SON OF A GUN (IMP)

Inductee No: 20 | Year Inducted: 2021

Son of a Gun (imp) aka Sonny

On the 21^st Feburary 2001 a little paint colt was born – Artful Gunner (name soon to be changed to Son of a Gun aka Sonny)  He was the first foal from the chocolate overo paint mare “Miss Modern Art” and sired by the cropout QH “Colonels Smokingun” (NRHA name “Gunner”).

At this time Gunner had just been brought out of retirement to compete in the go rounds of the first USET $100,000US Champion of Champions Reining competition to be held later that year.  Not only did Gunner win this competition but he ran the highest recorded score in the go rounds – 78’s from all 5 judges! This added to his already prestigious list of wins – NRHA Futurity Reserve Champion, APHA World Champion Reiner to name a few and brought his Lifetime Earnings to just over $173,000.

“Miss Modern Art” was no slouch either, taking her owner and 2 professional riders (Bobby Avila and John Slack) to win 5 APHA World Championships in Reining and she was also named APtHa Horse of the Year for Reining.  She had a NRHA show record as well and placed in the top 10 at the Lazy E Classic.

Our road to purchase Sonny started a couple of years earlier when we attended the 1996 NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma. We were lucky enough to see compete one of the greatest Reining Horses of all time. His name was “Gunner” and he was a Paint!!! Not only were we impressed with his runs but in the one package he brought together our two passions, Paints and Reining!  

We fell in love with this little baldy faced chestnut colt, who wowed the crowds with his awesome stops.  He just about broke in two and dragged his long white tail in the dirt – we became instant and lifelong fans. We knew instantly that we had to have a horse by him and immediately began exploring ways to import his semen. Unfortunately, frozen semen for horses was still in the early days of production and Gunner’s wasn’t freezing successfully so the only other option we had was to go to the USA and buy a colt.

In 2003 we decided to start looking for a colt to be a potential sire. Gail spent months going through online Reining sale sites and found out pretty soon that anything that was started was out of our price range. Gunner was then standing at stud for $US7,500 and the Aust. dollar was below 60c. The only way we could afford a Gunner colt was to buy a baby.  She found 3 that we liked but kept coming back to the funny looking, predominantly white Paint colt.  

Gail contacted Dr Kim Sloane of Kebra Ranch, the home of Gunner at the time. We were very disappointed to find out that “Sonny” had already turned 2 and was well started for the Futurity. His price had doubled from the foal advert Gail had found, which put him out of price range. So after studying the pedigrees of a number of other colts they had for sale, she decided to fly to New York and have a closer look.

It was then that she met Sonny who really ticked all the boxes.

He was: 

• By Gunner and Out of Miss Modern Art - a well performed reining mare 
• Well started under saddle by an NRHA professional
• He was already taller than Gunner who only stood 14.2hh
• His nature was very laid back and relaxed.  
• All his angles were the same as his Dad’s
• Very loud coloured (We were sick of breeding Solid coloured Paints!)
• All his x-rays were perfect
• AND when he stopped he just broke in two; he slid over 20 feet with no effort or speed at all.  

After several late night phone calls back to Australia, we decided to make an offer on him and were very lucky that Dr Sloane decided to negotiate the price for us. 

When we got him home to Australia, Son of a Gun was all that we had hoped he would be. He had a calm, easy going nature and was a true gentleman – with the emphasis on gentle. We could give our 5 year old grand daughter pony rides on him, she nicknamed him Sonny Boy. He passed this sweet nature on to all of his babies. They are all people friendly and want to be your best friend. 

Though, he was very loud when the breeding season came around. We were living on 6 acres near Penrith and he had just about every mare within a 5 km radius in season when he started to tease his mares. Something that our Racing Stable neighbours were not happy about! This prompted our move to our current property at Woodstock near Cowra NSW.

Sonny was shown lightly by Rod as a 5 year old and again by Gail as a 8 & 9 year old. Gail and Sonny achieved National and State Titles with the PHAA and NRHA but his real success has come in the showing of his progeny. 

His kids have competed successfully in many diverse horse sports including Cutting, Cowhorse, Roping, Ranch Horse, Barrels, Western Pleasure, Hunter Hack, Jumping, Extreme Trail and the list goes on. We now have progeny competing in every State and Territory, From Darwin to Adelaide, Tasmania to Julie Creek and Perth.

Their success at Paint Shows came very quickly with Champions such as “Gunner be a Star”, “Gun Play”, “Peter Gun” and “Gunner Get Ya” just to name a few, but at the quarter horse dominated Reining shows he had to “earn his stripes” before serious competitors would take notice. 

Well he has certainly done that over the past few years with such good reining horses as “Special Guns” – Victorian Futurity Champion and Derby Co-Champion , NSW Non Pro Derby Champion at all 3 levels, her full sister “Stylish Gun Model” – 2021 Buckle up and Slide  Intermediate Open Derby winner, multiple PHAA National Champion Reiner & Ranch Horse, “Gunner Play” - NSW Non Pro Futurity Limited & Intermediate Champion, “Great Guns” -multiple PHAA National Champion Reiner & Ranch Horse, , “Gunner Whizz” – ARBC Limited Non Pro Derby Champion, “Gunner Bar a Lena” – very successful Reiner & Ranch Horse .   And because of the great nature he puts into his babies they make great Beginner and Rookie horses as well; “Lethal Lil Gun”, “Sheza Smokin Gun”, “Gunna Peppa Me”, “Gunna be a Son” and “Radical Gun” just to name a few. 

Now his Grand Children are starting to carry on the family tradition with ”Diluted Gunner” (by Da Vinci’s Gun by Son of a Gun) winning the 2016 Buckle up and Slide Reining Futurity in Victoria.  

And “JA Katies Gotta Gun” (by “Dun Gotta Gun” x out of the Son of a Gun mare “JA Chexy Gun” )  has proven herself as a tough competitor running an awesome 145 at her first Futurity to win the following:  2018 Goulburn Valley Non Pro Futurity, Intermediate Open and Open Futurity Champion. She was also Co-Champion at the 2018 NSW State Show in the Non Pro Futurity. 

It looks as though Sonny can rest easy knowing that his bloodline will be showing the way in the Australian Reining world for many years to come.

Sonny became unwell in November 2019 and had been fighting an un-known illness for the next 6 months. Three different vets and several blood tests couldn't find what it was. The "virus" left him with a severe heart murmur and leaking heart valve. Not once though all his injections (he hated needles) and treatments did he pin his ears or screw up his face at us; he was a gentleman to the end.

At only 19 years of age he could no longer withstand the ongoing complications of his heart issues, so on the 8^th June he was put to sleep. He is buried on the lawn in front of our barn. 

While Sonny is gone, we will never forget what he has done for us. We look out every morning and see all the white faces in our paddocks, a constant reminder of him. 

RIP old mate.  

DEE BAR BEYOND THE BLUE

Inductee No: 19 | Year Inducted: 2020

“DEE BAR BEYOND THE BLUE” aka “WOK”

Foaled on the 24^th September 2003 this Australian paint horse legend was bred by Chris & Wayne Baumann of Dee Bar Stud at Wybong  NSW, he was the second Loots Image bred colt born there, the first being the other legend “Dee Bar Blue The Loot”

Sired by Hall of Fame recipient “Loots Image” imp.USA , out of the cutting bred mare “Darwin Fancy Spin” who carried the renowned bloodlines of Docs Spinifex and Darwin Doc.

“Wok’s” show career started as a weanling at the 2004 Paint Horse National show. Shown by Sharon Lantry at Halter for the Baumanns . Sharon has fond memories of Wok who with Chris gave him his stable name because of his big baby blue ‘wokky’eyes  

One of Sharon’s favourite memories is of him was when she was going to the stables and seeing her young son Hayden climbing out over Woks stable door. Apparently, THEY were trying to catch a mouse!  The trap was a box with a stick and string and some grain for bait. Wok would stand over Hayden’s shoulder as he set it, follow him back over to the door and both would quietly stand there waiting for the cheeky mouse to run out.

