Hugh Barnet has been nominated for election as a Director for South Queensland in the upcoming Board Elections.

Dear Members of the Australian Stock Horse Society,

I have always been passionate about horses and have ridden since I was four, growing up on family properties near Burren Junction and Walcha, NSW. I rode at Pony Club from the age of 5 to 17 and have continued in various disciplines such as ASH shows, futurities, challenges, campdrafting and polocrosse. In addition to competing, I’ve also worked in training horses for polo, harness work, working on films, breaking in horses on cattle properties/stations and handled foals, weanlings and yearlings for Thoroughbred studs.

I am a Diamond Member (being a Member for over 50 years), joining as a teenager with a keen interest to follow the newly formed Society and an intention to own Australian Stock Horses.  My first formal position was as Branch President of the Whitsunday Branch in the mid-1990s and I have also been an ASH Inspector since that time.

Our family, wife Shelly and 3 adult children, have also been involved in competition at various levels including ASH Branch activities and we continue to breed registered horses under the ‘Manada’ prefix. We have bred over 50 registered horses over the years with 2 HSH stallions and many unregistered station horses bred by these stallions in QLD, NT and WA.  Shelly and I now live at Hodgson Vale, QLD (just outside Toowoomba) and I have continued my association within the rural sector as a Consultant /Advisor. My career has included senior management positions for family and corporate entities including Goonoo Goonoo Station, Stanbroke Pastoral, Balmoral Stations and Heytesbury Cattle Company. Throughout this time, I have undergone management training programs and completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course (MAICD).

As previously mentioned, I am passionate about horses and in particular the future of the Australian Stock Horse Society and how the Society can continue to offer value and support to a changing membership base. The current discussion around HSH and different levels of horse registration is an example for potential changes to the communications strategy to Members. I believe that topics such as Foal Recording and DNA requirements need further discussion. The Society is a business based on membership and registrations and the future relevance will need to add more value to all Members across the various disciplines. In recent times the level of investment by horse owners has grown exponentially and we need to capture and retain this enthusiasm so that Australian Stock Horses are at the forefront. I feel that there is also opportunity for some changes in the type of events, education and training programs provided by the ASHS.

Thank you for considering my nomination as a Director on the ASHS Board.

Hugh Barnet