Leaders Of The Times: December Calendar Feature
WH York and Crimson Farms, LLC by Colleen Scott
WH York (Marwan Al Shaqab x WH Moneca Ren)
When one goes looking for a good breeding and halter show ring prospect, it is natural to rely on the keen eye and experience of long-time halter trainers such as Rich Simpkins. But although Simpkins has routinely uncovered youngsters that have gone on to fame, in the case of WH York (Marwan Al Shaqab x WH Moneca Ren), he’s giving all the credit to Steve Mackrell, who with his wife, Susanne, owns Crimson Farms in Buellton, Calif. “We were looking at horses at Wendell Hansen’s,” Simpkins recalls, “and Steve had wandered off and found a colt in another part of the barn. He was quite smitten
162 | AR ABIAN HORSE TIMES
with him and asked to see him out of his stall—that’s how we ended up with WH York.” The Mackrells and Simpkins saw potential in the grey colt who was just a yearling when they spotted him in the early summer of 2007. “Even then, he was incredibly charismatic,” says Simpkins. “He was very bold and had great, high tail carriage and an air about him that made you watch him.” Even though the youngster was in a gangly stage, they could see the characteristics which had made his sire, Marwan Al Shaqab, famous—a beautiful neck, sculpted features and incredible Arabian type. They