A well-known and popular stallion, Cousteau hails from the breeding program of Mrs. R.L. Robinson of Richland, Michigan. Cousteau was sold to Robert E. Clark as a young horse and enjoyed a successful show career in the States- earning Reserve All American accolades during one of the most competitive eras of conformation showing in Percheron history. As can be seen in this photo of the stallion in his prime, Cousteau was a picture of balance. As a horse gaining his length from a long, well-laid-back shoulder and an equally long hip, the plumb lines and correctness of his underpinning followed suit. This stallion was line-bred back to the great Justamere Showtime, as his sire, South Valley Prince Ha Ha was a double-grandson of Showtime and his mother, Midnight Contessa was a granddaughter of the old horse by way of her sire, South Valley Did-It.
In 1990, Cousteau traveled north to the Kemp Family's Ironwood Farms where he rose to greater prominence as several of his get began to take show rings across the continent by storm. Most notably, his son, Ironwood Beauregard, out of the Highview Dragano daughter Blackhome Shirley Lyn, would go on to become a National Champion, All American and perennial top-contender on the Percheron Horse Association of America's Premier Sire list. He too, has earned a deserving spot in the history books, as his sons and daughters topped public auctions, All American lists and hitch and halter competitions throughout the late 90's and early 2000's.
The Cousteau daughter who cut the widest swath in the conformation ring would be, undoubtedly, the mare Glenview Cousteau's Colette, a National Champion for Jim and Peg Mills' JP Farms who later put a capstone on her show career when she earned herself a World Championship title.
Like so many great sires, Cousteau was utilized by a number of breeders throughout his lifetime, and during his tenure in Canada, Harry and Sandra Dale of Daleview (HS) Percherons employed the use of the stallion. The horse produced a number of hitchy offspring for the Dale Family, but the mares Daleview HS Katie and Daleview HS Jennifer would rise to national prominence after they were purchased by Doug Wurz to lead his Vintage Springs Farm's six-up of registered mares. In 2001, Katie and Jennifer led the black and red Vintage Springs wagon to the winners circle at the Indiana State Fair and were crowned the National Champion Mare Six Horse Hitch.
Cousteau would conclude his breeding career at Almost Heaven Farm in Ohio, owned by Jeff and Penny Earl. There he sired another promising colt, a full brother to Ironwood Beauregard, named Almost Heavens Wyatt. Wyatt would follow in Beauregard's footsteps as a top show horse, earning an All American title and winning a Jr. National Championship of his own, shown that year with Ross Honsberger on the lead.
Cousteau's size, quality and presence contributed to his show ring successes, while his wealth of genetics and dominance as a sire enabled him to produce the kind of offspring that has solidified him as one of the great sires of the past. Like so many stallions, Cousteau's production record was one of quality over quantity, and by siring just a few of the most dominant show and breeding horses of his era, the stallion's legacy has been perpetuated and preserved for generations to come.
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