the other.

Now, in 2005, the year of his passing, the get of Valdez are spread across the continent. So many of his get have been such excellent using horses that they have not had a chance to breed. Fortunately, some are breeding on, both mares and stallions so that the legacy of Valdez can continue. Over the years, more and more people have come to appreciate not only Valdez himself but his pedigree and heritage so that these people have searched out other Morgans to make careful matings to their Valdez get and grandget.

Valdez is buried now at Bob & Carol’s ranch. But his memory lives on not only for them but to all of those who ever met Valdez and fell under his spell. His memory also lives on for those who never had the chance to meet him in person but who met him through Carol’s love for him and who joined his extended family. Those who have and who are breeding on his get will carry on his legacy of love, wonderful sensible minds and temperaments, excellent gaits and conformation and that something that is indefinable—the heart and soul of a great horse.