Despite many challenges in the lead up to the 2019 Australian Stock Horse National Show with factors such as drought, flood or fire, the event saw 400 competitors, 939 competition horses and 71 Fountain of Youth Sale Horses attended the event. This event was held at the Australian Equine & Livestock Centre in Tamworth, NSW from 28^th February to 9^th March 2019. Competitors and spectators from across the country gathered at AELEC over the 10 days to catch up with friends, compete for a prize pool over $180,000 and to enjoy the experience of being at the Society’s pinnacle event and everything it had to offer. The event included a prestigious Australian Stock Horse Sale, over 120 equine competitions and a spectacular evening of entertainment.

The Fountain of Youth Sale held on Saturday, 2nd March, saw 71 Australian Stock Horse yearlings and 2-year-olds offered for sale with 51 sold with a gross of $230,500 and an overall average of $4,519. Topping the sale was a stunning black yearling filly, Lot 73 SHEADY JUBILATION that sold for $13,000 on account of Brian and Kayleen Sutton from Lakeside QLD. This filly is by ROYALLE HEART THROB from LAZY D ROCKS JUBILATION and was bought by Robert and Kate Prichard.

The highest priced colt was Lot 8 BARTTRACE DROVER – HSH (HAZELWOOD CONMAN – HSH/ CLONMEL GYPSY – HSH) on behalf of Bartrace Farm at Mirboo, VIC and sold to A & M Boyd for $10,000. The top-priced gelding was Lot 12 BULLSEYE CEASAR – HSH by GLEN LEE RIVOLI TEAK – HSH from MAVERICK MELODY – HSH on account of Bullseye Stock Horses, Dunedoo, NSW who sold for $7,000 to Richard & Kerry Yarrow. All horses purchased are eligible for the Australian Stock Horse and Landmark incentives and exclusive classes at the 2020 ASHS Nationals.

Demonstrating the benefits of the Sales incentives, previous Fountain of Youth Sale Horse PLAYMORE IN FLIGHT (WILLDRAFT JET/ ROSEBROOK MAORI LASS), owned by MD & JM Field and ridden by Mark Field collected the incentive prize money of $4,000 as the Highest Scoring Fountain of Youth Horse in the Baxter Boots & Shoes National Futurity.  The vendor and breeder of this mare Playmore Stock Horses also received $1,500 in prize money as part of the sales incentives. This lovely 3yo mare is proving to be a smart investment after placing 6th overall in the National Futurity including a 5^th Place in the Working Section. This brings her earnings at this event to $4,965. PLAYMORE IN FLIGHT was sold for $5,000 at the 2017 Fountain of Youth Sale and has almost re-cooped on the purchaser’s original outlay at this event alone. This outcome validates the high calibre of horses available each year at this prestigious sale.

Following the Sale, a fundraising auction was held to support Dolly’s Dream with special guest Kate Everett, National Recipient of the 2019 Australia Day “Local Hero Award”. Kate travelled from the Northern Territory to share the tragic story of her daughter Amy “Dolly” Everett, who was the victim of bullying and ended her young life at just 14 years of age. Dolly’s Dream has been established by her family and friends in her memory. The Auction was well supported by Members of ASHS and businesses with over 50 donated items going under the hammer. Along with gold coin donations on the day the fundraising auction generated in excess of $20,000.

The Opening Ceremony & Gala Night followed the fundraising auction was well attended. An impressive performance by the R.M.Williams Stock Horse Flag Ride team captured the audience as they proudly performed a choreographed ridden routine to the soundtrack of the Man from the Snowy River and the Australian National Anthem with all 15 riders carrying Australian and R.M.Williams flags. Dan Steers from Double Dan Horsemanship provided exclusive insights into his liberty horse training methods and then was joined by Kym Hagon for a comedy act, involving his liberty Australian Stock Horses and “Steve McLean” that had everyone in fits of laughter. Along with talented young trick riders, a Light Horse display, a polocrosse demonstration and a working cow horse competition, spectators were provided with a spectacular performance that celebrated the Australian Stock Horse as the “Breed for Every Need”.

With over 120 equine competitions across various disciplines from Dressage, Campdrafting, Show Classes and multi-discipline Challenges, an elite level of competition and camaraderie was on display. Two of the most successful competitors of the event were Matthew Holz from Modella, VIC and Warwick Lawrence from Rosewood, NSW who had a very successful show aboard their own horses and those of long term friend Brett Welsh. Who was unable to compete due to an injury suffered just prior to the event.

