In 2001, Kid Clu, one of the greatest halter horses in AQHA
history, passed away. Horses cannot come back from the dead, but thanks to
modern science and a little forward thinking, Kid Clu’s impact on the halter
world has not come to an end. In
what’s being billed as “The Return of Kid Clu,” the public is now able to
purchase frozen semen and breed their mares to this famous stallion that died
at the young age of 13 over 10 years ago.
Kid Clu’s influence on the halter industry is
unparalleled. He is the sire of 85
AQHA World and Reserve World Champions and his get have earned over 16,000 AQHA
points. Known as the “Sire of
Sires,” Kid Clu is the sire of some of the most significant stallions to date: Telusive,
Kids Classic Style, Image of Kid, Touchdown Kid, and Perpetualism just to name
a few. He’s also the sire of
10-time AQHA World Champion, Sheza Perfect Clu, who is arguably the greatest
halter mare in AQHA history.
The concept of using frozen semen was not approved by AQHA
ten years ago but Kid Clu’s owner, Roger Perry of Classic Acres in Ocala, Florida,
had the foresight to collect Kid Clu’s semen in case those rules were ever
changed. In 2003, in part due to the
urging of the Perry’s, AQHA overturned the rules thereby allowing frozen semen.
“I really credit the Perry’s for having the foresight to
freeze Kid Clu’s semen,” explains halter breeder and current owner of the semen,
Jim Snow of Quinlin, Texas. “After
Kid Clu died, the Perry’s knew they were going to transition out of the halter
industry and into the Thoroughbreds.
They moved to Lexington, Kentucky and built Paragon Farms and have had
big sellers and fast runners.”
During this transition, Roger Perry reached out to his good
friend, Jim Snow. “I was the first
one Roger called to see if I wanted to buy the frozen semen,” said Snow. “I couldn’t resist even though it did put
us in debt. Kid Clu has been
allure for us for many years but it was an opportunity I could not pass up.”
Jim, and his wife, Georgia, purchased the majority of the
frozen semen and have bred approximately ten of their own mares a year since
then. Recently, Snow talked to
friend and stallion manager, Doug Tallent, about the idea of offering some remaining
straws to the public. Additionally, Show asked Tallent if he would “stand” Kid Clu
to the public at his breeding facility in North Carolina. According to Snow, Tallent’s immediate
response was “I’m in!”
At the Iowa Breeders Futurity in September, Snow and Tallent
confirmed that there is significant demand for frozen Kid Clu semen. “We
really feel that the timing is right and that there is a need in the market,”
said Snow. “Doug is so good at the
breeding. He’s extremely
conscientious and really good with problem mares. I feel like Kid Clu’s semen
is in very good hands.”
Click here to view Kid Clu’s ad in the November issue of GoMag
