Glenn Fontenot

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2023

Louisiana native Glenn Fontenot was born and raised in Ville Platte and the 85-year-old has made notable contributions to the Quarter Horse breeding and racing industry.

He was a farmer of soybeans, rice and cattle, but his true passion was owning and breeding Quarter Horses. He stood stallions including Rays Law and Streakin Jewel, but his top producer was the great Hemp Meyers. 

Fontenot had an enduring friendship with W. A. Darling, who was inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2017.  He recalls their history on the acquisition of Hemp Meyers.

"I saw W.A. at the races at Delta; he told me he had heard that I had lost my stallion," recalled Fontenot.  "He offered me a share of a horse he was considering sending to stud, but I told him that the stallion I wanted was Hemp Meyers."

The two men embarked upon a 50-50 partnership with Hemp Meyers standing stud on Fontenot's farm. In his first year, 128 mares were bred to Hemp Meyers with an impressive 118 in foal.

"He was a natural and the easiest stallion I ever collected," said Fontenot.

Fontenot had tremendous pride in seeing the progeny of Hemp Meyers become stakes winners. In 1982, Fontenot bred his mare Johnnie's Flash to Hemp Meyers. A strapping filly was born at around 2:00 am on February 27, 1983.

He remembers that W. A. stopped by the next morning, took one look at the filly and thought she was two weeks old. That filly was Flashy Hemp, who went on to win 12 of her 20 starts, earning $283,632. She was nominated as AQHA Racing Champion 2-Year Old Filly, finishing third in the voting. The annual Flashy Hemp Stakes is run each year during the Delta Downs Quarter Horse meet to honor the classy race mare.

In addition to breeding and owning horses, Fontenot devoted countless hours of service to the state's Breeders Association.  He served as a board member and was a past president of the LQHBA. One of the goals of the association was the creation of breeders awards. While online payments are prominent these days, hundreds of Louisiana breeders have been delighted to open their mailboxes and find those checks.

Fontenot was a tremendous supporter of the LQHBA Yearling Sale and consigned horses annually since the first sale held in Alexandria and each year since the sale was moved to Kinder.

"It's unbelievable how much the sale has grown," said Glenn. "The quality is better each year and owners are able to get a very good horse at a reasonable price."

Fontenot has three sons, Tommy, Barry and Donovan, who are active in Louisiana horse racing and roping. When Donovan was 13-years-old, he led Mr Jess Perry into the LQHBA Yearling Sale ring.

"Driving home that night, I remember Donovan telling me that he was by far, the best horse in the sale," recalled Glenn.

Fontenot has 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. One grandson, Camron has been successful sale prepping yearlings and according to Glenn, looks poised to carry on the legacy of the Fontenot family.

Glenn Fontenot was feted in 2003 by the LQHBA with a Lifetime Achievement Award will have a sizeable number of friends and family members in attendance in this year's Hall of Fame ceremony. In addition to his sons and daughter Anne, Fontenot will be joined by his wife, Jackie Richard, who he married last November.

His son, Tommy, did not hesitate when asked about the significance of his father being honored on April 22.

"It means the world," stated Tommy. "My dad gave his heart and soul to the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association. He was one of a group of men who stood firm in building a strong foundation for Louisiana breeding and racing."