Mathew Holz collected three trophy saddles at the event. He won the $20,000 Pryde’s EasiFeed Maiden Series Campdraft aboard Mr G Stephenson’s grey gelding PARIS REIMS (ACRES DESTINY/ SODA OLACE). This was after a run-off with Warwick Lawrence riding the consistent mare HUNTER VIEW ROYAL CHIC (hesa catty chic / CEDAR DOWNS ROYAL OAK) trained by Warwick and owned by Everleigh ASH Stud. Mathew also took the honours as Champion of the Baxter Boots & Shoes +Wylarah Pastoral Co. National Maturity Series 30 and the Triple Crown Series with the mare ANNIES GIFT (HAZELWOOD CONMAN – HSH/ OTFORDVALLEY ANNIE) owned by Brett and Mel Welsh of Allstars Performance Horses. It was a terrific effort as Mathew had only ridden ANNIES GIFT a few times prior to the event. Second place in this event was Warwick Lawrence with WILLINGAPARK ANGELS DESTINY (ACRES DESTINY/ GLEN LEE RIVOLI SILHOUETTE – HSH) owned by Terry Snow. This horse was also trained by Brett Welsh that Warwick had only ridden a few times.

Another major event winner included DOONGARA POWER WISHES (DOONGARA MANPOWER – HSH/ DOONGARA HOPE – HSH) and Adam Wallen from LOCKYER WATERS, QLD who won the Baxter Boots & Shoes National Futurity Series 31. Glen Frazer of Playmore Stock Horses from PURLEWAUGH, NSW won the Affinity Equine Insurance & Rosebrook ASH Stud Snaffle Bit Futurity with his 2yo mare PLAYMORE ROXETTE (ROSEBROOK COOL RUNNING/ CROSSART EVITA). The R.M.Williams ABBEY Open Challenge was won by DELRIO DESTINY (ACRES DESTINY/ FRECKLES BONITA) ridden by Warwick Lawrence and owned by Helen Batterham of Everleigh ASH Stud.

As many Campdrafts have been cancelled in the region due to drought and with over $40,000 in prizemoney plus prizes and trophies on offer, the Campdraft programme attracted the best horse & rider combinations in the country. The previous two-time winner of the Open Campdraft, Rob Leach a Tamworth local, won the Tamworth Equine Veterinary Centre Stallion Campdraft with HAZELWOOD CONGRESSMAN (HAZELWOOD CONMAN – HSH/ DULOC MIDNIGHT RUN) owned by the LC Partnership. Following a tight run-off with Warwick Lawrence, GLENKELL SHIFTER (ACRES DESTINY/ PALMERS COOL FANTASY – HSH) ridden by John Hardie from Warren, NSW won the R.M.Williams Open Campdraft. The Martins Stock Haulage Novice Campdraft was won by GREENDALE LIBERTY SELENA (GREENDALE ACRES LIBERTY BEAU/ GREENDALE SPINS PEPPY LENA) ridden, owned and bred by Allan Young from Aberdeen, NSW. The Ladies Campdraft saw some great runs and high scores of 90 and above. A run-off with Tristan Holz of Modella, VIC saw Meagan MacIntosh from Warra, QLD take the win with her mare BOGANVILLA ABBEYS AMBER (BOGANVILLA BARETTA/ CHAMPAGNE BUBBLES)

The Dressage programme had a record number of entries. Many of these horses also competed in other disciplines such as Campdrafting and sometimes this occurred on the same day demonstrating the breed’s versatility. The 2019 Dressage Champions were; Champion Young Horse 4yo & under Preliminary- SILVERTHORN OAKS CHANDELIER (CRILLEE AMARILLO OAK/ SILVERTHORN BELLADONNA – HSH) & Ainsley Maben, Champion Preliminary – BELMUR MATHO – HSH (CARALOT MISTER SPEAKER – HSH/ WILJOHN MUFFY – HSH) & Rebecca Babich, Dressage Overall Youth Competitor – KIRBY PARK IRISH EMPRESS (KIRBY PARK NANTAMBOO – HSH/ kirby park irish imperial) & Anastasia Haling 2B. Jade Fangmeier had a terrific show with SILVERTHORN WILLS (WAIKON PARK COOLABAH – HSH/ SIX S STUD CHARITY), winning three major awards including; Champion Novice, Champion Elementary the Conquistador II Perpetual Trophy for the Overall Most Successful Dressage competitor.

The Coolum Stud Supreme Led Horse of the Show went to NETHAWAY TOUCH OF CLASS – HSH (GLEN LEE RIVOLI TEAK – HSH/ NETHAWAY MELLEDY – HSH) a 4yo mare, handled and owned by Miss J Weule. The Allstars Performance Horses Supreme Hack Horse of The Show was won by POWER LOADED (DOONGARA MANPOWER – HSH/ FORTUNE) ridden by Georgia Hope and owned by the Hope Family. The last event of the programme was the Coolum Stud Supreme Working Horse of the Show. This was won by the consistent mare in BRANDWOOD ARIZONA (STELLARPARK ROCKSTAR/ MISS AMERICA) ridden by Cole Moxey & owned by Miss N Barnes. This mare is no stranger to the winners’ circle, having won the Supreme Hack last year and other numerous achievements at most Royal Shows in recent years.

The Directors, Staff, Committee and Volunteers put countless hours into the National Show and are keen to build on its popularity in 2020.  They are pleased to see the strength and quality of the Australian Stock Horse breed competed at this year’s richest ASH event. The great sportsmanship displayed will be one of many lasting memories of the 2019 ASHS National Show.

We look forward to releasing the 2020 event details soon.