PG . 35
King Ranch Australia also owned ranching properties called Avon Downs , Disney , Elgin Downs and New Twin Hills . A King Ranch Australia subsidiary operated a Northern Territory station called Brunette Downs . The vast pastoral interest of King Ranch certainly must be recognised , however it was for their introduction of the Quarter Horse , and their involvement in the growth and development of the breed in this country , that they are now honoured as part of our own AQHA history .
In 1953 four stallions were selected to be sent to Australia . They arrived in 1954 with Vaquero and Jackaroo going to “ Risdon ” at Warwick . Gold Standard went to a property in Clermont , Queensland . These three were imported by King Ranch , and the other was Mescal , imported by Sam Hordern . It was another seven years before any more Quarter horses arrived in this country . This was a shipment of three stallions including Tejano Chico and Pronto Mio with eight mares all destined for the King Ranch breeding pastures . Then in 1963 came a shipment of fifteen . There were five stallions , one of these went to Isis Downs in Queensland , and the other four were for King Ranch properties , as were eight of the mares .
King Ranch Australia principals were the key to the development of the Australian Quarter Horse Association in 1964 . Starting initially , and based at Milton Park , New South Wales , Peter Bailleau and employees of King Ranch Australia started the Australian Quarter Horse Association . Martin Lemann wrote the first Constitution , and it was King Ranch Australia that drove it in its first few formative years . Peter Bailleau was the first President of the AQHA , and it was King Ranch Australia Directors and their families that were included on the first Board of Directors . These were Sidney Bailleau Myer , Sarah Myer ( formerly Hordern ), and Martin Lemann ( Assistant to the King Ranch Australia General Manager , Peter Bailleau ), who was in charge of Quarter Horse stud operations which were run by such great horseman as Stan Shephard , and assisted by Greg Gilpin . It was the performance and Halter horses bred and shown by King Ranch that set the early standards of showing and conformation in Australia .
The important nexus that King Ranch Australia made between the Santa Gertrudis and the Quarter Horse saw many of our great early Quarter Horse breeders like George Greenup , and Barney and Raul Joyce have a connection through their owning both Santa Gertrudis and Quarter Horses . This saw Quarter Horses spread rapidly throughout Queensland and New South Wales . Quarter Horses were sold at every King Ranch bull sale , held annually at Milton Park . They created the high profile of the Quarter Horse that saw their popularity skyrocket .
King Ranch brought American trainer Ronny Kellum to Australia , and he gave demonstrations of cutting at some of these bull sales . He was one of the first U . S . trainers to come here , and ignited enthusiasm for Western events . King Ranch Australia owned the first Q registered horse ( Vaquero Q-1 ); the first registered Q mare ( Maquina Q-5 ); the first registered Q gelding ( Quartermain Q-72 ); the first R1 registered horse ( Chester R1-1 ); and the first registered R2 horse ( Colorado R2-1 ).
It is now fitting that King Ranch Australia be the first Corporation to be inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame . F
MARCH / APRIL ISSUE 2021