PG . 35
Since he had been riding and showing ponies and stock horses from the age of six , when he made contact with the breed he was converted .
His first association with Quarter Horses was through the inimitable horseman , Jack Reilly and later his partner , Sam Hordern from whom Robert purchased his first stallion , RETFORD QUARTER STAFF R1-322 in 1961 and later JACKAROO KR Q-34 in 1967 .
Robert was elected to the Board of the Australian Quarter Horse Association and remained a Board member from 1965 to 1976 , becoming Treasurer in 1973 / 74 and President in 1976 . He became its first classifier , apart from Jack Reilly , and instigated the formation of the New Zealand classification system , having been sent to New Zealand by the AQHA and as a delegate to the 1974 American Quarter Horse Convention .
He was an AQHA Judge for many years , carrying out these duties in Norfolk Island , New Zealand , Western Australia and every Royal Show on the east coast of Australia . Robert was also invited to judge Quarter Horse shows and cuttings in the U . S . A . and Canada which he was not able to accept .
Robert has held judging qualifications with the Equestrian Federation of Australia and the AQHA and was on the Show Societies Council of N . S . W . for four years . He was foundation President of the N . S . W . Quarter Horse Association that ran from 1980-1992 . This Association presented him with an
Award of Appreciation for 10 years ’ service in 1990 and in 1989 a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to ROC ’ O ’ LENA Q-1662 for recognition of an outstanding contribution to the Quarter Horse industry of Australia .
In 1981 / 82 Robert was awarded AQHA Quarter Horseman of the Year and holds Honorary Life memberships with AQHA , National Cutting Horse Association of Australia and Walgett P . & A ., of which he was their President for five years from 1969 . Robert instigated the formation of the Euroka Cutting and Western Performance Club in 1971-72 and ran the first two Cutting Futurities approved by the AQHA and the then Australian national Cutting Horse Association at the Walgett Show in the same year . He wrote the first Constitution of the NCHA in collaboration with his solicitor brother , Peter and was an original Board member of same and is a dual Hall of Fame inductee recipient of this organisation .
Robert ’ s equine fields of interest have been Campdraft , Cutting , Western Pleasure , Trail , Dressage , Halter and many more . Having been , and still is , fanatical about a horses confirmation and movement , he has also an extraordinary perception of a new born foals future ability and field of competition . He is one of the very few in the industry to breed , train and exhibit his own horses and jealously guards his non-professional status .
AQHA JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024