The little colt had presence. At just 2 weeks of age, Goer caught Tom Simmons’ attention. Tom, of Herald, California, saw Goer for the first time just weeks after the colt’s April 13, 1973, birthday. Tom wanted the colt for his new breeding program, so he borrowed money and bought Miss Bar Heels and her Go Bay Go son from Ron and Dell Kavanagh. As a condition of the sale, Tom agreed to actively promote and show Goer.
The colt made his show debut by winning the Denver Stock Show yearling class. He went on to win the Southwestern International, the California State Fair and the Grand National Livestock Show. Goer continued winning for the next two years, and in 1976 he claimed the National championship.
Tom retained part ownership in Goer throughout the stallion’s life, but sold half interest to Dick and Dorothy Kennedy of Tracy, California. Jim Nylund of Englewood, Colorado, later replaced Dick in the partnership.
In 1986 a breeding accident almost ended Goer’s life. The stallion slightly reared while teasing a mare, bumping his upper leg on a feeder. The impact created a 5-inch-long fracture in his radius bone. After months of intensive care and stall rest, Goer beat the 50-percent odds against his recovery and returned to the breeding shed healthy and sound in 1987.
Goer sired 723 foals during his lifetime. His get excelled in halter and performance, and many served as youth mounts. In the halter pen, 262 of Goer’s offspring earned almost 8,000 points and 23 halter superior event titles. Eighty-eight earned a total 1,840 performance points and one performance superior event title. All together, Goer’s get won 197 registers of merit, 53 bronze medallions, two silver medallions, 11 superior achievement certificates, nine club championships and three versatility championships.
Goer moved to O’Leary Farms in Illinois for the 1992, 1993 and 1994 breeding seasons. He died there of natural causes on August 23, 1994.