They never did catch that mouse, but Sharon knew then Wok was an extraordinary young horse, with a kind mind and a willing heart

Chris showed him in the yearling versatility classes where he excelled in Lungeline, Led Trail & Hunter in hand.

The Baumanns sold Wok as a 2 year old to Stacey Boland . This was where his ridden career began. Stacey had him broken in & sent to trainer Carolyn Johnson

Wok won the prestigious Australian Halter Showcase 2 year old Western Pleasure Futurity beating the best Quarter Horses in the country, this was following his 3rd place in the Debutante WP also at AHS with Holly Johnson in the saddle.

He then went on to win at the PHAA National Show and NSW Paint State show as a 2 YO winning the 2YO Hunter Under Saddle classes, 2YO Western Pleasure classes and as well as 3^rd in the big one the  2 yr old Western Pleasure futurity.at the NPHA.

Holly Johnson went on to show Wok at the NSW Paint State show held at SIEC in his 3 year old year where he won every class he competed in !

Following his great success, he was sold to Sue Roughley. This is when Wok would meet one of his favourite humans… Dianne Briskey. Wok’s time with Sue was short lived, between Sue suffering an injury and the 2007 Equine Influenza outbreak, Wok would eventually move on to his new owner… Dianne.

Dianne and Wok had a successful show career together, consistently winning at State and National level, and achieving top placings in the PHAA National Futurities. Di described Wok as being a quirky bugger, but his personality made him who he was. Di recalls how easy he was to show, a quick 10 minute warm up and he was ready to go show and as long as you kept his hay bag in front of him, and he was a happy man! Di remembers so many happy moments, his continued success in the show pen, his love for kids… Di calls Wok; the best horse she has ever owned.  “If you knew Wok you knew why he was so easy to love”.

In 2015, after moving to Cavallino Estate, Di sold Wok to his forever home with Sharon Cameron

Wok’s personality won over Sharon Cameron. This is where he found his soul home, Sharon and Wok would go on to become one of the most renowned pair on the east coast of Australia. These partners in amateur & open events would go on to have an extensive show career together and break ground with Wok becoming the first PHAA horse to earn a Silver Century in Hunter Under Saddle. Sharon and Wok also took out Amateur Versatility awards and consistently were in the High Point standings for both Open and Amateur competition.

After Sharon had to take a step back her daughter Danielle then took the reins for the 2018-2019 show year, with Sharon as their number one support team the duo could do no wrong. And in the end became a force to be reckoned with.

 NSW state show was first on the agenda, while still working each other out with wok’s quirkiness, they had a very successful show coming away with high point Amateur, high point senior horse, high point western horse and winning the hunter under saddle feature, and that was only the beginning.

The Paint Horse Nationals at Tamworth was the next destination if Wok was to bring out his quirkiness it was here, he was convinced there were ghosts in that arena.

 With a pre workout at the Halter Breeders Group Association to sort themselves out they took out High Point Amateur and runner up high point senior horse.

 Then the biggest show of all Paint Horse National Championships!, The duo received several National and reserve titles in both Amateur and open classes. Biggest win of all was in the Amateur hunter under saddle feature, as Sharon always said “the trick with Wok was to set him and wait for his ear wobble, then you know his happy and doing his thing” and that’s what he did.

Wok & Danielle finished of the National show with high point senior horse and High Point APHA horse.

Qld state show arrived in July where they took out High Point Senior horse and High Point Amateur at both the Paint o Rama and State Show.

 With the show season being such a cracker and coming to an end all the hard work and determination had paid off coming away with numerous awards, High point amateur of Australia, High Point Amateur of QLD, High Point Senior horse and High Point Ridden Performance Horse. The year ended in the biggest high ever thought of, but sadly no one ever imagined it would be the last.

Wok left a print on the industry earning a whopping 732 Honour Roll points that is a testament to his breeding and training. The industry has lost a true legend, and our hearts go out the Cameron family and any who had the pleasure of knowing Wok.

The legend was humanly euthanised & laid to rest on the Camerons’ property March the 2^nd 2020 following a very sudden illness that the best veterinary care & tests could not explain.…….

GARTH BROOKS

Inductee No: 18 | Year Inducted: 2019

My riding partner”Garth Brooks”

To anyone that has shared a partnership with a special horse that spanned over 2 decades, will know how I felt when I lost that one great equine, that I believe was truly unique.

 I loved him from the first time I laid eyes on him, the day he arrived in South Australia. This fat cheeky, green broke colt, seemed to guess what the next move was. He always took the bit by himself, with me just hanging the bridle out in front of him, over the years he knew what event he would be doing next, just by that particular bit. A curb for the western Events, a snaffle for the dressage, a Kimble wick for H.U.S, the Sweet Iron shank for the Roping & Barrels. He could turn it off and on within the time it would take between each event.

Many  International Judges would smile, shake their heads and comment “you have some special horse here” as they’d put the National Champion Rosette on him, having just witnessed and knowing he had won the Dressage in the morning, the trail in the afternoon, the barrels in the evening, then coming out to win the reining the next morning.

Yes, I knew it, they knew it and so did his fans.

Garth was bred by Chris and Fred Burton foaled in September 1997. My husband and I acquired him in 2000. Within 18 months he earned his P.H.A.A. Champion no. 144. Back then there were no multi judge shows to earn it quickly, so we showed at our local Lazy W shows in the mid north of S.A. once a month and did the long haul 1 way 3hrs to the Quarter Horse shows nearer to Adelaide twice a month. Garth earned his first Superior in the Trail Class. This was his pet event in the beginning. I believe if Extreme Cowboy Racing was around then he would have been a force to reckon with.

We made our first trip to the Nationals and N.S.W Championship shows when he was a 4yr, old. Winning in some tough big classes, Horsemanship, Trail, and H.U.S.

2005 we moved to Queensland where we brought a property near Gatton to set up as a Training and Stud facility.

I started to add a few extra events to his card, Hunter Hack, Working Cow horse, Cutting and then in summer of 2007, Dressage. There’s a story about Garth’s debut into Dressage which still makes me smile.

The Q.H. State show was going to be held at Gatton Arena in a couple weeks’ time, they were holding 2 Dressage events which was open to All Breeds. I had a friend who lived nearby that was a Trainer and competitor in EFA level Dressage. Her name was Sharon Street I asked if she would give us a couple of lessons, as I really had no idea what was expected. Sharon arrives at my place, professionally attired in polo shirt, jodhpurs, and long boots to conduct the lesson, took one look at Garth in Silver western snaffle bridle, 6 foot reins, western saddle pad & G.P. Saddle and myself in cowboy hat, jeans, boots and spurs, and Sharon remarks “what’s this? Are we cross dressing?” I’m sure she was not impressed at all. Surprisingly Sharon didn’t leave and luckily she agreed to call my dressage event at the show.

On arriving at Gatton for the show, this time we were correctly fitted out, I took one look at who we were up against. Not one but two AQHA Champions and One AAA Champion in Dressage, superbly ridden by the well-known Ben O’Sullivan, and Leanne Owens, also a number of other combinations that really looked like this was their deal. I said to myself, “what am I doing here?” We entered in both tests, went well I thought, but then again, what did I know?

 After everyone had completed the tests Sharon went to get our test sheets. (I didn’t even know that they did this) Sharon came back looking very excited grasping the tests and said “you got 8’s you got 8’s” I said “so that’s good then?” Sharon looked at me unbelievingly and said “do you know how hard it is to get 8’s?

Of course we won both tests and for each State Championship show and National show after this for nearly 3 years we kept on winning. Usually with two or so weeks practice thrown in beforehand.

