Throwback Thursday: Blondys Dude

This Throwback Thursday, we dig a little deeper than we have recently and remember the great sire, Blondys Dude.  A sorrel stallion by Small Town Dude, Blondys Dude was a late foal, being born in August of 1957.  He was sold as a three year-old for $5,000 to Morgan Freeman, who successfully showed “Dude” to 18 Grand Champion and 2 Reserve Champion titles in just two years.  However, due to his conformation, Dude showed an affinity for both reining and cutting, in addition to his success in the halter ring.

His true calling seemed to lie in the breeding shed, where he sired over 1,400 foals who, collectively, earned over 10,000 points, 25 AQHA champions, 5 Youth Champions, and over $21,000 in NCHA earnings.  Many notable horses carried on his bloodline including Diamonds Sparkle (1979 AQHA Superhorse and dam of Hall of Fame stallion, Shining Spark), Hall of Fame stallion Zippos Mr Good Bar, A Good Machine, Reprise Bar (1989 AQHA Superhorse), and Zans Diamond Dude (1993 World Champion).

Blondys Dude was laid to rest at 23 years of age in 1980.  He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2001 and is considered one of the most influential sires in AQHA history.

[source: AQHA Hall of Fame, Quarter Horse Directory]