The Australian Stock Horse

It also has cat-like speed and agility, giving the horse a cosmopolitan blend of attributes which have produced the world's best at work and play.

The basic prerequisites of high performance sporting horses are a quiet temperament, intelligence and athletic ability.  The Australian Stock Horse has all of these qualities, and is now regarded as a benchmark for equestrian breeding excellence.

Australian Stock Horses are used for general riding and stock work on rural properties, as well as equestrian competitions.  With it's versatility, the Australian Stock Horse has achieved outstanding success in a wide variety of sports including campdrafting, showjumping, dressage, eventing, pony club events, harness, polo and polocrosse. 

The Australian Stock Horse is intelligent, with courage, toughness and stamina, and has a good temperament.  The Australian Stock Horse is considered possibly the world's most versatile horse, the horse evolved through selective breeding in response to the demands of the environment.

There was a tribute to the Australian Stock Horse during the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony when an Australian Stock Horse reared and then a further 120 Stock Horses were ridden into the stadium and performed intricate formations to music including forming the five Olympic Rings and re-enacting part of the 'ride' of the poem "The Man From Snowy River" by Australian composer Bruce Rowland.

The Australian Stock Horse Society's Head Office was established in Scone in regional New South Wales, which promotes itself as the Horse Capital of Australia.  Scone is appropriate for the headquarters, as it is in the heart of one of Australia's top horse breeding areas and is in an area where many notable Stock Horse bloodline originate.

The Society is the largest breed organisation for pleasure horses in Australia.  The Society enjoys a loyal and growing membership of more than 9500 individuals and they have in excess of 170 000 horses registered or foal recorded.

www.ashs.com.au