"I keep telling people this is the most trainable horse I have ever ridden. Especially on Cattle. I envy other trainers if this is the calibre of horse they get to work with all of the time."
—Bill Willowby, April 2008 Horse Master (films include The Man from Snowy River and Mcleods Daughters)

Breed Standards

Australian Stock Horses have been bred for trainability, courage, toughness and stamina. Click here to watch a short clip* of the ASH in action. [DURATION: 02:18 *clip requires quicktime] The following Standard of Excellence is based on the original ASHS description of 'The Australian Stock Horse' from 1971.

• Head alert and intelligent with broad forehead, full, well-set eyes, wide nostrils. A fine, clean gullet, allowing plenty of breathing room.


• A good length of rein, well set into the shoulder.


• Sloping shoulder, not too heavily muscled, a well-defined wither slightly higher than the croup.


• Deep chest, not too wide in proportion, but showing plenty of heart room.


• Ribs well sprung and back strong and of medium length in proportion.


• In forelegs, forearms well developed, cannon bones slightly flat, pasterns short and slightly sloping.


• Hindquarters strong, rounded and well muscled, nicely sloping to give a full line from croup to hock. Hocks broad, flat and clean, the cannon relatively short with well-defined tendons. The hind legs well under when standing.


• The Hooves hard and in proportion to the size of the horse, with a wide heel and feet straight.


• The whole of these component parts to be in balance according to the size.


• Preferred heights between 14 and 16 hands.

An artist's impression of the Australian Stock Horse Standard of Excellence is pictured above. (Artist: Deidre Hunt)

Versatility

Probably the most significant point about Australia's horses is that the same sires whose lines propelled horses to victory in the Olympics also sired champions in Campdrafting, Endurance, Polocrosse, Polo and Pony Club mounts.

Show Jumping Comparatively small by Warmblood standards the ASH have tremendous spring, speed and athleticism. Competing in the FEI eventing, World qualifiers and the Beijing Olympic games.

Polo and Polocrosse Athletic, calm mounts that are clever like to play games and have cat-like maneuvers. Australian Stock Horses are considered the official mount of polocrosse.

Endurance Riding With the prominent arab bloodline of 'Shahzada' and a strong influence of the Thoroughbred Stud book the ASH has proven itself to be a great endurance horse in many international events including the great desert race of Dubai.

Campdrafting Born out of working cow horses this sport has remained purely Australian to date. But uses the 'Cut out' and 'run' work similarly used in North Americas Working cow horse events. Futurities add the Hack and Halter events, which focus on the versatility of the ASH breed. Click here to watch a short clip* of the ASH campdrafting. [DURATION: 03:02 *clip requires quicktime]

"The Australian Stock Horse has the versatility to excel in a wide range of equestrian disciplines. My 1979 Burghley winner and Olympic horse, Davey, was an Australian Stock Horse who proved himself to be one of the best horses in the world at the time. He took me to 2 World Championships, 2 Olympic Games and travelled the world 3 times. He was the most honest and brave horse I've ever ridden who always gave 110%. The longer I'm in the sport the more I admire him for what he did for me." —Andrew Hoy, Eventer, Olympic Gold Medallist

History of the Breed

The Australian Stock Horse, possibly the world's most versatile horse, evolved through selective breeding in response to the demands of the environment. The history of the breed began with the arrival of the First Fleet which brought the first horses to Australia in 1788. These were of English Thoroughbred & Spanish stock.

Later importations included more Thoroughbreds, Arabs, Timor and Welsh Mountain Ponies. All horses sent to the Colony needed strength and stamina - not only to survive the long sea journey, but also to work in the foreign, untamed environment that had become their home. After Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813, settlers ventured inland and strong reliable horses became a necessity. Explorers, stockmen, settlers, bushrangers & troopers all relied on horses that could travel long distances, day after day. Weak horses were culled but the stronger types were used to breed sturdy saddle horses which were essential for the Colony's settlement. Despite the mixed origins of these horses, they developed into a strong and handsome type which was eventually called the Waler after the Colony of New South Wales. The hardiness of the Waler made him a natural mount for the cavalry and when the British found themselves under- mounted at the time of the Indian Mutiny the Waler came to the rescue. By the end of 1858, nearly 3000 had been sent to India and had proved themselves far superior to the local breeds. In the Boer War, the Waler was exported in even greater numbers and from 1899 to 1902 nearly 16,000 horses served in such regiments as the Lancers, Commonwealth Horse, Mounted Rifles and Bushmen's Troop.

Later in the Middle East during the First World War, generals & cavalrymen from 20 nations, fighting on both sides, saw that the Australian horses were again more reliable and showed greater endurance than the other breeds. About 160,000 Australian horses served in World War 1 and their performance was best summed up by R.M. Preston D.S.O. in his book "The Desert Mounted Corps" - "The majority of horses in the Corps were Walers and there is no doubt that these hardy Australian horses make the finest cavalry mounts in the world". After the First World War, despite the recognition Australian Horses had won and although the Waler was known as a distinctive type, there was no Stud Book or Registry.

Mechanization of primary industries reduced the need for working horses and it was not until the 1960's that an interest in horses was revived due to the increasing leisure time available to society. Mr. Alex Braid of Wellington invited Mr. John Kenneth Mackay, from Dungog, to chair the Inaugural Meeting on 28th April 1971 at the Cole Dudgeon Hall, Sydney. Mr. Herbert Griffith of Scone, and Alex Braid gathered together a group of enthusiasts to discuss the formation of the Society at the Inaugural Meeting. Ken Mackay's opening address spoke of the Waler in the Boer War and the War of 1914 - 1918 as well as Stock Horses in general. On 15th June 1971, a General Meeting was called at the Tamworth RSL Club to launch The Australian Stock Horse Society.

For more information about Australian Stock Horses, please visit the website of the Australian Stock Horse Society.

"Australian stock horses make the perfect polocrosse horses with speed, soundness, agility and trainability as their major attributes."
—Gerald O'Brien, professional horse trainer & Equestrian Federation of Australia Coach

Register of Outcrosses

It has always been important that other breeds do not dominate the traditional and heritage lines, change the type, temperament or versatility of the breed. At times, infusion of other breeds has been allowed. Although the Stud Book is closed, members have the right to select breeding stock of their choice; First Cross registration was introduced for breeders over ten years ago. After a trial period with First Cross registration, it was decided that only Second Cross and Stud Book stallions could be registered as sires, due to the possibility that First Cross stallions could significantly impact within the Stud Book.

The Board has always endeavoured to restrict or allow registration of horses within the Society to best preserve the identity and heritage of the breed's origins and to retain the versatility and temperament for which the breed is renowned.

For specific information on registering your CADABRA foal with the Australian Stock Horse Society, visit the official website at www.ashs.com.au.