Six horses and four AQHA members have been selected for induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2020.
Induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame is the highest industry honor that can be bestowed upon a human or equine. Those chosen for induction are recognized for their lifetime of accomplishments and service.
Six horses and four AQHA members have been chosen for induction into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020.
The horses chosen are A Good Machine, a 1993 bay stallion; Dual Rey, a 1994 sorrel stallion; Esters Little Klu, a 1968 gray Thoroughbred mare; Mr Eye Opener, a 1990 gray stallion; Triple’s Image, a 1969 sorrel stallion; and Zan Parr Jack, a 1979 sorrel stallion.
The individuals selected are AQHA Professional Horseman Bob Avila of Temecula, California; racehorse trainer C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath of Dennis, Texas; the late Past Executive Committee Member George Phillips of Jackson, Mississippi; and AQHA Past President Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas.
These deserving recipients will be inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in March during the 2020 AQHA Convention at the South Point Casino and Spa in Las Vegas.
A Good Machine was bred by Dawn Schroeter of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and was owned by MC Equine Enterprise LLC of Whitesboro, Texas. After a stellar career in the show ring, mostly in western pleasure, A Good Machine went to the breeding shed where he sired the earners of more than 32,500 AQHA points. His foals have earned more than $2 million in the show pen. He was euthanized in 2011.
Dual Rey was bred and owned by Linda Holmes of Longmont, Colorado, throughout his prolific career as a cutter and as a sire of versatile horses. His offspring have earned more than $40 million through the National Cutting Horse Association, the National Reined Cow Horse Association, the National Reining Horse Association and AQHA. He also sired winners of barrel races and ranch competitions. He was euthanized in May 2018 due to complications of age.
Esters Little Klu produced 15 American Quarter Horse foals that earned $230,023 on the track. Twelve different stallions sired Esters Little Klu’s 15 foals, and her influence continues to be seen in the bloodlines of modern winners, including Tac It Like A Man, Ochoa and Feature Mr Bojangles. She was bred by Dan L. Williams and was owned by Robert Driggers of Anthony, New Mexico.
Mr Eye Opener was bred by American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Joe Kirk Fulton of Lubbock, Texas, and was purchased as a yearling by 40-year breeder Dale Smith of Houston. On the track, Mr Eye Opener set a track record in his second out, and he went on to earn $202,978. He sired more than 2,024 foals with race earnings of more than $28.1 million. He died in November 2018.
Triple’s Image earned AQHA points in halter, western riding, western pleasure and hunter under saddle. In the breeding shed, he sired halter and performance horses. He was a leading sire from 1977 to 1981. He was euthanized June 28, 1999, due to complications of kidney failure. He was bred by Walter Clark of Forsyth, Montana, and was owned by Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California.
Zan Parr Jack was the 1983 AQHA world champion in junior working cow horse. He was the 1984 and 1985 world champion in senior heeling. In 1987, he was the world champion in amateur heeling. His offspring have earned 18 world championships and 18 reserve world championships. He was bred by Jerald A. Riemann of Dighton, Kansas, and was owned by the Lazy E Ranch of Guthrie, Oklahoma. He was euthanized December 3, 2014.
AQHA Professional Horseman Bob Avila grew up riding horses in northern California. In 1970, he left a corporate position to take a job riding horses. Since then, he has earned more than $380,000 in the National Reining Horse Association and more than $1.1 million in the National Reined Cow Horse Association. He was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame and in 1996 was the first AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year.
C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath started training racehorses for the public in 1970. In 1978, he started training at Ruidoso Downs and won the Rainbow Futurity in 1982 with Yankee Win. In 1983, he won his first All American Futurity with On A High. In 1990, he won the All American with Refrigerator, and in 2011, he won with Ochoa. He has conditioned the earners of nearly $30 million. He received the 2018 Gordon Crone Award.
The late George Phillips of Jackson, Mississippi, was a lifelong breeder of American Quarter Horses and past president of the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association. At age 31, George became the youngest U.S. attorney in the nation when he was appointed as the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi. He was an AQHA member for more than 30 years, serving on AQHA’s board of directors. He was elected to the AQHA Executive Committee in 2011. He died in 2015, before he could serve his term as AQHA president.
AQHA Past President Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas, is president and general manager of Bar G Feedyard. In 1998, he became interested in racehorses, eventually breeding One Famous Eagle, the 2008 champion race colt. He owns the 2018 racing world champion, Bodacious Eagle, and was the 2018 champion owner. He was first appointed to the AQHA Racing Committee in 2000. He has served on the AQHA board of directors and many committees and councils. He was elected to the AQHA Executive Committee in 2010 and was the 2014-15 AQHA president.
About the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
The American Quarter Horse Foundation connects people and horses through charitable giving in order to develop and support programs or initiatives that preserve our horse’s legacy and further the overall well-being of the American Quarter Horse and the people who comprise the Quarter Horse family.
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum fulfills the Foundation’s mission by beautifully showcasing the hundreds of horses and people who have earned the distinction of becoming part of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. These inductees are chosen each year by a selection committee and inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual AQHA convention. They are also honored each year at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame Dedication, which is a special celebration where the newest class’ display cases, featuring artifacts and information about each Hall of Famer, are revealed.
For more information on the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, visit www.aqha.com/museum.
