Monti N. Sims

Dr. Papp is an equine veterinarian who owns and runs Hillcrest Meadow Equine that is based in Harrisburg, PA where she lives with her life-long Thoroughbred trainer husband, Monti Neal Sims.  Perhaps best known for his and his father’s management and campaigning of the famous race mare, The Very One, Sims is a third generation full-time and full-service horseman and Thoroughbred Trainer. He also has had significant success advising clients on TB auction sales purchases and with pin-hooking endeavors.  Monti is an ethical and dedicated trainer who is currently based out of Penn National Racetrack in Grantville, Pa, along with cross-training and conditioning off of his and his wife’s nearby farm.Monti’s father, also Monti but usually referred to as “Sonny” Sims spent many years of his life, after originally riding as a jump jock, then making a name for himself as a trainer, managing the breeding program at the well-known KY based Spendthrift Farm.The youngest Monti Sims (whom this blurb is about), now almost into his third decade of training, very much resembled and idolized his grandfather growing up, who was also named and referred to as Monti, with regards to his style of riding and close observation and consideration of details regarding all things equine.  In the family’s opinion, the the eldest of the Monti Sims’s was also the luckiest, as he got to spend many of his twilight years keeping the world-famous stallion, Seattle Slew, happy and fit while riding him frequently around the farm throughout the stud’s retirement from racing.Monti Neal Sims also currently sits on and plays an active role in the Board of Directors of the non-profit equine rescue and aftercare non-profit organization, PA Racehorse Rehoming, Rehabilitation & Rescue (PARR).  MNS (his common abbreviation) prides himself most on his ability to shape, train and bring along young horses up to their maximal potential. He also has a special knack working with “quirky” horses that may need a bit more individual attention and understanding in order to progress and evolve their innate talent.   Many who know MNS would agree that his approach to training is bluntly honest and can be likened to more of a European style/approach whenever available facilites make this possible.  Monti’s main focus besides seeking racing success is maintaining the soundness of, both the mind and body, of the horses under his care and preventing problems that, if addressed early enough, can prolong and improve an individual horse’s performance and quality of life.