Some of our readers are only aware of the recent accomplishments of our competitors and are not familiar with our industry’s history. How some of the major events transpired and the background of some of the horses and people is amazing. We wanted to go “Back In Time” and look at some of the history makers and trend setters from our past.
Our first, “Back In Time” moment is from almost 20 years ago at the 1994 All American Quarter Horse Congress of breeder and exhibitor, Candace Jussen and her then three year-old stallion, Mister GQ. In 1992, GQ was the AQHA Amateur World
Champion Yearling Stallion and the same year he was Reserve World Champion
in the Open with Ted Turner. In 1993 he was Reserve Grand Champion Stallion at the Congress. The next year, Jussen decided to do something extremely rare, even in those days – show him in the western pleasure at the top level. GQ is one of the few AQHA World Champion Halter horses to ever show in western pleasure. He was a trendsetter and history maker prior to becoming one of the leading halter sires in the industry.
“I had always been a rider and trained with Todd Crawford when I was suddenly thrust into halter with a mare that Doug Lilly bought me,” Jussen explains. It was after that, Jussen bred Always In Fashion to Mister Conclusion and Mister GQ was born in 1991. “He was just a fantastic, balanced and natural mover with a very aloof attitude making him perfect for pleasure. I just went the way he took our journey.”
Mister GQ and Jussen were also inspired by Diversified who had won the 1988 Two Year-Old Western Pleasure at the AQHA World Show and then three back-to-back championships in the halter.
“I wanted to show everyone how well he moved,” says Jussen, about showing him in the western pleasure. “Doug Lilly helped me with him. It was awesome. To breed a mare, foal out the baby, win the world with him in halter, and then show him in western pleasure. It wasn’t done that much back then.”
Before the 1994 Congress, the duo had won the big Solid Gold Futurity in Non-Pro Western Pleasure, so she was really excited to show him at the Congress. “I didn’t place, but I think GQ was way ahead of his time. Even though I didn’t place, I loved every step of the six classes I took him in. I had six outfits so I showed six times…how silly I was!” says Jussen laughing at the memory.
Mister GQ was euthanized in June, 2013 at the age of 22. He was a very well-respected sire with his get earning over 6,400
points, $139,767.08 in AQHA Incentive Fund earnings, 13 World
Championships, and seven Reserve World Championships.
Do you have a historical photo that represents a special time or moment in AQHA History that you would like to share with us? Please send them to [email protected] and provide the details about the time and background of the photo.
