Jimmie Randals of Montoya, New Mexico, was a classic rancher and horseman, and raised some of the best using horses that the industry had seen. His foundation stallion, Poco Dell, began the rancher’s horse legacy.
“I bought Poco Dell in 1952 at one of E. Paul Waggoner’s sales in Fort Worth,” Randals said. “My primary idea was to buy me a stallion, get about five good mares and just get into the Quarter Horse business in a small way… I was real fortunate in that Poco Dell turned out to be a sure ‘nuff breeding horse. And, before long, with the success I have been having with him, I got into (the Quarter Horse business) in a big way.”
Poco Dell, a son of Poco Bueno, was a 2-year-old when Randals purchased him. Randals purchased the colt because of his popular breeding, disposition, cow sense, conformation and ability.
Poco Dell was shown in halter and cutting classes, earning his AQHA Championship in 1957. The horse was then retired to stud at the Randals Ranch, where he spent the rest of his days. He sired 474 foals – including 18 AQHA Champions – for Randals and outside mare owners.
Inside the arena, Randals’ first love was cutting. He served as president of the National Cutting Horse Association from 1973 to 1975 and frequently ran horses through NCHA-event sales. The Randals Ranch-bred Doctor Montoya set the record for the highest price paid for a yearling at a NCHA sale. The 1977 Doc Bar son out of Miss Impressive by Two Eyed Jack brought $150,000.
For AQHA, Randals served as a director from the state of New Mexico. He was a member of the show and contest committee from 1960-68, the judges committee from 1969-74, and the Hall of Fame selection committee in 1995 and 1996.
Randals was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1998, and died in 2010.
Biography updated as of December 2010.