PG . 20
AQHA HISTORY
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK BACK ON THE HISTORY OF THE
GREGORY PAUL LOUGHER
1915 – 1986
1997
HALL OF
FAME INDUCTEE
The Australian Quarter Horse Association honours Gregory Lougher with induction into the Hall of Fame .
Greg Lougher was born in California . A keen
athlete , he won the San Francisco 100 metre Swimming Championship and was the first intercollegiate rodeo champion riding for the University of California at Davis where he was studying to become a vet .
Before going to Davis , Greg spent a few years running wild horses , breaking them in and selling them ; driving the big teams of horses making hay and competing at Rodeos to make enough money to go to College . His studies were interrupted when he was called up to serve in the Army during World War II . He was an instructor in horseshoeing , riding and shooting . He was first out of 5,000 men in marksmanship . He was stationed in China , India and Burma with the U . S . Cavalry and the mule regiment where he was assigned to Merrills Marauders . They had to pack guns and ammunition through swamps , mined jungles and parts of the Himalayas . Greg had to keep the mules on their feet and he was able to build a foot with packing , Stockholm tar and a makeshift shoe when necessary . His brief veterinarian training and his experience in Asia just added to his skills as a horseman .
After the War , Greg started training horses professionally . He started with Thoroughbreds , and then showed and trained hunters , jumpers , American Saddlebreds and
Tennessee Walkers . He schooled polo ponies , drove trotters and showed and trained California Bridle horses and was one of the first cutting horse trainers in California . Greg was said to be the best Hackamore reinsman of his time and his skill with the hackamore endeared him to Luis Ortega , the world ’ s foremost rawhide craftsman , who showed Greg some of his secrets . Greg made many hackamores with a feel that only someone with his touch could do . His work is still respected .
Greg Lougher received the Silver Medal from the SPCA ( RSPCA ) for his act of bravery in swimming through a flooded river in the Big Flood of 1955 and rescuing a great bridle mare he had shown and three other mares . It was quite a feat to save them and he had to head and tailed them then ride the bridle mare through the flooded river to the bank . He then went back for a child ’ s pony and together they struggled to the safety of the bank . Many animals were killed in that flood and the courage that Greg Lougher showed was recognized on National television in April , 1958 .
Whilst running a successful training and breeding operation in the U . S . Greg met David Briggs and Bill Gunn . They went into partnership and brought 31 Quarter Horses to Australia . The trip to Australia involved a six month quarantine stay in England and at least two months at sea - or so Greg thought .
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU