About AQHA
Hall of Fame

Commanders Focus Q-2508

Commanders Focus was foaled in 1977, sired by the imported stallion Commanders Boy out of imported mare Hollywood Janie. In 1978 Gary and Joan Prior purchased this bay yearling from Bill and Judith Long of the Flying L Quarter Horse Stud at Moree.

This wonderful, gentle, versatile stallion proved to have the true Quarter Horse temperament both in and out of the show ring; he always was the perfect gentleman, only showing displeasure by screwing up a nostril.

Throughout his career, ‘Fo’, as he was affectionately known, earned  an impressive 33 AQHA awards and 1121 points. Amongst these is the most highly and treasured AQHA performance Medal, the AQHA Quarter Horse Champion Award. He has won two Gold, three Silver and five Bronze Century’s, six Superiors, ten ROMs and five Achievement awards.

His AQHA End of year Awards consisted of the: 1982 Reining Horse of the Year; 1983 Reining Horse of the Year; 1984 Working Cowhorse of the Year and Runner up Reining Horse of the Year; 1987 Trail Horse of the Year; 1988 Runner up Trail Horse of the Year; 1989     Western Riding Horse of the Year and Runner up General Performance Horse of the Year 1991; Western Riding Horse of the Year and Runner up Trail Horse of the Year. He competed in events such as Halter, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Trail, Reining, Cutting (all of which were NCHA events), Hunter Under Saddle, Working Cowhorse, Campdrafting, Working Stock Horse (in fact he was never defeated in this class) and Versatilities. He won the Central Victoria F100 World/Dunlop Versatility in 1989 when competing on the Southern Circuit.

In 1993, after 14 years of showing plus performing his duties in the breeding pen and giving demonstrations, Commanders Focus was retired from the show ring. He had amassed Quarter Horse Association of South Australia End of Year Awards for every one of these years, as well as numerous individual High Point Show Awards. As well as being a successful competitor in the show ring, he participated in street parades and gave numerous demonstrations in which he would work without a bridle in front of crowds of 5,000 or more, demonstrating manoeuvres of Reining, Western Riding and Cutting as well as putting up with having whips cracked whilst being ridden, always maintaining his fantastic temperament even when faced with loud applause and other distractions.

Considering that, due to work commitments, ‘Fo’ was a horse shown predominately in South Australia, it was indeed an honour for him to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the NSW Quarter Association for outstanding contribution to the Quarter Horse Industry in Australia.

Not only had Commander’s Focus proved himself in the show ring but also proved that he could pass his brilliance on having sired AQHA Champion Horses, AQHA Youth Champion Horses and AQHA Amateur Champion Horses. So many of his progeny have been award winners and not only in the western arena, but in many of the diverse disciplines of the horse industry.

Just a few of Commanders Focus’s successful progeny are: Ace Command Q-24255: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion, AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Billabowie Flitter Q-9142: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion, AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Cowra Gretel Q-14856: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion, AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Trader Command Q-37945: AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Tara’s Harmony Q-6874: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Pablo Command Q-31719: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion, AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Crystal Command Q-25674: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Trapper Command Q-14424: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Sasha Q-22394: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Cowra Commander Crickett Q-9265: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Cowra Super Doc Q-24322: AQHA Quarter Horse Champion; Sparks Command Q-14422: AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Sissy Command Q-31718: AQHA Champion Youth Horse; Cowra Knotty’s Focus Q-4548: Superior Horse in Halter and Hack events and Golden Focus A1-197: A multiple winner at Campdrafting as well as a top Rodeo pick up horse.

Other progeny excel in Polocrosse, Campdrafting, Dressage, Show jumping, Three Day Eventing and Trail and Pleasure riding.

The gentleman ‘Fo’ was put to rest on 19th October 2002 and was buried in his favourite spot under the pine trees, the place where he would socialise over the fence with his mares in the adjoining paddock.

As a horse who was loved and respected by many, Commanders Focus is greatly missed. His line is continuing today through his sons and daughters as well as their sons and daughters who display the same abilities.  This shows just what a good horse is all about, one that is able to pass on their brilliance – and even the occasional screwed up nostril!

The Australian Quarter Horse Association takes great pleasure in honouring Commanders Focus Q-2508 by welcoming him as a Hall of Fame Inductee for 2007.