Garth earned his Superior All-round in 2010 as a 10yr. old He probably could have earned this sooner but he did not get shown hard once we went to QLd. I only took him to the special ones and a few leading up to the special ones to get his hand in, this was because I was very busy Training other horses. I remember the day I was after a measly ½ point in Barrel Racing to gain the Superior All round Title. I was at Gatton QH show, we had all just finished the halter classes, a message came through to pack up and go home before the D.P.I got there or else we will be in lock down for Equine Influenza. Going through this time, reminds meof what we are enduring now. Couldn’t go anywhere do anything. The E.I. went right through our place, I felt sorry for the new baby foals with full on snotty noses, trying to drink and breathe at the same time. Garth of course got it and it did affect his lungs a little, every time from then on when he started to exercise he would cough a fair bit until he warmed up. When the E.I had blown through after a few months Garth got his final ½ point and became Superior All-round Performance horse no.10

In 2010 we moved to beautiful Tasmania, we did only a handful of shows here. I felt Garth had nothing else to prove in the show ring. Garth was my eldest sons Fur Best Man at his wedding and Barrel Racing and roping was now where he excelled in. I didn’t send any points in, which now I deeply regret, because he won, a lot. At Rodeos his very first in Tassie he picked up a cheque. Between Rodeos, jackpots, 3D Barrels he won and placed very often. In 2016 I retired him at his last Barrel Race at 18years old, it was enough to win the day and the yearly HI point. I had tears in my eyes as he ran home after a picture perfect last race. The arthritis in his knees was starting to shorten his stride, and I wanted him to retire on a winning note. Which he did.

Garth took over as the Gran kids trainer, watching him look after them just riding down the road, going around drums, trotting behind a roping dummy, or the kids making out he was some bad ass saddle bronc, while they imagined riding time at a Rodeo, (at a flat out walk). I wouldn’t  trust any other horse with that special cargo.

Similar when broken down in a Thunder Storm in QLD twice, I saddled him up and we had to ride home with a frightened yearling filly bouncing on him in the dark with the crashing thunder, and lightning slashing the skies to make the landscape into an eerie grey spectacle. He would set out in his long swinging walk, ears and eyes set forward, with the sound of the rhythm of shod hooves clipping on the ash felt on the way home. I trusted him and I think he, me.

Garth as a Sire, had some outstanding individuals mostly out lf mares that had done a little or practically nothing under saddle. But he still had the ability to put the same, sane sweet minded, good footed baby on the ground every time. Some of the outstanding individuals are Whynot Mr. Walker ....Hacking & Dressage, PP Smokin Ice...Halter, RUNVOS Im a Cool Duco...Sire, Halter, QRQ Elvis...Hacking, Dressage, Games and one day event, PP Snazzy Brooks...Halter, Performance, PP Show Em Mr. Brooks... barrels & Roping, Commanche...Barrels, Roping. Also the many horses that never had show points put in or even registered. There have been Showjumpers, rodeo mounts, pony club, stock horses, trail horses and kid’s horses. I’m lucky I had the foresight to have some 3

semen frozen a few years ago. There is a chance that I may see some more Garth Babies out competing in the future, I know I have one very special one now in Commanche.

Garths death came as a severe shock early March 2020, He had been in good health, always had a play with my geldings over the fence, I called it playing knuckles when they nip and lip each other in pure fun. I’d ridden him out a couple of days previously to overcome the boredom of him doing nothing. I remember thinking, this spring season, my two young grandsons could use him at the jackpots, rope the dummy at a walk, jog around the drums, and Garth would love to get out. Little did I know that lovely sunny evening would be our last ride.

Two days later I had just got the two halters to catch Garths sons Harley and Commanche to load up  to go to the last Rodeo of the season. I looked over to Garth, he was laying down, looked pretty content.  I thought it a bit weird him laying down as he didn’t lay down very much, so I thought I’d give him a bit more hay as I wouldn’t be back home until 10pm that night. He saw me coming and started to get up, it was then I heard a loud crack. As I got to him he tried to get up again. As I fell on his neck to hold him down. I knew then what, vet confirmed. He had broken his stifle.

I do thank God every day that I was there with Garth when it happened.

Garth Brooks is buried next to his favourite mare Em, under their favourite tree on a grassy slope overlooking a creek.

LE van DEE DEE (Imp USA)

Inductee No: 17 | Year Inducted: 2018

Dee Dee was bred by Eugene Hickey and foaled March 1973 at Chandler, Arizona, the son of Le-Van Joe and Calico Beggar, a quarter horse mare. Le-Van Joe was by the racing quarter horse champion Levan and out of a mare by Painted Joe, who was legendary on the quarter mile tracks.

Dee Dee had been shown as a baby in Arizona, winning State Champion for his age group. He arrived in Australia in December 1974. He was syndicated, and shown at halter in 1975, placing second to Joeleo* nine times, and finishing the year with Champion at Gatton. In October 1975 he was broken in by Matt Hoffman, ridden a while by Ricky Glenn, then, after the stud season, sent to Bruce and Debbie Fitzgerald for his show career. At his first outing under saddle, in September 1976 at the Australian Trail Horse Championships in Rockhampton, he placed third in youth trail with Linda Povey. 

The following show season Dee Dee won seven of eight appearances at halter. His first two seasons in the show ring tallied 18 shows for 8 wins and 10 seconds, three Championships, three Reserves – and 8 halter points. 

In 1977 Dee Dee quickly started racking up performance points and in his first two seasons competing under saddle he earned more PHAA awards than any other horse except his half-brother Joeleo. In April 1977, by winning High Point Performance Horse at Eumundi Western Performance Show, he became the first horse to qualify for PHAA Champion. At this time he had earned 16 halter and 44 performance points – and 35 of those performance points had been earned in open competition against Queensland’s top show horses. 

Bruce then started him in cutting, and he placed at his first outing at the 1977 Q’ld Paint Championships – where he was also Supreme Exhibit and High Point Performance Horse. 

With just two years of shows under saddle his PHAA Awards record was:

1976-77 National High Point Halter Stallion, Trail Horse, Western Pleasure Horse, and Equal Reserve National High Point Reining. He finished the year with 90 performance points and was runner-up to the National High Point Performance Horse by only one point.

1977-78 National High Point Performance Horse with 73 points earned, National High Point Trail, and Reserve National High Point Western Pleasure and Bridle Path Hack. 

That year he also earned his Register of Merit in Halter, Bridle Path Hack, Western Pleasure, Trail, Western Riding and Reining, as well as his Superior in Trail and Western Pleasure. On April 24, 1977 he became PHAA Champion #1.

In 1978, Dee Dee was sent to Ross Gould for further training in cutting and was proving very talented, placing in all his competitions – he was one point shy of a ROM in this event. In April 1979, while spelling at our place at Deception Bay, Dee Dee foundered. 

After his recovery Barry Say purchased him outright and moved him to his Childers property, where Barry and Dee Dee enjoyed riding around Barry’s bush property and splashing through the creek. Dee Dee’s home was a five acre pasture and open stall from which he could see his ladies all the time.

In 1983 Barry brought Dee Dee back for one more show – the Queensland Paint Championships, where he placed 3rd in Cutting and 2nd in Get of Sire and Sire and Get.

Dee Dee was finally retired with a total of 200 PHAA show points, and lived out his old age with the Says, being humanely put down on the 22 February 1994.

Le-Van Dee Dee is in the record books as:

Leading Sire of PHAA Champions (four) 

Leading Sire of ROM horses.

Leading Sire of Lifetime Overall Progeny Points (319.5) 

Leading Sire of Lifetime Halter Points 101.5 

Leading Sire of Lifetime Performance Points 218.

LOOTS IMAGE (Imp USA)

Inductee No: 16 | Year Inducted: 2017

CC Loots Image, was born in Illinois, USA, January 9^th 1993, Loot was bred by the Newinghams’ of C & C Paints, home of “Gran Loot”.CC Loots Image was so named as he was the image of his famous sire, his dam was the Am QH “Robert Redford” granddaughter “My Belle KC”.

CC Loots Image earned his APHA Champion Award in May of 1996, as a young 3 year old, he had earned 66 halter points & 135 performance points.

Before arriving in Australia Loot had been awarded: APHA Superior Halter Horse,APHA Superior Western Pleasure,ROM Trail, Missouri Breeders 2yr old Futurity,Illinois Breeders 2yr old Futurity & the Nebraska 2yr old Futurity.

Purchased & imported to Australia in November 1996 by the Loots Image Syndicate the only thing that changed was dropping the CC prefix from his name.

Before his retirement from the show arena Loots Image had an impressive show record in Australia earned at major shows, his Honour Roll points: Halter 45, WP 45, Trail 41, WHship 31, HUS 24 & Dressage 1

In 2004 the Paint Horse Association of Australia introduced their “Top 10 Leading Sires List” & Loots Image has been Australia’s #1 or #2 Leading sire of Halter, Performance & Overall every year since & still is 4 years following his death. His progeny excelled in so many events & have won too many awards to list, including Halter Futurities, Western Pleasure Futurities, Hunter u Saddle Futurities, & continue to do so.

Loots Image to date has sired 17 PHAA Award Champions, his legacy lives on through his champion Get & there is no disputing he was undoubtedly the most talented stallion & greatest Paint sire to ever come to Australia.

Loots Image tragically passed away 6^th October 2014 killed by a deadly Eastern Brown snake.

There are stallions who are great individuals, but never become great sires..

There are good sires that were never great performers...

Then there are the rare individuals who are both....

Sweet Justice

Inductee No: 15 | Year Inducted: 2016

Sire: Justice Morn, dam: Speck of Silver

This mare was well known and an ambassador for the breed and rarely beaten. She was often borrowed by Youth for Halter and Showmanship Classes at Local, State and National Shows. She obtained many Championships at Halter with Youth and Amateur and Open Classes, as well as National APHA Mare and National Youth Mare

2007 - National Champion, National Grand Champion, QLD State Champion, QLD State Grand Champion, National and State Futurity, High Point AO Halter Horse, Runner up High Point Halter Horse

2008 – National Champion, National Grand Champion – Open and Amateur, Nation 2YO and over Futurity Champion, No 1 American Paint Horse of Australia

2009 – National Champion, NSW/VIC State Champion, NSW/VIC Grand Champion, QLD State and Reserve Champion – Open and Amateur, High Point Halter Horse of Australia, High Point AO Halter Horse, No 1 American Paint Horse of Australia

2010 – National Champion, National Grand Champion, NSW/QLD State Champion, QLD Grand Champion, No 1 American Paint Horse of Australia - Retired

In her short life time of her 2 progeny her 2014 foal HMF Sweet As has gone on to win National and State Futurity Reserve Champion and Halter Reserve National and State Champion, Reserve Honor Roll Winner and placing at National Show Youth Halter.

Sweet Justice died by accident 14 January 2015

Hot Senorita (IMP)

Inductee No: 14 | Year Inducted: 2016

Sire: Makn a Brandy (APHA), Dam: Elegant Star (APHA)

Imported from the USA by Jeffrey and Lee Ann Hall, this mare had a short show career High Point Halter Horse of Australia and HP AO Halter Horse of Australia in 2005-06, including Grand Champion in 2006 also with many State Show Champions and Supreme Exhibits of Show and National Champion Produce of Dam to become a National Year End winner in Open and Amateur.

Of her 8 progeny 6 have successful show careers of their own:

2007 – HMF White Hot – HP 2yo of Australia, National Show & YISC WP Champion

2009 – HMF Si Senor – National Champion Halter, Reserve National Champion HIH

2010 – HMF Tommy Bahama – National Weanling Futurity Champion, Multiple National Champion Halter and 2yo under saddle, AO HUS and Qld State Show Supreme Exhibit

2012 – HMF Intimately Hot – National Weanling Halter Futurity Champion, National Champion Youth and AO Halter, Res National Champion Halter

2013 – HMF Hot Hot Hot – National Weanling Halter Futurity, Reserve AO Halter,

2014 – HMF Forever Hot – National Weanling & Yearling Halter Futurity Champion (PB) National Grand Champion AO Halter, National Yearling/AO PB Champion, APHA PB FIlly, Qld State Show Supreme Exhibit, QLD State Champion

2015 – Harry Hall – National Champion AO & Open Halter (PB), Champion PB Weanling Futurity

Hot Senorita died during foaling 5 September 2015

Skipastaray (IMP)

Inductee No: 13 | Year Inducted: 2015

Sire: JR Skipastar (USA), Dam: Pamaray (USA)

Imported from the USA this mare commenced her ridden career in 2005, with once month of this she had been awarded PHAA Champion #179 and then achieved the PHAA Superior All Round Horse Award by December 2005 the 7 horse in PHAA history and the first in 10 years. She was the first mare to be both APHA and PHAA Champion. She has multiple National Champion Awards as well as Futurity, Versatility and State High Point Awards. Her late start to ridden showing was after 10 years of raising foals.

PHAA Awards – Silver Century Halter, Bronze Century Hunter Under Saddle, Superior Halter AO Filly/Mare, Superior Western Pleasure, Superior Hunter in Hand

2003/2004 High Point Halter Horse of Australia

2004/2005 High Point Halter Horse of Australia

2005/2006 High Point Performance Horse of Australia, Runner Up High Point Halter Horse of Australia, High Point Senior Horse Queensland State Show

Her Progeny Affirmative (iiu) and Exceptional One are both Superior All Round Horse Award winners proving their successful show careers, her other foals Skipastarlet and My Only Skipastar were also National Champions, with Skiipy’s Six Gun a State Champion and Skipaluckystar (her last foal) a State Champion & Reserve National Champion.

Skipastaray passed away after complications from foaling in 2/9/2010.

Peppy Shaker

Inductee No: 12 | Year Inducted: 2014

It is said that if you have owned a multitude of horses in your life time, one will stand out as that special horse, Peppy Shaker was that horse for the Stevens family of Twin Oaks Paint horses.

Peppy was bred by well-known Victorian Paint Horse breeders, Mike and Carol Elliott and sold as a weanling to John Morrison. John sold him to Murray and Vicki Stevens in mid 1992 where he was part of the family for the best part of 21 years. He had a larger than life personality and has been a pleasure to own and share our life with.

Sired by Peppy's Chickabar, who was a sabino by the imported QH Crop out sire, Peppy's Doc Bar, who after his death was registered with the AQHA. Peppy Shaker's dam, San Antonio Rose, a loud Overo, was a PHAA Weanling Halter Futurity Champion and National / State weanling filly Champion and has a Superior Halter award.

At his retirement from the show ring where he was in the capable hands of trainer, David Norbury; Peppy Shaker was a PHAA Champion, a Superior Halter Horse plus ROM's in Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Riding and Reining.

Peppy Shaker's diversity as a sire over a limited number of mares in his lifetime has been proven where he has placed on the ground everything from Halter Futurity Champions to Performance Horse Champions who have excelled in events from Western Pleasure, Reining and Campdraft.

Peppy Shaker lives on through his progeny.

Just Shameless

Inductee No: 11 | Year Inducted: 2014

'Just Shameless' was born in January 1993 in Texas. He was an APHA World Champion and Futurity winner as both a weanling and Yearling. He was purchased and imported into Australia in 1997 by Kath Peterson of Coronation Park in partnership with Sally McPhee from Rocking M Paints. He was the first World Champion APHA stallion to be brought to Australia and created a sensation when he arrived. He quickly became the 'pin-up' boy for both the western and non-western worlds and attracted new many enthusiasts to the paint horse breed.

His first crop of Australian foals achieved great success winning weanling classes and futurities at state and national level and in open competition at the major shows across Australia. Many of the minor placings also made up of 'Shameless babies'.

As many mares from different disciplines were bred to 'Shameless', his versatility became clear - siring champions in halter, western pleasure, dressage, cattle events and eventing. A truly versatile and potent sire clearly 'stamping' his babies. Even today you can pick a 'Shameless' in the ring. Many of today's champions are bred from 'Shameless' daughters.

