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AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
He loaded the horses onto a freight ship at the Stockton , California wharf in June , 1965 . He then said goodbye to his friends , helpers , wife Carmel and two daughters ( Gail and Lori ). Alone , he looked after the horses for six weeks in their tie stalls . He fought seasickness , the oppressive heat going through the Panama Canal and the rough Atlantic seas . Keeping the water up to the horses was a full-time job and there was feeding and stalls to clean , as well as keeping the health of the horses in top order . The horses could not lie down and had to stand the whole trip . Due to an unscheduled stop at Le Havre , France , the horses were not permitted to unload in England as , at that time , there was an outbreak of Swamp Fever in southern France . Greg was told he had to destroy the horses or take them back to the U . S .
Belgium came to the rescue and Greg and his horses spent three months in quarantine there . He was asked to give demos at horse shows . The people had never seen Quarters Horses ridden , let alone reining or whatever Greg could demonstrate in the limited spaces . They loved what they saw and Greg took every opportunity to promote the breed . The interest did not waver when he finally arrived in England .
He was invited to exhibit them at some of the largest horse shows – he even took them fox-hunting . No one ever used stallions , and to be well behaved was even more unbelievable . Many of the top horsemen and women came to him during that six month stay in England . He worked with Pat Smythe , one of England ’ s top showjumpers . He showed her his training methods and gear that helped her to reach the top of the tree that year .
Greg could not get all the horses on one ship out to Australia , so they landed in two shifts in September , 1967 . All the horses were taken to Sam Hordern ’ s property at Penrith where they spent another few months before they finally reached their home at Murrurundi , N . S . W . While Greg was in Penrith he was asked to give a cutting demonstration on Clover Cherry at the Warwick Gold Cup . He was then given special dispensation to enter the Gold Cup on Clover Lori ( neither had competed in a campdraft before ). Clover Lori had only been off the ship three weeks and had not had much work . Greg and Clover Lori were tied for first going into the final but he ended up fourth overall . This was a remarkable feat , and he even straightened his glasses and hat before he reached the first peg ! The interest in Greg Lougher and his horses grew .
Greg gave demonstrations in cutting , reining and cowhorse in country shows in N . S . W . Then the big breakthrough came , not only for Greg but the Quarter Horse breed . The Sydney Royal Easter Show asked Greg and his two daughters to demonstrate his horses in the main arena as a main attraction . Thousands of people filed past the four horses in ‘ A Block ’.
Spectators would gather to watch the horses being exercised . Clover Cherry , Clover Lori , Clover Drift and Clarence Robinson paraded down the main street of Sydney to open the Show . Quarter Horses had been in Australia for quite some time by now , but never had they received such publicity . Greg was asked to return next year . He went to the Adelaide Royal as well .
Perhaps the reason Greg Lougher was so well admired was the fact the he was a true horseman . He could ride any style of horse ( he even rode the famous horse , Five Minutes to Midnight ) and saw good in every breed . He gave schools at Ron Males stud to Arabian enthusiasts , at Gatton College he worked with Reg Williams , educated Sinclair Hill , the great polo player and his horses and Sinclair even credits Greg ’ s helping him achieve his ten goal rating . He gave schools at Clover Leaf where Jim Haydon and Ian Johnson , Jim Page , Graham and Merv Lamey , Joy Peel , Brian and John Cobcroft , Terry O ’ Hanlon and many , many others came . Graham Amos , Donald Gunn and even Chilla Seeney , all at some stage were inspired by Greg Lougher .
Greg Lougher served as a member of the AQHA Board , was given a Life Membership and a special award from the Association for his contribution to the breed . Clover Cherry , Clover Lori and Clover Drift were also recognized with a special award – the Award of Honour .
Few people are ever held with such respect as Greg Lougher was , and still is in the horse world . His name is mentioned when Australian Stock Horse breeders get together remembering about starting their breed . Greg Lougher created so much interest in the Quarter Horse , something had to be done . In no way would Greg Lougher ever say he was solely responsible for the popularity of the Quarter Horse . The horse has a lot to do with that , as did many other hard working devoted breeders and members , but he sure did get the ball rolling !
Greg Lougher died in 1986 in California . He was cleaning a stall and had a heart attack . Some friends of his took his ashes to Battle Mountain in Nevada where he used to run wild horses and which he loved so dearly .
They scattered his ashes on that mountain . As they did , a band of wild horses bolted past in the valley . He will always remain with horses , his true passion , but let ’ s hope in heaven they ’ re all Quarter Horses .
With pride and respect , Gregory Paul Lougher was the first person inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame . F
JANUARY / FEBRUARY ISSUE 2021