Polocrosse and the Australian Stock Horse
Australian Stock Horses are renowned as some of the best polocrosse horses in the world, so it would seem that the sport of polocrosse and these versatile and willing horses are a perfect match. With the world’s best polocrosse players competing on Australian Stock Horses, these elite-level performance horses will demonstrate to the world what it is that sets them apart.
Australian World Cup team member Jimmy Grills riding Australian Stock Horse BERRAGOON LIPSTICK
Photo by Joe McInally Video and Live Stream Productions
Captain of the Australian World Cup team, Abbott Grills, said that Australian Stock Horses playing the game are like cream; they rise to the top. “The longer the games goes, and the longer the weekend goes, the better they get. Australian Stock Horses do the best job, that’s why we are riding them at this level.”
The Australian Stock Horse is a working and performance horse that evolved through selective breeding in response to the demands of the Australian environment. It is truly ‘The Breed For Every Need’, and has achieved outstanding success in a wide variety of sports, including polocrosse, polo, show jumping, dressage, eventing, Working Equitation, campdrafting, mounted games, endurance and Pony Club. The Australian Stock Horse breed is renowned for its versatility and excels at all levels in all disciplines which makes them an ideal mount for people of all ages and walks of life.
This prestigious, international event provides the ideal stage to showcase the attributes of the breed: athletic ability, intelligence, speed, endurance, temperament and trainability.
Jason White, member of the New Zealand World Cup team in action on Australian Stock Horse NEVLYN SPICE – HSH.
The successful performance and versatility of the Australian Stock Horse has not only been recognised throughout Australia, but exports to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Asia have given the breed worldwide recognition. There are now a number of international ASH breeders in Canada, the USA and New Zealand. Modern breeding techniques have also made it easier for our international members to access export-approved semen from high-profile, well-performed ASH sires.
A total of 150 horses have been loaned to the Adina Polocrosse World Cup as the international teams cannot bring their horses with them to Australia for the competition. The horses have been divided into even pools which will be randomly assigned to each country during the Horse Draw on 16 April 2019 sponsored by Ceva Animal Health.
The players will then have one hour a day for a week to get used to their horse. Have you ever heard of any other sport where world-class athletes play with someone else’s kit?
All horses in the World Cup will wear a number so spectators can find out which horse is which via the World Cup Horse Catalogue.
Forty-five of the registered Australian Stock Horses on loan for the World Cup competition have been profiled by their owners, so spectators can learn more about their favourite horses.
Member of the Australian Polocrosse World Cup Team, Lance Anderson, in action riding Australian Stock Horse EDENHOPE GRACE
The Australian Stock Horse Society is the largest pleasure horse association in Australia with branches throughout Australia as well as in the USA and New Zealand. Membership of the Australian Stock Horse Society is open to anyone interested in this exceptional breed.
The Society runs ASH events at local, state and national level and also supports a number of external events across different disciplines including the Polocrosse National Championships, the Warwick Gold Cup Campdraft, Stockmans Challenges and the Adina Polocrosse World Cup. Members are encouraged to join a Branch and take part in branch activities, including attending Society Training Clinics run by professional horse trainers and instructors. The Society’s Youth Development Programs offers young riders the opportunity to participate in the competitions, youth camps, the ASHS Youth Exchange Program and other events.
Find out about Australian Stock Horse Society membership categories. The Australian Stock Horse Society will be at the Adina Polocrosse World Cup Wednesday through to Sunday to answer any questions you may have about the breed, membership, registration and the Society. The team will also have a range of merchandise on display. Visit them to enter their Daily Prize Draw.