Some mares are remembered because they stood in the spotlight. Others become unforgettable because of the mark they make.
For July, our Mare of the Month is Vitalism, a mare whose name may not be familiar to every casual observer, but whose influence can be found woven through some of the most recognizable modern Quarter Horse bloodlines. Through her daughters, grand-offspring and the generations that followed, Vitalism became part of a family that continues to shape Western Pleasure, all-around and performance breeding programs across North America.
Her story is also a reminder that great horses do not always come from the most obvious places. Vitalism was bred in Lennoxville, Québec, by Cindy Hill, and her pedigree carries with it a meaningful thread of Canadian Quarter Horse history.
This feature looks at the mare behind the influence: her pedigree, her Canadian roots, her producing record and the descendants who continue carrying her maternal line forward.
The Mare Herself
Vitalism, foaled in 1996, is a sorrel mare sired by An Awesome Mister and out of Mint Zippo, a daughter of Zippo Pine Bar. She was bred by Cindy Hill of Lennoxville, Québec, Canada, placing her within a Canadian breeding community that has long produced horses capable of competing well beyond regional borders.
That connection is personal for us at StallionCompare as well – our founder grew up seeing the influence of An Awesome Mister in Canadian programs and has owned and loved her gelding, a grand-son through his dam. Vitalism herself comes from that same world, through the breeding program of Cindy Hill in Lennoxville, Québec. That shared Canadian thread gives this feature a different kind of meaning, because Vitalism is not simply a name buried in a pedigree. She represents a branch of the Quarter Horse industry that many of us in Ontario and Québec knew, admired and competed alongside.
Vitalism’s pedigree reflects a carefully developed combination of proven performance influences, bringing together halter strength, Western Pleasure tradition and generations of established Quarter Horse bloodlines.
| Ancestor | Relationship | Notable distinctions |
|---|---|---|
| An Awesome Mister | Sire | 1989 brown stallion by Mr Conclusion and out of Teero’s Bay; AQHA World and Congress-level performer, and NSBA all-time leading sire. |
| Mint Zippo | Dam | 1987 sorrel mare by Zippo Pine Bar and out of Queen Of The Mint; brought the strong western pleasure influence of the Zippo line into Vitalism’s maternal side. |
| Mr Conclusion | Paternal grandsire | AQHA Hall of Fame stallion, ROM Halter earner, 1986 AQHA World Champion Aged Stallion, and noted as a leading sire of AQHA World Champion halter horses. |
| Teero’s Bay | Paternal granddam | 1973 bay mare by Pute Cee Bonanza and out of Teero 68; contributed depth, mare power, and balance to the paternal side of Vitalism’s pedigree. |
| Zippo Pine Bar | Maternal grandsire | AQHA and NSBA Hall of Fame sire; one of the most influential western pleasure sires, credited with producing more than 1,600 AQHA foals and offspring earning over 50,000 show points. |
| Queen Of The Mint | Maternal granddam | 1981 sorrel mare by Impressive Mint and out of Pila; added the Impressive influence on the bottom side of Vitalism’s pedigree. |
| Impressive | Key repeating foundation influence | Appears through both the Conclusive/Mr Conclusion side and the Impressive Mint/Queen Of The Mint side; AQHA Hall of Fame sire and 1974 World Champion Open Aged Halter Stallion, credited with siring 2,251 AQHA horses. |
| Zippo Pat Bars | Maternal great-grandsire | Sire of Zippo Pine Bar; an important link behind the Zippo family that helped shape western pleasure bloodlines for generations. |
This bloodline reflects a deliberate blend of halter strength and Western Pleasure consistency, combining the Mr Conclusion sire line with the proven performance legacy of Zippo Pine Bar. This balance positioned Vitalism within a foundation recognized for both athletic ability and broodmare reliability.
While Vitalism herself is not defined by a show record, her importance is found in what she produced and in the generations that followed.
A Record That Speaks Through Offspring
| Horse Name | QData Earnings | Sire | Owner | Breeder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Signs Are Good | $289,011.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Joe & Karen Moran | Kristin T Rinkenberger |
| Full Drape | $36,676.00 | No Doubt Im Lazy | Heidi Rasor | Brunker-Gumz Partnership |
| Vitalyzed | $8,692.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Kelly R Forehand | Robert G Menke |
| Vitals Are Good | $8,348.00 | Good N Sultry | James D Parker | Robert G Menke |
| Sultry Good Vitals | $3,255.00 | Good N Sultry | Angila Shook | Robert G Menke |
| Good Vital Vixen | $2,648.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Abra A Sundsbak | Robert G Menke |
| Good N Vital | $2,190.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Katelyn Connolly | Robert G Menke |
| Ironism | $1,618.00 | These Irons Are Hot | Hannah M Searle | Gumz Farms Quarter Horses LLC |
| Good Vital Signs | $1,563.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Masterson Farms LLC | Kristin T Rinkenberger |
| The Angels Envy | $1,258.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | David Shane & Darla Leavell | Avid Shane & Darla Leavell |
| One Fine Vital Sign | $1,087.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Eric Mendrysa | David Shane & Darla Leavell |
| Good Looks Are Vital | $400.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Amy Lynch | Robert G Menke |
| One Good Vital Sign | $304.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Rob Bohnsack | Robert G Menke |
| Southern Sweet Tee | $260.00 | Its A Southern Thing | Patricia Inez Puglisi | Gumz Farms Quarter Horses LLC |
| Vital Signs Are Back | $25.00 | Zippos Mr Good Bar | Marcy Coletti | Robert G Menke |
| Good Vivations | $11.00 | Tigers Invitation | Alysa & John Dinolfo | Robert G Menke |
This record reflects a mare whose value extends beyond one standout offspring. Vitalism produced earners across multiple crosses and sire lines, showing the kind of consistency breeders hope to find in a broodmare.
Where the Line Continues
While Vitalism’s immediate offspring established the foundation of her producing record, her influence continued to develop through the generations that followed. Her maternal line became the starting point for a family recognized for consistency, performance quality and continued relevance within modern Western Pleasure and all-around breeding programs.
At the centre of this progression is the VS, or Vital Signs, family line, carried forward through her most influential daughter, Vital Signs Are Good. Through VSAG, Vitalism’s genetic foundation expanded into a group of horses that continue to represent the qualities associated with this maternal family, including movement, trainability and competitive ability.
| Horse Name | Relationship to Vitalism | Sire | Notable Distinctions |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS Code Red | Grand-offspring | Blazing Hot | Leading Western Pleasure sire; multiple World & Congress Champion producer; major AQHA/NSBA earnings influence |
| VS Code Blue | Grand-offspring | RL Best Of Sudden | NSBA World Champion; AQHA World Champion producer; highly influential multi-discipline sire |
| VS Flatline | Grand-offspring | Lazy Loper | Congress Champion producer; consistent Western Pleasure performance sire |
| The Vital Invitation | Grand-offspring | Invitation Only | Competitive show lineage representative, and strong pedigree connection to Invitation Only legacy with VS movement influence |
| My Vital Valentine | Grand-offspring | RL Best Of Sudden | Sudden AQHA/NSBA performance contributor; modern Western Pleasure consistency and type refinement |
| Invest N Vital Signs | Grand-offspring | Vested Pine | Major Western Pleasure winner; AQHA World Show Reserve-level contributor; ongoing maternal influence in VS program |
| VS Check My Pulse | Grand-offspring | One Hot Krymsun | (Invitation Only line) AQHA all-around competitor; strong Western Pleasure performer; combines VS refinement with Krymsun influence |
| VS Goodride | Great grand-offspring | VS Flatline (Lazy Loper) | Continuation of VS Code Red sire line; emerging performance influence |
Together, these descendants represent the next chapter of Vitalism’s maternal line, carrying forward the qualities that have made the VS family recognizable within AQHA and NSBA competition. Their accomplishments demonstrate how one mare’s contribution can develop beyond an individual produce record and become part of a broader performance family.
The VS line does not stand apart from Vitalism’s story. It is its extension. Each generation builds upon the foundation established before it, refining the traits that continue to define this family within modern Western Pleasure breeding.
The Measure of a Broodmare
For July, we recognize Vitalism as Mare of the Month, a mare whose importance is measured not by personal show-ring accomplishments, but by the quality and consistency of what she produced. From Québec, her influence has reached performance programs across North America, where her maternal line continues to be represented through successful descendants.
At the core of Vitalism’s significance is the strength of her producing record, led by Vital Signs Are Good and further developed through the VS family line. Together, these descendants represent the continuation of a breeding legacy built on proven bloodlines, performance ability and long-term value within the Quarter Horse industry.
Vitalism’s story reflects the role exceptional broodmares play in shaping the future of the breed. Her contribution is not defined by a single achievement, but by the generations of horses that carry forward the qualities established through her pedigree and production.
Each month, we highlight mares whose pedigrees and legacies deserve recognition. Vitalism stands among them as a mare whose impact continues to be seen through the family she helped create.