There is not enough time or room to publish all the awards that his progeny have achieved. Whether it is a Superior award, ROM's, PHAA Championships, State Titles, National Titles, Royal Show Champions and open futurity champions.

Just Shameless was sold to Crown Park, New Zealand in 2007. He died in 2010 in New Zealand. He leaves a legacy that will be very difficult to surpass and has left a wealth of breeding in his get, that will see his impact on the breed continue through his daughters, granddaughters and on. Just Shameless is greatly missed by those that were lucky enough to know him.

The Artist

Inductee No: 10 | Year Inducted: 2013

On the 26th October 1979 at the property of Chris and Fred Burton a pretty sorrel overo colt was born. He was the result of the breeding of Chris and Fred's mare Ledgworth Princess to imported Paint Horse stallion Scenic Bailey Bars. From day one everybody knew that the horse was something special and was destined for great things, but I don't think that they could truly predict just how much of an impact The Artist would end up having on the Paint Horse breed here in Australia.

Like most horses The Artist started his life in the spotlight in the show ring. He competed everywhere, including the PHAA National Show and small local events. The amount of blue ribbons and points grew each month and at the end of his illustrious career The Artist boasted over 100 Halter points, 22.5 Western Pleasure points, 11 Reining points, 8 Western Riding points, 5 Bridal Path Hack points and 1 point in Working Cow Horse as well as many National, State and Royal Show titles in Halter and Performance events. He was PHAA Champion #61.

Because he competed at many mixed breed shows, his name was known by many in the equine industry. The Artist was equally as special in the breeding barn. He sired many performers who successfully competed in just about every event imaginable. They earned their sire many Get Of Sire wins at National and State shows and stood alongside The Artist in Sire & Get classes. They were regularly seen at the PHAA National Show and other big events on the western show circuit, mostly standing at the front of the line! The Artist's grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still competing today and doing well, proof that his legacy is very much alive and continuing.

Cisco as he was affectionately known by his friends was never sold - he stood at the Burton's place for most of his life before he moved to their daughter Cynthia and her husband Richard's stud Williams Park Paint Horses. He was certainly the family horse.

The Artist is an immediately recognised name amongst PHAA members and his place in the Hall Of Fame is very deserving. Rarely do we see home grown horses that are held in such a high regard both as a breeding and competition animal. The Artist passed away on 15th March 2007 at the age of 27.

Copyright

Inductee No: 9 | Year Inducted: 2012

'Copyright' was imported in 1990 by the Copyright Syndicate, Don and Cheryl Warren and Helen and Graeme Bentley.

In true Australian tradition he quickly obtained his lifelong nickname 'Frank', due to his USA name Old Blue Eyes. Soon after arriving in Australia he featured in an ABC documentary about the dangers of horses and long distance air travel.

'Copyright' was carefully selected for colour, conformation and bloodlines to enhance the quality of performance mares at the time. But it was his exceptional nature, his honesty, and intelligence, that made him so special - and this legacy makes his progeny so sought after today.

Foaled in 1988, 'Copyright' was sired by 'Robins Copy' out of 'Sonnys Snowflake' at the Leininger Ranch, Westby, Montana, USA. 'Copyright' earned his PHAA Champion (#86) in 1992, with Superiors in Halter, Bridle Path Hack, Trail and Western Pleasure, ROMS in English Pleasure and Western Riding, and points in Reining and Western Horsemanship.

In his brief four year show career, 'Copyright' earned National and State titles in Halter, Sire & Get, Snaffle Bit/Hackamore Trail and Western Riding, Bridle Path Hack and Hackamore Western Pleasure. He won several Versatilities and took out the National 4 & Over Bridled Pleasure Maturity in 1993. He was PHAA High Point Junior Horse for Australia in both 1990 and 1991. Copyright even made an impression in Fancy Dress and Freestyle Reining, and left his mark in open company in Futurities and Classics.

'Copyright' was a great Paint Horse ambassador. Not only was he an outstanding performance horse but he sired great performance horses, passing his nature and ability to his progeny - the mark of all great sires.

These 'Frankfurters' as they were known include Carramar Royal Copy, Kunda Complete Copy, Kunda Robins Pride, Kunda Son Dee Edition, Hey There Georgie Girl, Kunda Carbon Copy, Kunda Copy This, Fancy L Classic Copy, Sommerdown Electric Dream, Kunda Odette, Kunda Feminette, Kunda Model Copy, Kunda The Right Copy and On The Rocks among others. All have won numerous National and State Titles and featured in PHAA Honour Rolls, while others enjoyed success in different arenas such as cutting and reining. Many of these successes were achieved by youth riders - a testament to 'Copyright's outstanding temperament.

'Copyright' passed away in 2011, 'Frank' stories have entered the realm of legend, enhancing the special bond that exists throughout the wider 'Copyright' family.

TODD TENNEY

Inductee No: 9 | Year Inducted: 2018

Todd Tenney was born in Arizona and raised on ranches learning the cowboy ways and loving hunting. His first mount, at two years of age, was an old Paint roping horse called Monkey.

In 1967 he joined his parents in the outback, with his father he introduced team roping to Australian rodeo, and later worked in Mt. Isa Mine and as a fencing contractor. In 1971 he married Peta Miller, and they soon joined his parents in the horse business. 

In 1973 the PHAA was formed and Todd served on the first committee, was Vice-President, then President, and then served on the Executive Committee. He was also a stallion inspector and traveled the eastern states inspecting Paint stallions.

In December 1977, Todd and Peta-Anne sat down with trainers Bruce and Debbie Fitzgerald, to compile a horse show rulebook for the PHAA. They burned the candle at both ends to accomplish this, and a created a good, complete rulebook. They started with the American Paint Horse Association rulebook, crosschecked that with the Australian Quarter Horse Association rules, then incorporated portions of rulebooks from other Australian breed associations and event organizations, and other American breed rulebooks. The result was the most comprehensive book of event rules in the country. It covered all the western events (still relatively new to Australia), as well as Australian events such as hacking, showjumping, campdrafting and gymkhana events. 

A friend, Mike Hodgeman, had started the Horse Show Association of Australia the previous year. He too was planning on compiling an all-encompassing rulebook so Todd offered him the work they had done. Hodgman accepted the offer, and in due course most of this work was incorporated into the HSAA Rulebook that first printed in 1979.

Todd and Peta-Anne and their sons moved to Arizona in 1983. They still follow PHAA activities with interest. 

Win Rosee Cutters Chief

Inductee No: 8 | Year Inducted: 2011

'Win Rosee Cutters Chief' or 'Chief' as he was affectionately known, was foaled in 1981. He was sired by Quarter Horse, 'Cutter's Bronze Beau' out of the PHAA Champion mare, 'Win Rosee Endeara'. He was owned all of his life by the Minehan family and was a great ambassador for Paint, Pinto and Western Performance Horses.

Chief commenced his show career at six months old, winning numerous halter classes and was very successful in halter futurities. His "ain't I terrific" attitude, vibrant colours and well defined muscles made him a stand out. He was sent to Bert Purcell to be broken in as a two year old and after merely four weeks; he experienced great success at his first show and never looked back.

Proving to be one of the most versatile and consistent horses in the country for two decades, whether it was Halter, English, Western, Western Riding, Reining, Sporting or Working Cow horse.

Chief was ridden by many youth competitors and amateurs gaining numerous accolades. Each year throughout his 25 years of showing, Chief would win multiple state and national titles and high-point awards earning over 1000 performance points. He earned superiors in Halter, Bridle Path Hack, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Reining, Trail and Western Riding.

As well as being successful in the show ring, 'Win Rosee Cutters Chief' brought publicity to the PHAA by featuring on shows such as Agro's Cartoon Connection and Totally Wild. Chief was taken to many venues as the entertainment. He was the opening act at the Redland's Show jumping through hoops of fire, was used as the mount for Rodeo Queen work outs and celebrity reining, he was the attraction at school fetes and open days and even opened a Brisbane Bandits Baseball match. Whatever the task, the crowd adored him, he loved it and he was every bit the star. In fact, Chief even visited the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane to perform a series of tricks, bowing and negotiating an elephant stand to entertain the sick and injured children. Chief, never missing a cue and lapped up all the cuddling and kissing that the children gave him.

