Updated: Tuesday, 3rd September 2019. Scroll in the Notice Board to view any additional content.

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The Australian Stock Horse Society Announces a New Director

Society Chairman Ms Lorna Fanning announced that a new Director had agreed to serve on the Board for the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of Robert Watchirs from NSW. The new Director is Ms Vicki Mascord from Sydney.

Ms Fanning said “Vicki comes to the Board with a lifetime of experience and involvement in the Society through Branch & Management Council and was recently awarded our National Volunteer of the Year.” Ms Fanning continued “Vicki is highly regarded in the Society and in the broader horse industry in general.”

Ms Fanning said the Board would like to thank Robert Watchirs for his time on the Board and wish him well in the future.

With four women now on the Board, Ms Fanning said that gender balance was an important issue to be considered along with skill based attributes when selecting a new Director. “The Society’s demographic is predominantly female and we need to reflect that on our Board” she said.

With the Society set to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2021, Ms Fanning believes that more women should consider governance roles in the industry. “I am so pleased to be able to work with a Board that is progressive, cohesive and committed to what the future may hold” she concluded.

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Update from Brett Welsh - Convener of the ASHS Stud Book Committee

I have received some questions regarding the proposed Base Register mentioned in a media release from our Chairman, Lorna Fanning.

The board is working towards keeping the membership informed and involved in proceedings, hence these updates. They will come as quickly and as often as possible. Some may be merely ideas for comment, others may develop into regulation. Please be involved and offer constructive criticism but refrain from distasteful remarks - these may be works in progress and we are all on the same team.

Base Register - The ‘Base Register’ is a working title for a concept in development. It is proposed that the minimum entry level for a new sub-category - the (Base Registry) would require that a horse must have at least ONE HSH grandparent or TWO HSH great grandparents. (i.e. 25% HSH).

In conjunction with the proposed Heritage Stock Horse Stud Book, this proposal would bring our practices more in line with the Mission Statement of the Society.

So in summary, this means that going forward all horses being registered in the Base Registry will have to possess HSH ancestry. This is a concept. It requires much consultation, development, legal advice and regulation.

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The Australian Stock Horse Society Announces new Chairman of The ASHS Board

The Australian Stock Horse Society is proud to announce that their new Chairman is Ms Lorna Fanning from Queensland. Ms Fanning from Warwick (Queensland) is a well-known local personality in the Campdraft and Stock Horse world.

Commenting after her first Board meeting as Chairman, Ms Fanning said that she was really pleased with both the direction and work ethic of the new Board. “Over the last two days we made decisions around member benefits, a Loyalty Program, a Heritage Stud Book, implementing a Base Register for horses that are not currently eligible for Stud Book Registration, the 50th Anniversary celebrations and a whole lot more.”

“We were also delighted with news that with over 1000 sires now tested for genetic disorders, that only around 1% had come back testing as a carrier” she said. “This has given us the opportunity to manage the problem within our Stud Book” she continued.

“I am so pleased and humbled to be given the honour of leading this great organisation for the next twelve months. We have a great deal of work to do in preparation for our fiftieth anniversary and I am very keen to ensure that we honour our past and set a great platform for our future” she concluded.

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2019 AGM & Awards Dinner
2019 Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 17th August, 2019 in Brisbane, Queensland.
Brisbane Riverview Hotel, Cnr Kingsford Smith Drive & Hunt Street Hamilton QLD 4007 Phone: (07) 3862 1800.

Registration will commence at 9.30am
Members Forum to follow at 10.00am
AGM Opening - 1.30pm

CLICK HERE FOR AGENDA

CLICK HERE FOR PROXY FORM

Followed by Awards Dinner from 6.30pm 
Tickets $58.00 per person (Guests to purchase own drinks)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DINNER TICKETS

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Update on the NSW Board Election
Anyone wishing to vote in the forthcoming election for NSW Directors will need to be financial by COB on 12 June 2019.Full, Gold, Honorary Life and Life Members that have their membership address being in NSW or the ACT will be issued ballot papers on 13 June 2019.

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Heritage Stock Horse - From the Boardroom
Members are advised of changes to the eligibility criteria for Heritage Stock Horses which will be effective from 1st June 2021. As a result of these changes, it may be that horses currently eligible for Heritage Stock Horse may not be eligible after the introduction of the new rules.

