Australian Stock Horse basic information

Stock Horse Type
Head: Alert, intelligent head - broad forehead full eye-wide nostril

Neck: Good length of rein - well set into shoulders

Shoulders: Sloping shoulder - well defined wither slightly higher than croup

Chest: Deep - not to wide in proportion

Ribs: Well-sprung ribs and strong back of medium length in proportion

Legs: Forearms well-developed - cannon bone slightly flat - pasterns not to long and slightly sloping.

Quarters: Strong powerful quarters - well-muscled and nicely rounded. Wide and deep in thigh and gaskin. Clean flat bone and clean joints - not meaty and soft. Hind legs well under when standing. Hoofs hard and straight. The whole to be in balance according to size of the horse


The Versatile Breed

The basic pre-requisites of a high performance horse are a quiet temperament, intelligence and athletic ability. These qualities are essential for a brilliant performance whatever the event.

With its versatility, the Australian Stock Horse has achieved outstanding success in a wide variety of sports including campdrafting, show jumping, dressage, eventing, pony club events, polo and polocrosse.

CAMPDRAFTING, a truly Australian sport, requires agility, intelligence and strength of both horse and rider. The horse must also have speed and 'cattle sense' which is required when the competitor selects a beast from the 'camp' or yard and separates it from the remaining cattle. After 'cutting-out' the beast, the rider has to work it with his horse around an outside course.

DRESSAGE is the most elegant of equine sports. A dressage horse must have intelligence, suppleness, obedience and smoothness of movement to produce a flowing and disciplined performance.

POLO and POLOCROSSE require fast, strong horses with stamina and a 'love of the game.' Called ponies in both games, these horses must demonstrate intelligence, agility and control at speed.

SHOW JUMPING and EVENTING horses are indeed athletes and need to be obedient, intelligent and bold with obvious strength and soundness.

PONY CLUB horses need a quiet temperament, and the ability to perform capably in a variety of events. They need intelligence, athletic ability and the ability to adapt to their rider's standard of horsemanship.

The successful performance of the Australian Stock Horse has not only been recognized throughout Australia, but exports to England, America and Asia have given them world-wide recognition