'Win Rosee Cutters Chief' was laid to rest in May 2010, just a few months short of his 30th birthday.

Honeysuckle Rose

Inductee No: 7 | Year Inducted: 2010

'Honeysuckle Rose' was bred by Merv Fasham and was by 'Arrowkay Cloudy"' out of the thoroughbred mare 'Gniess'. She was proudly owned by Julie Wickham in Victoria, Australia.

Rose was awarded numerous National and State Champion Awards during her show career. She became a PHAA Champion #52 as a hackamore horse. She had a Bronze Century Halter , Superior award in Western Pleasure, Register of Merit awards in Bridle Path Hack, English Pleasure, Reining, Trail and Western Riding. Rose would compete in open company, often being the only Paint horse who would frequently be in first place in large competitive classes. A great ambassador for the breed during her entire show career.

She was a truly versatile mare who went on to produce truly versatile progeny. Some of note are 'Overexposed' as a young horse won the first ever $5,000 All Australian Paint Classic and went on to win many titles when matured himself being god natured and versatile; 'Rose Tattoo' was a mare out of "Honeysuckle Rose" who also achieved National Champion status;. And the beautiful and incredibly versatile gelding 'Unzip Me Honey' won multiple National titles in a wide variety of events showing very successfully in the Amateur as well as Open competition. All of Rose's progeny were known for their good nature and versatility.

'Honeysuckle Rose' was a very well known mare who was loved and admired by many. She was one of the best ambassadors for the Paint horse breed in her era, especially in Victoria. Everyone knew her name. A beautiful mare who has stamped her mark on the Paint horse breed.

Born 6th October 1980 she was sadly laid to rest in 23rd July 2009.

LYMAN & ALAIRE TENNEY

Inductee No: 7 & 8 | Year Inducted: 2018

Lyman and Alaire Tenney were cowboys and ranchers from Arizona who came to Australia to manage an outback cattle station in 1966. In 1970 they moved to Boonah and established Sierra Bonita Quarter Horses and started training people and horses the art of western style riding, traveling all over the country to hold schools. In 1972 the family purchased a property at Rosewood, and there the PHAA was born. 

Early in 1973 daughter-in-law Peta-Anne suggested to her family that they start a Paint Horse Association. Everyone was enthusiastic and Peta-Anne set about writing to the American Paint Horse Association for information. Thus the Tenney family created the Association and guided it through the first three formative years. 

The first meeting at Peta-Anne’s family home in Hornsby, NSW, was attended by the Tenneys’, Lorraine Grant, Alan Whip, David Farquhar and Christine Ruckwood. All agreed that Lyman was the logical Founding President.  

Under Lyman’s presidency the PHAA established a constitution, rules and regulations for registration, and membership, saw the formation of several regional clubs, and kept the association steering down the course originally set – the breeding of colored horses with Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines. 

Lyman served on the Board of Directors of the PHAA until 1980, was the associations Chief Inspector, and in 1979 was honored with the title No. 1 Approved Judge for the PHAA. For two years he also served as Chairman of the Judges and Racing Committees.

Alaire Tenney was appointed head of the National Paint Horse Queen Committee at the 1978 PHAA Annual General Meeting in Nambour, Queensland.

In 1979 she organized a nation-wide contest, which culminated in the Miss PHAA competition at the inaugural National Show. Lyman and Alaire personally transported three contestants from Western Australia to Dubbo, New South Wales, for the Queen and Princess contest at the first PHAA National Show. The contest ran smoothly, was an immense success, and the winner of the Queen Contest won a trip to the United States to represent Australia at the American National Paint Horse Show.

On a visit home to Arizona in 1973, Alaire had selected two colts, Joeleo* and Le-Van Dee Dee*, and the family imported them both to Australia. These two stallions promoted Paints across the country, and both earned PHAA Champion status.

Golden Coin Oakey

Inductee No: 6 | Year Inducted: 2010

Golden Coin Oakey (PHAA 170) was a Palomino Tobiano Stallion born in 1971. By Skipper from Kerrie, 'Oakey' was the first horse registered with the PHAA that was put through the classification process. He was passed by the well known Quarter Horse identity, Gene Hinze.

Bred by Mr R Thomas and first owned by Mr. Barry Smith, Oakey came into the hands of his lifetime owners Marilyn and Barry Shelton at the age of 5 year old. With PHAA only a very young association and looking for recognition in the western horse arena, Oakey's direction was into the world of the Western Pleasure and Bridle Path Hack horse.

He achieved sufficient halter points necessary for a PHAA Champion title although it took a long time on the old point system. Under saddle it was a different matter. Many times, taking on the best pleasure horses around at the time, never failing to place in large classes of mixed western breed classes.

Oakey was many times Honor Roll, State and High Point award winner in these classes as well as Competitive Speed and others. He was a very popular horse with the public because of his gentle nature and temperament. Oakey was called upon by the then Southern Paint Horse Club to represent the club in parades put on by the Royal Agricultural Show Society to advertise the coming show season and was always a flag bearer.

After being gelded, Oakey still competed for the Shelton family as a youth horse teaching all the girls to ride. He was also used by top AQHA youth Jade Thomas and was always in demand to those looking for a quiet well educated horse and schoolmaster for young children.

Oakey was laid to rest in his 30th year. At his death Oakey had achieved PHAA Champion and ROM's in Bridle Path Hack English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Trail and Points in Reining, Competitive Speed, Rope Race, Ridden Stallion and General Performance.

SUSAN MAXWELL

Inductee No: 6 | Year Inducted: 2018

Susan Maxwell was an Associated Judge and accredited Trail Judge with the Australian Quarter Horse Association. She was also an Associate Judge with the Horse Show Association of Australia as well as a Reining Australia Judge. She had judged halter and performance classes at Agricultural Shows such as Woodford and Boonah in the western and coloured breeds, and open western performance show around Queensland, in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

Susan had the honour of judging the Western Performance and Reining Futurity at La Foa in New Caledonia, this particular show being the fourth time she had been invited to judge in New Caledonia.

Susan judged the Australian Stock Horses, Paints, Pintos and Quarter Horses at the 2012 Cairns Show, as well as o-judging the Ridden Stallion, Overall Led Exhibits and the Supreme Champion Led Horse of the Show.

Susann had attended the American Paint Horse Association Judges Academy held in Fort Worth, Texas USA. She also took Australian Youth to compete in the Youth Judging contests held at the Paint Horse World Show, as well as the Leadership conferences held in the USA.

Industry Experience

Susan commenced her riding career in Pony Club in Queensland and became a qualified instructor at 17 years of age. She also judged pony club events around this time. After competing in Pony Club and Show Jumping, including qualifying for the Royal Queensland Show in Flagging and six Bar, Susan developed an interest in campdrafting, cutting and Western Events. Following this Susan changed direction to compete in Western and English Performance at both the State and National level.

Susan bred, trained and showed Paints, Pintos, Dilutes and Quarter Horses with her husband since the 1980's. Together they owned and managed a Paint and Quarter Horse Stud at Burpengary in Queensland.

She commenced her riding career in Pony Club in Queensland and became a qualified instructor at 17 years of age. She also judged pony club events around this time. After competing in Pony Club and Show Jumping, including qualifying for the Royal Queensland Show in Flagging and six Bar, Susan developed an interest in campdrafting, cutting and Western Events. In the 1980's Susan changed direction to compete in Western and English Performance.

In addition to her riding activities, Susan was a Equestrian sports coordinator for the Queensland Police and Emergency Services Games for a number of years, as well as organizing the Australian and New Zealand Police Games for 8 years. Queensland won the bid to host the 2016 Games which includes Equestrian activities as well as swimming, shooting, boxing and track and field.. In 2015-2016 Organisers of the Equestrian portion of the games set up a Susan Maxwell Memorial Trophy in her memory.

