Memory Lane Monday: Vital Signs Are Good

In honor of the reader-inspired idea of revisiting the horses who are the backbone of our industry, we’ve established Memory Lane Monday. This week’s horse needs no introduction, but we’ll attempt it anyway!

 

Vitals Signs Are Good, whose legacy includes the VS horses so cherished in today’s show industry, was inducted into the 2019 AQHA Hall of Fame, the highest honor possible for the association.

Her impact has been so outstanding, when we asked our readers in 2025 who their dream ride was, after 175 responses, “Lucy” still came out on top!

Here are the results: EC Question of the Week – Who Is Your Dream Ride? | Equine Chronicle

 

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AQHA’s summary of her achievements as of 2019, upon announcing her induction, is below:

Vital Signs Are Good 

The 2000 red roan mare Vital Signs Are Good was by Zippos Mr Good Bar and out of Vitalism by An Awesome Mister. She was bred by Kristin T. Rinkenberger of Morton, Illinois, and was last owned by Joe and Karen Moran of Laguna Hills, California. She won the AQHA 2-year-old western pleasure world championship in 2002 and continued winning. She earned 13 world championships, eight reserve world championships and eight Superiors. She earned $288,581 before becoming a broodmare. Of her 24 foals, 18 have been performers, including two open world champions, an amateur world champion, two open reserve world champions and the earners of 3,132.5 points. Her offspring have earned $67,561 at AQHA world shows and $374,586 in National Snaffle Bit Association competition. She died January 24, 2017.

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The 2019 tribute to Vital Signs Are Good the day of her passing:

By Brittany Bevis

We’re deeply saddened that we must relay some very sad news to our friends in the industry. The legendary AQHA mare, Vital Signs Are Good, was euthanized today (January 24, 2017) as the result of a septic coffin joint and secondary deep flexor tendon rupture.

Vital Signs Are Good, aka “Lucy,” was the 2000, AQHA mare by Zippos Mr Good Bar and out of Vitalism. During the course of her career, she accumulated numerous World and Congress Champion titles, Superior awards, Championships, Performance Championships, AQHA and NSBA Highpoint titles, and was named the 2007 NSBA Horse of the Year and Leading Dam. Even more impressive, she became the industry standard for the lofty, slow-legged movement and dependable consistency that’s so sought after in the Western Pleasure pen today.

This talented mare won her first World Championship title at the 2002 AQHA World Show in 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure. After being purchased by Kristen Galyean, the pair went on to win Amateur Western Pleasure when Lucy was just three years old. What followed was the accumulation of nine more AQHA World Champion titles and 27 Congress Champion titles in Amateur and Open Western Pleasure and Western Riding.

The Moran family of California purchased Lucy at the 2009 All American Quarter Horse Congress, and she immediately became a member of their family. For the next several years, Lucy partnered with Theresa Moran in youth and amateur classes, and with Jason Martin and Charlie Cole in the open division. “At that time, Theresa was looking for a new horse, and Charlie and Jason put the deal together,” Kelly Moran says. “Really, she was a very talented horse, but more than that, she was the kindest horse you have ever been around.”

During the later years, Lucy served as an outstanding broodmare producing 24 offspring including Invest N Vital Signs, VS Code Red, VS Code Blue, VS Check My Pulse, My Vital Valentine, VS Roll Call, and The Vital Invitation, just to name a few. Her foals have earned 2,341 AQHA points, $369,451 in NSBA earnings, and many World and Reserve World Championships.

Vital Signs Are Good (2000-2017)

• AQHA Points: 3,037.5
• LTE: $313,877.60
• 13 AQHA World Championships
• 8 Reserve AQHA World Championships
• Reserve AQHA World Show Superhorse
• AQHA World Show All Around Amateur
• AQHA/NSBA Leading Dam
•  31 Congress Championships

Theresa and Lucy had an outstanding few years together culminating in their final World Championship title earned as a team at the 2013 AQHA World Show in Amateur Western Riding. “Really, she was already a legend; we just got to enjoy and take care of her for the past eight years,” Kelly says. “She has been enjoying being a horse for the past three years. She lived at the Booth Ranch in California and was taken great care of by Trish Gilson. She spent time with her every day and treated her like a queen. We got to say goodbye on Saturday. It was very tough…”

The Moran family would like to thank Trish and Tracer Gilson, Dr. Troy Ford, Dr. Carter, and Christi Christensen for taking such good care of Lucy during her retirement.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Moran family and all of Lucy’s fans. However, we are confident they will find comfort in knowing that Lucy will forever have a presence in the show pen by way of her numerous talented offspring. “Most definitely. Her legacy is cemented in that way,” Kelly says.

In closing, here are a few parting words from Lucy’s loving owner, Theresa:

“Sometimes in life we are lucky enough to come across something great: great moments, great people, and great horses. I was fortunate enough to own and show one of the greatest horses of all time. Here is to the horse that not only made my dreams a reality, but helped me to realize that there is no goal that is too high to attain. Although there are few words to describe the memories and experiences that Lucy gave to my family and I, unforgettable and irreplaceable will always be the two placed next to her name. I cannot thank Charlie and Jason enough, and most importantly my parents for letting me own the horse of my dreams. Lastly, my endless thanks to Tracer and Trisha Gilson, as well as Dr. Troy Ford, for their endless amount of care and compassion for Lucy over the past few years. To greener pastures and endless peppermints, Rest In Peace sweet Lucy.”

Rest In Peace

Vital Signs Are Good (2000-2017)