'End Of An Era' – Death of IRT Founder Quentin Wallace at 77

IRT Managing Director Chris Burke has paid an emotional tribute to Quentin Wallace, the founder of the international horse transport company and a pioneer within the equine travel business, who died at the age of 77. 

Burke said, “It's the end of an era. Sometimes people miss the fact the whole shuttle stallion business and introduction of Northern Hemisphere stallions to the Southern Hemisphere was all down to the innovation he put into the industry. I think people take it for granted a little. He was well ahead of his time and, to think he was doing this in 1972, it says it all. When I look at the pedigrees of horses in Australia, in many ways, he's touched every page. He leaves an extraordinary legacy.”

Wallace built IRT into the global presence that it is now with offices in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Germany.

A tribute posted by IRT on Thursday read, “A pioneer and a visionary, and a true gentleman, Wallace was more than the creator of one of the world's most trusted names in equine transport. He was a man who built bridges across continents, always with horses at heart and excellence as his guide.

“Quentin's story began in the UK, but it was his first trip to Australia in 1966 that would set the course for a lifetime of innovation and adventure. After a brief stint as a jackaroo in western Victoria, he returned home with a clear vision and a pioneering spirit. Recognising a growing demand for horses in Australia, he began shipping them by sea, forging the first links in what would become a truly global enterprise.

“Like many great stories, Quentin's path wasn't without challenge. In 1972, equine disease halted sea transport, seemingly closing a door. However Quentin saw opportunity. With determination and foresight, he turned to the skies, becoming involved in the airborne transport of horses between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, in doing so, pioneering the Shuttle Stallion business. This was not just a new chapter – it was the beginning of a revolution in the industry.”

It added, “To those who knew Quentin personally, he was a mentor and a friend. His passion for logistics, horses and the people who care for them was evident in every decision he made.

“Wallace lived a life with purpose, pursued a vision with courage, and was a man whose work changed an industry forever. He leaves behind not just a global company, but a global equine community, one that will carry his vision forward with pride.”