Susan was one of the founding coordinators of and voluntary trainer for the Annual Free Queensland Paint Horse Association Youth Camp which was created to encourage all youth to learn about horsemanship and make lifelong friends. This Youth Camp celebrated its 20th Year in 2013. Over the years this camp has developed to include a Show only for youth. Susan looked forward to many more youth camps in Caboolture, organising funding for a number of French speaking youth in New Caledonia to attend a camp in 2013. Sadly Susan passed away on the 11th November 2013.

CATHY HENDERSON

Inductee No: 5 | Year Inducted: 2018

Karaling K Notes

Inductee No: 5 | Year Inducted: 2010

Karalinga K-Notes was a 16hh chestnut stallion by 'Eagle Feather' (by C-Notes Playboy*) out of a TB mare, 'Trumpet'. He died in 2002 at 22 years old, and had less than 6 years of showing in total, (about 3 years as a youngster then doing it all over again for 2 years as an 'old fogey' of 12 and 13). But in that short time he amassed an enormous number of awards and earned 317 points in a grand total of 13 different events.

'Karalinga K Notes' was PHAA Champion #62. He holds Superior Awards in Western Pleasure, Trail and Bridle-Path Hack and near Superiors in Hunter Hack and Western Riding (only a few points short). He held ten ROMs .. Halter, Western Pleasure, Trail, Western Riding, Reining, Working Cowhorse, Cutting, English Pleasure, Bridle-Path Hack and Hunter Hack.

K Notes was High Point Junior Performance Horse of Australia, (twice) Runner -Up High point Open Performance Horse of Australia, High Point Open Performance Horse of NSW (twice). He won more than 30 State & National Champions & Reserves, 20 National Honour Rolls & State High Points & Reserves & 6 NSW Certificates of Merit, as well as dozens and dozens of local High Points in various categories.

All of his accomplishmenets were achieved without ever having a trainer on his back. K Notes only did about a dozen shows each year including the PHAA Nationals, NSW State Show and POR, and he was rarely out of a first or second place in any company! His progeny have excelled in many of the same events as he did and also have done their jobs extremely well in promoting Paints within the western industry as well as in non-western fields.

Cynthia Anning

Inductee No: 4 | Year Inducted: 2013

Cynthia Anning was born in 1930. She has been a member of the PHAA since around 1981, and was granted an Honourary Life Membership in 2005, as recognition for her contribution to the paint horse breed and community.

Cynthia's first paint horse was a mare purchased in 1976, with a foal at foot. That sparked an interest that grew into a lifelong passion. Along with husband Nev Anning and daughter Helen Bentley, Cynthia owned and ran Kunda Paint Horse Stud in Maleny, Queensland, for over 30 years. Cynthia not only rode and trained paint horses but introduced many youth and amateurs into the paint horse world. A number of riders who benefitted from Cynthia's tuition are still active members and have grown from being Cynthia's pupils to successful competitors over decades. All were guided and encouraged to show, love and promote their paint horses and all were infected with Cynthia's dedication to the breed.

Cynthia joined the South East Queensland Paint Horse Club in 1978. She has been a member ever since, and served as Treasurer and Show Secretary for over 20 years. Now well into her 80s, Cynthia continues to work as the Club's Treasurer, and only in 2013 did she step down to Assistant Show Secretary. This voluntary demotion has not seen any change in her determination and hard work - she still attends every show to work tirelessly in the office. She has been instrumental in running every Queensland State Paint Horse Championship show since the show in Nambour in 1981. She was also an unwavering support at the National Championships in Dubbo, keeping camp and cooking for a team of up to 20 people (mainly Queenslanders) who camped with the Kunda Stud team during the show.

As well as successfully breeding, showing and training paint horses, Cynthia raised five children and ran various family businesses including a chicken abattoir for nearly 20 years.

Cynthia Anning's love for paint horses is evident. All who have known her, seen her work at shows, or visited Kunda Stud, where she still lives, have seen her tireless dedication to the paint horse breed. She remains a passionate and dedicated member of the Paint Horse Association of Australia to this day and is a respected by all.

Packard Lodge Warpaint

Inductee No: 4 | Year Inducted: 2009

Packard Lodge Warpaint was the first registered Paint horse stallion in Tasmania and the first registered Paint Horse stallion to be registered stock horse. He was born in 1973 by an ASB Thoroughbred stallion 'Mac Blue' out of a Paint horse mare 'Brandy'.

Awarded PHAA Champion #50, he has Register of Merits in Halter, Hacking, Jumping, Eventing, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Hunter Hack, Bridle Path Hack, Barrel Racing, Trail, Sporting, Working Stock Horse, DressagePackard Lodge Warpaint and more. He was awarded Champion Paint at every National/Royal Show that he attended from 1974 to 1982.

Packard Lodge Warpaint has been a Reserve High Point Performance Horse of Australia as well as High Point Performance Stallion for the Stock Horse Society - a testament to his versatility.

The first stallion allowed in open hack and riding classes at Tasmanian Agricultural shows he worked tirelessly to promote Paint Horses, Stock Horses and Stallions in general. He was used for advertising with the RACT and Bessie Cash Clothing Store, participated in street parades and was ridden by many celebrities.

His progeny have been successful in many fields but in particular a number have been exported overseas to compete in Eventing and Showjumping with a grandson reportedly to be the highest priced eventer to leave Australia.

Packard Lodge War paint died at the age of 23 in 1996.

Fire Trail

Inductee No: 3 | Year Inducted: 2009

Fire Trail was foaled in 1984, sired by AQHA Champion Vapour Trail and out of the first APHA imported mare Fireside Chat. Bred and owned all of his life by Kevin Mills, Fire Trail has two main homes, Crown Park Training Stables and Natan Paint Horse Stud.

Known as the quiet achiever Fire Trail commenced his show career at six months and consistently placed in the winners circle. Proven to be one of the most versatile Australian bred stallions, Fire Trail won the first versatility stakes at the 1989 NSW State Show.

Through his illustrious career 1988-1990 Fire Trail earned numerous and various State and National Championships. Highlights of his career are - PHAA Champion #77, Superior Award - Bridle Path Hack, ROMs in Halter, Western Pleasure, Bridle Path Hack, Hunter Hack.

After 5 years out of the show ring Fire Trail returned to the Nationals in 1995 and proved old boys can learn new tricks by receiving Reserve National Champion Working Cow Horse, National Champion Team Penning with Jim Hudson.

As well as being successful in the show ring, Fire Trail brought publicity to the PHAA by featuring on the first Paint Horse special on Burkes Backyard. Fire Trail was also used at the local TAFE for exhibitions/displays and also attended a parade at the Gosford thoroughbred race day in 1996 to promote the PHAA.

Fire Trail died on the 3rd November, 2007 at the age of 23.

Neville Anning

Inductee No: 3 | Year Inducted: 2013

Nev Anning was born in 1916. He was a member of the PHAA and South East Queensland Paint Horse Club for over 30 years and was granted an Honourary Life Membership in 2005. A passionate paint horse supporter, Nev rarely missed a SEQPHC meeting and whether gate marshalling, building and providing trail equipment, managing shows or just assisting with finer details, Nev's dedication at shows was always accompanied by a smile. Nev lived in Maleny, Queensland, at Kunda Paint Horse Stud until he passed away at the age of 96. He owned and ran Kunda Stud with his wife Cynthia and daughter Helen Bentley for over 30 years. Nev worked the property with his family - riding, training and showing the horses they bred with great success. Two stallions were imported to Kunda Stud from the USA in the 1990s, including 'Copyright' (Hall of Fame inductee #9).

Before the Queensland State Paint Horse Championships were moved to the then new indoor arena in Caboolture in the early 1990s, Nev helped build over 100 stables to make sure the facilities were appropriate for the occasion. The timber used for those stables was donated by Nev - originally a tree on Kunda Stud, he had it cut and milled especially for the stables.

