Updated: Wednesday, 14th November 2018. Scroll in the Notice Board to view any additional content.

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2019 ASHS Membership Renewals
Due to the volume of ASHS Renewals that were emailed out to Members on Wednesday, 7th November, there was a delivery issue with some emails.

If you have an email address listed on the ASHS database and have not received your Renewal please contact Head Office who will happily either email or post out your Renewal.

Members who do not have an email address will receive their Renewals via post.

Please note that you can also renew online without your Membership Renewal letter, all you need to do is visit www.ashs.com.au/renew, select 2019, login, check your Membership details are correct and then start the renewal process.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

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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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Members Ballot Results - Regulation Change for the Reintroduction of First Cross Stallions
I wish to advise that the result of the ballot was as follows:

Yes - 691
No - 790
Informal - 40
Total - 1,521

The question was therefore resolved in the negative.

Yours Faithfully,
Paul Heaton
Rose & Partners (Ballot Scrutineers)

Click to view the Official results.

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ASHS Chairman of the Board
Our Chairman, Larry Cutler, was recently admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital suffering from an acute attack of Influenza A. This developed into quite a serious situation which rendered Larry in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We are pleased to advise that Larry is on the mend but it will take some time for him to return to duties. In the interim, Craig Young, Senior Vice Chairman, will fulfill the Chairman’s role.

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ASHS Chief Executive Officer - Resignation
ASHS Chief Executive Officer, David Gatwood, has tendered his resignation after three years and nine months in the role. David will be moving to the Upper Hunter Shire Council in the role of Economic Development and Tourism. David’s last day will be Friday, 26th October 2018, so please join us in thanking David for his time and effort in his role and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.
The Board will commence recruitment for the CEO position in due course. In the interim, the Society’s Finance & Administration Manager, Susan Haggarty, will take over the management of Head Office and liaise with the Board of Directors.

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ASHS Chief Executive Officer - Letter to the Members
Dear Members and Friends of the Society,

Recently, I advised the Board of my decision to tender my resignation as Chief Executive Officer. After nearly four years in the role, I have decided to pursue an opportunity in the local government sector, driving economic development and tourism into the Upper Hunter region. Having moved from Sydney, New South Wales in early 2015, as a family we have found our home in Scone and I am excited at the prospect of making a contribution to the further development of the area.

It has been a privilege to serve as your CEO and I am thankful for the support I have received from the Board of Directors, ASHS Staff and you, the Members. I have many fond memories from my time and have gained a far greater appreciation for our iconic Australian Stock Horse. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many terrific people involved with the Society and the equine industry. It seems fitting that my last official engagement was attending the 2018 ASHS National Youth Show in Camden, NSW. The Opening Ceremony was a sight to behold, with a fabulous musical flag ride followed by an impressive line-up of competitors, all looking immaculate and mounted on a wonderful representation of the breed.

I will miss many things about the Society, from attending events and engaging with Members to taking the obligatory ‘selfie’ with the National Junior Judging Finalists at Sydney Royal!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone all the very best as we continue to battle through the drought, and know that I will remain a staunch advocate of the Society and the Breed.

Kind Regards,
David Gatwood

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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.