Breed for every need: Australian Stock Horse versatility on show at Equitana

It was clear from audience feedback during an Australian Stock Horse demonstration at Equitana that the 'breed for every need' was exactly that.

Victorian horse trainer Jess Smith, of Novella Park Equine, Balmattum, rode her five-year-old mare, Coco, and was supported by the Australian Stock Horse Society's youth advisory group chairman David Nash as they showcased the versatility of the breed.

Members of the audience called out the range of disciplines their horses were used for, which included everything from campdrafting, team penning, dressage, showjumping, trick riding, mounted archery, and Riding for the Disabled.

Australian Stock Horses have also featured in the Olympics for three day eventing.

"They've been around and become the most crucial - I feel - part of our equine industry," Ms Smith said.

"Is there very many disciples here at Equitana where you wouldn't see an Australian Stock Horse?"

Ms Smith worked through some training fundamentals and highlighted the willingness of the breed.

"They're like your ride or die friend that'll just go anywhere with you," she said.

"That's the Australian Stock Horse - they really will give anything a go.

"If you've done the work and stepped and trained them and given them all the cues they need... they'll show up for you every single day."

Dr Nash said Australian Stock Horses had been on show at Equitana since 1999. The presentation was designed to highlight the horses still excelled in traditional cattle work disciplines like campdraft and cutting, but were athletic and trainable enough to suit almost anything.

"This year we thought it would be great for a young trainer like Jess to showcase her horses, but also herself," he said.

"We've got a lot of great up and coming trainers and youth in the society.

"We just had our youth nationals in NSW and I think we had 150 or 160 kids compete in everything from hacking to the novelty classes, to campdrafting, to cutting - all on the one horse."

He said it was typical for societies to lose members in the 18 to 30 age group as horses were typically not a priority, but he hoped the youth movement would continue to grow.

"We've got these young ambassadors working and trying to encourage other youth because older people - like myself - aren't going to do it," he said.

"We really need, for the progression of the society that the young members step up and learn everything so they can become the next directors and leaders."