One of his proudest moments was when Kunda Stud bred and trained horses took out first, second and third placings in the 2 Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity at the 1987 National Show. Nev rode gelding Kunda Roll A Coaster, wife Cynthia rode mare Kunda Roulette and daughter Helen rode Kunda Roll A Doll. Those three horses all became PHAA Champions and all went on to compete at state and national level with youth riders. The mares both produced multiple National Champion foals.

Nev's warm friendly smile and gentle words of encouragement calmed many nervous newcomers in the show pen. He motivated many youth, amateur and open riders, always encouraging them to ride paint horses. He always beamed with pride when anyone on Kunda Stud bred horse did well, but no matter who the horse or rider, his words were encouraging.

Before starting his family, Nev served almost five years in the Australian Infantry Forces, including three and a half as a Prisoner of War to the Japanese and 12 months laboring on the Burma-Thailand Railway. His autobiography A Mug From The Bush details the trials faced by Nev and those who have read it have been inspired by it. With Cynthia he raised five children.

C Notes Playboy

Inductee No: 2 | Year Inducted: 2008

With the PHAA barely one year old, Jack and Christine Ruckwood's imported stallion a sorrel overo foaled in 1968 stepped onto Australian soil in time to court a few mares at the end of the 1973-74 stud season.

National Champion Yearling at the 1969 National Show at Kansas City, Kansas, Playboy was bred by Junior Robertson and Jim Smoot and came from a long line of National Champions. His sire C-Note was a National Champion and APHA Champion. C-Note's Sire, Mr J Bar, holds five National Champion titles, two in Halter, one Roping, and two in

Get of Sire. C-Note's dam, Pocohontas, won the National Produce of Dam in 1966. C-Note's Playboy's dam was Squaw Cat a daughter of Dinky Reed AQHA. And the cropout mare Cat.

C-Note's Playboy proved to be an outstanding Halter horse in his first Australian show season, winning many championships and attracting a lot of attention to the Paint Horse breed with his flashy overo coloring - previously unseen in Australia.

For the 1974, 75 and 76 seasons C-Note's Playboy stood at stud for his owners, breeding many mares including registered Paints and Thoroughbreds. In 1977 the Ruckwoods leased C-Note's Playboy to Phil and Betty Carman and Betty commenced training the stallion for performance events. Now a nine year old, the imported horse put his mind to the job and in a short time was winning consistently in Bridle Path Hack, Western Pleasure, and Western Riding - and at the same time continuing his Halter success.

Grand Champion at the 1978 SPHC Victorian State Championships and Senior Champion at SEQPHC Qld State Championships were highlights of his time with the Carman's. Over a period of two years the Carman's showed him to his ROM Western Pleasure, ROM Halter and to PHAA Champion No. 7. He was also National High Point Halter Stallion and National High Point Western Pleasure Horse.

C-Notes Playboy was put to sleep on the 27th August 1987 at the age of 19.

David Farquhar

Inductee No: 2 | Year Inducted: 2011

David Rodney Farquhar was born in 1932 and spent his early childhood in Adelaide before moving to Melbourne in 1946. He later shifted to Essendon where his need to have animals flourished. There were bird aviaries, rabbit runs, lizards, ferrets, a ram and of course a horse. He had his own business up and going at a very early age starting with delivering milk and ice with his horse and cart to later buying a service station and trucking business. He had seven trucks which delivered from Melbourne to Sydney.

Having a great love for palominos, David bought a place at Gisbourne which he named the "Golden Horse Ranch". David started building Horse Trailers in Victoria and continued to run his trucks and breed more horses. He was building a bigger collection of everything along the way. He married his wife Lauris in 1970 and moved to Murrurundi right away to start building a barn, stables and stallion runs. He also continued building horse trailers. Later in 1972 David and Lauris had a son named Wade.

In 1974 David took his son Wade with him to the United States in search of an overo stallion. They went to meet Ralph Russell in Mckinney, Texas and purchased Bueno Bandit from him. Bueno was a Palomino overo and David fell in love with the horse instantly. Bueno Bandit had been competing with huge success in Halter, Western Pleasure, Trail, Reining and Cutting.

He was very proud to be a founding member and the first life member.

Lauris and David had two daughters, Cody and Lauretta Jo who grew up surrounded by a menagerie of animals. David bred Paints as well as Quarter Horses and most of the time had around 180 mares. In the late 1970's Bueno Bandit died and David lost interest in importing any more horses as he knew he could not replace his paint stallion. It was after that he decided to call his trailer business Beuno Trailers. He bred Long Horn cattle, was an avid car collector and continued to breed horses until he died. He had about 140 horses when he died and he knew every one of them.

David passed away suddenly in December 2009 and it was a huge shock to his family and all who knew him. All are now left with wonderful memories of a great man who achieved so much. David was a founding and life member of the Paint Horse Association of Australia.

Joeleo

Inductee No: 1 | Year Inducted: 2008

Joeleo a Bay Tobiano stallion foaled in 1973 is by "Le-Van Joe" an own son of "Levan" AQHA leading sire of ROM race qualifiers, and out of a black Quarter Horse mare "Donna Blaze Bar". Bred by Eugene Hickey, Chandler Arizona and imported by Lyman & Alaire Tenney.

Arriving shortly after C-Note's Playboy, Joeleo was barely 18 months old when he was placed second at his first showing - in a stallion class. This show was the only defeat Joeleo suffered in the show ring that year; he won all his classes for the rest of the year to win National High Point Halter Stallion 1974-75.

In 1975 he moved to West Australia where his training progressed and he won National High Point Cutting Horses 1975-76 earning all of his points in Open and NCHA competition, a feat he repeated for 1976-77. In 1976 he became PHAA Champion #3. Prior to moving to WA Joeleo had the honour of winning the first Paint Horse Race in Australia - as a two year old.

Joeleo has ROM's in Halter, Trail, Western Pleasure, Cutting, Western Riding, Reining and Bridle Path Hack. In 1975-76 he was Reserve National High Point Horse in Trail, Western Riding and Sprint Racing. Then 1976-77 saw him emerge as National High Point Horse in Cutting and Reserve in Trail and Working Cowhorse.

In the 1977-78 season he won National High Point Reining and Western Riding and Equal High Point Bridle Pat Hack and Sprint Racing. As if to prove that things get better with age, he went out in 78-79 to be Honor Roll Cutting; Working Cowhorse and Sprint Racehorse and earned a PHAA Superior Cutting Horse Award.

Joeleo was put to sleep in December 2002 after his second heart attack. He would have been 30 years old the following February.

Peta-Anne Tenney

Inductee No: 1 | Year Inducted: 2008

Peta-Anne was born in Sydney and was the oldest child of three. Her mother helped found the Hornsby Pony Club and Peta-Anne inherited her love of horses. At an early age, Peta was given a camera as a gift and then Peta began to combine her two great loves of horses and photography.

Peta married Todd Tenney in 1971 and they have two boys. Along with her in-laws, Lyman and Alaire Tenney she founded the Paint Horse Association of Australia Ltd and was the secretary for the first three years and editor of the PHAA Journal. Peta-Anne lived and breathed the Paint Horse and along with her husband imported the stallion Le Van Dee Dee* 150.

Todd and Peta-Anne owned some of the top paint horse mares and were proud co-owners of the first two PHAA Champions Le Van Dee Dee and Joe Paint. It was Peta-Anne that compiled the first PHAA studbook and she and Todd published the Australia's Western Horseman and the Stallion Yearbooks. Peta always made sure that Paints were given good promotion and coverage in any of their own publications.

The Tenneys moved to Arizona USA in 1983 and while they no longer had horses, they still have Joe Paints awards in pride of place in their office. A few years ago, she returned the silver coffee service, a gift from the PHAA to Todd and Peta as co-founders of the PHAA, to the office. It was a lovely gesture and one that proves that even today as far away as she is from Australia, she still holds the PHAA close to her heart.