Whilst the Society currently undertakes routine assessment of the eligibility of horses, this process will not be complete prior to the introduction of the new rules. Accordingly, should members be concerned that their horses may not be eligible after the introduction of the new rules, they are invited to make application to the Society to undertake the assessment pursuant to the currently rules, at the cost of the applicant.

HSH Rules & Regulations (June 2021) - CLICK HERE
HSH Assessment Application - CLICK HERE

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ASH Breeding Certificate
Rules 3.1 to 3.13 remain unchanged. Amendment to rule 3.14 and add Rule 3.15 - ASH Breeding Certificates NOT signed or signed by unauthorised person, the Society or Board reserves the right to accept an Application for Registration that is not accompanied by a properly completed and signed ASH Breeding Certificate.

Members should review the rules - Section 3, Registration of Horses, Rule 3 - ASH Breeding Certificates - CLICK HERE

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2019 Members Only Raffle Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Members Only Raffle.

1st Prize: Tracey (TJ) Moore of Davidson, NSW
Helloworld Travel Scone Holiday Voucher - Valued at $3,700
2nd Prize: Marianna Campbell of Mount Isa, QLD
Simon Gray Saddlery Bridle & Breastplate - Valued at $960
3rd Prize: Annette & Robbie George of Mitchells Flat, NSW
Tickets for 4 to the Australian Outback Spectacular

We would like to thank all of those who purchased tickets to help support our Youth Members. We would also like to thank Australian Outback Spectacular, Simon Gray Saddlery and Helloworld Travel Scone for their generosity and support.

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Letter from the ASHS Board - Social Media
The Society provides an official Facebook page to Members for the opportunity for the Society and its Members to share up-to-date information, share positive aspects and good news stories with the wider Stock Horse community. This is a privilege that has been and is being abused by some Members. The Society has a Social Media Policy which prohibits this conduct and Members who continue to post inappropriate comments, inaccurate or misleading information or make derogatory or defamatory comments about the Society, its Members, Directors, Staff, Officials, Judges, Volunteers or other organisations will face disciplinary action and will be refused access to this Page. Reference by Members to the registration of horses with other organisations is deemed inappropriate.

ASHS Senior Vice Chairman, Craig Young for and on behalf of the ASHS Board of Directors.

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Compulsory Tests For Genetic Disorders
Some Australian Stock Horses have been identified as carriers of HERDA - Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia. It is a severe skin disorder, causing blistering and lesions, leading to secondary infections and early death. HERDA can be traced through Quarter Horse lineage to a mare called Miss Taylor (born in the USA in 1933), the dam of influential Quarter Horse sire, Poco Bueno. Members should research the disorder before breeding. The AQHA requires horses to be tested and results are available on the AQHA database.

On 9th March, the ASHS Board discussed Genetic Disorders and how to manage them - OLWS, HYPP, HERDA, PSSM1, MH, GBED. They agreed, management is paramount. For further information and key points relating to sire registered stallions, progeny of horses testing positive (carrier or affected) and registration of progeny born after 1st August 2020 (must be negative) as adopted by the Board - click here.

Click to hear from Dr Natasha Hamilton of Equine Genetics Research Centre - Racing Australia, who provides some insight into the work that they do and how they are partnering with the Society to assist with the recent adoption of DNA testing for hereditary diseases.

Stallion Owners Notice

• All Sire Registered stallions must be tested for Genetic Disorders by 1st August 2019. Results will be noted on the horse’s registration. 
• Stallions or colts being Sire Registered will require Genetic Disorder Testing.  Any horse returning a Positive Test (carrier or affected) will be REJECTED for Sire Registration.
• Stallion owners can test their stallions now, enabling results to be disclosed to mare owners before mating.

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ASHS Approved Saddlers and Retailers
The following saddlers are the ONLY businesses approved by The Australian Stock Horse Society to use the "A" logo on their leather saddlery products:

• Chloe Rutherford Bridles & Tack
• Lordan's Saddlery
• Marlem Custom Made Saddlery
• Marsh Carney Saddlery
• Robinsons Saddlery
• Simon Gray Saddlery
• SKT Leather
• Stan Bowd - Custom Made Saddlery
• Toprail Equine

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Defamation and the Disciplinary Committee
As of the February 2012 Board Meeting, Members using electronic methods to defame either the Society, its Judges, Officials, Volunteers or fellow Members will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.