MEMBERS of the Australian Stock Horse Society (ASHS) are getting ready to showcase their breed at the biggest event of the year, the ASHS national show, in March.
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The show has achieved a 25 per cent increase in competitor numbers following a change of dates from May to March, with about 400 riders and 800 horses set to compete in eight disciplines.
ASHS events and marketing team leader Blair Forrest said members from all states and territories were making their way to Tamworth for the nine-day event.
Disciplines include dressage, futurities, campdraft, challenges, and show classes – led and hack classes as well as the traditional working and station horse classes.
The national show is open to all financial ASH members and registered horses and includes the country’s top horses.
Many competitors will use the national show as a warm up for the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April.
“This is the place to see the very best competition in the ASH breed,” Miss Forrest said.
“For many people, it’s not just a lifestyle, but a career or business and having a horse that can compete and be successful at this level is good for trainers and breeders.
“A lot of these competitors will use horses for multiple events, so some compete in dressage then campdrafting an hour later, which shows that the ASH is the breed for every need.”
A feature of the show, the ASH gala night on March 4, is back again to showcase the versatility of the ASH breed.
This year’s gala night will include performances by Dan Steers from Double Dan Horsemanship and Hunter champion whipcracker Andrew Thomas.
“The gala night was introduced last year and we had such a great response,” Miss Forrest said.
“We’ll also have the battle of the sexes indoor campdraft which was won by the ladies last year.”
ASH members will also pay tribute to servicemen and their horses, marking the 100th anniversary of the battle of Beersheba.
“The heritage of the Australian Stock Horse came from the Walers so we’re paying tribute to those men and the horses in battle,” Miss Forrest said.
ASHS ambassador Guy McLean is flying home from the US for the show, holding his Guy McLean Horsemanship Spectacular on Friday, March 10.
The ASHS national show runs from March 3 to March 11 at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre.
Top bloodlines on offer in Fountain of Youth sale
SOME of the top young Australian Stock Horses (ASH) from the eastern states will be on offer in the annual Fountain of Youth national yearling and two-year-old sale on March 5.
Sixty one led horses will be available, including 52 yearlings and nine two-year-olds. The catalogue includes 27 heritage ASHs related to the foundation horses of the society.
Among the sires represented are Binnia Impressive Destiny, Hazelwood Conman, Lone Pine Flyn, Palmers Navaho and Wallabah Excel.
“There are horses suitable for campdrafting, polocrosse and the show ring, as well as some that will be leisure horses,” ASHS events and marketing team leader Blair Forrest said.
“It’s a led sale but some of the two-year-olds are already broken in and ready to go.
“The incentives for the sale include free membership for new members and a $10,000 incentive to come back and compete in the national futurity.”
Horses will be paraded prior to the gala evening on March 4, with the sale to be held from 2pm on March 5.
Ruth Schwager
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
