Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SA Central Branch Membership?

By paying a small $5.00 per fee per household address, you will be a SA Central Branch member.  This will entitle you to:

Voting rights - SACB

Eligible for branch High Point Trophies - SACB

Discounts on selected events - SACB run or SACB Santioned

Opportunity to be on the SACB Committee

Opportunity to be a SACB delegate to State Management Council

Represent SACB at ASH events Australia wide

You will also receive the official SA Central Branch "Stockwhip" newsletter and be kept up to date on events and activities of interest.  The branch also partakes in social activities, such as lunches and movie nights, so you do not always need to have a horse to be a SACB member.

Am I an automatic member of the SA Central Branch when I pay my ASHS membership?

No, you don't automatically become a member of the SACB.  However, it is easy to join once you have paid your ASHS membership.  Just download the SACB membership form from this website (refer to Forms section) and compete and return as soon as possible.

What is ASHLA?

ASHLA is the Australian Stock Horse Ladies Association.  Riders are to be aged over 13 years of age. There are two age groups  Junior (13 - 17 years) and Senior (18 years and over).  Riders must be a financial member of the Australian Stock Horse Ladies Association and also a financial member of the Australian Stock Horse Society Limited.  In the Australian Stock Horse and lady rider events at all Royal, National and State Shows, riders must be current financial members of ASHLA at the time of the closing date of entries to be eligible to compete.  Australian Stock Horse and lady rider events - open to stallions, mares and geldings registered or foal recorded with the ASHS Ltd.  Junior riders (13 - 17 years) are not permitted to ride stallions in this event. 

Do I automatically become a member of ASHLA when I joint the ASHS Ltd?

No you must also join the Australian Stock Horse Ladies Association to participate in ASHLA events.

What is the preferred dress and equipment for ASHLA?

Preferred Colours: Tradional Green and Gold

Preferred Dress: Felt hat (not western) or approved safety helmet (compulsory for Junior riders). Fawn or plain light coloured stockman cut trousers or jodhpurs.  Black or tan, short elastic sided, smooth soled rideing boots.  Long sleeved, button down shirt - light coloured.  ASH Tie. Long Sleeved or sleeveless V necked jumper, no riding jackets. Rain coat during wet weather.

Preferred Equipment: Australian Stock Saddle, fully mounted, leather mounts, type of stirrups optional. Square cut saddlecloth, ASH preferred. Single reined leather bridle with leather or webbed rein (no split reins), snaffle bit (no spanish, gag or twisted wire snaffles).

How is an ASHLA Class Judged?

Out of a possible total of 100 points.

25 points - Type and confirmation of horse - demonstrate the all round ladies horse.

25 points - Ability, manners nd paces, pleasant - educated mount showing ability and manners to work at all paces in both hacking and working.

25 points - Dress, equipment and general presentation to be clean, neat and tidy.

25 points - Riding ability - Ability of the rider to control and work her mount at all paces whilst demonstrating the above.

What is Campdrafting?

In brief a campdraft competitor starts by selecting a beast from ten head of cattle in a cut out yard, called "the camp".  The competitor then proceeds to work the beast forward, proving they can hold the beast clear of the mob and calls "gate" to be let out of the camp yard.  The gatemen then open the gate on the front of the yard and the competitor begins to work te beast around the course in a figure 8 pattern around two pegs, then again moving forward through two final pegs called the "gate".

How do you score points in Campdrafting?

Scoring for the work in the "camp" yard, the judge allocates a score out of a possible 26 points, depending on the pressure applied to the beast and the resultant turns which the horse must perform to block the beast.  The outside horse work is scored out of a possible 70 points depending on the speed around the course and the ability to control the beast and keep the beast on the most direct course.  An additional two points are added when the first peg has been completed, one point on completion of the second peg and a further point for achieving the final "gate".  Thus the judge allocates a score in three sections for a possible 100 points in total.

What is a Challenge event?

A challenge is an event to display the Australian Stock Horses' versatility.  A stock horse challenge is usually run over 4 sections (events) with ribbons awarded to the winner and place getters of each section.

The committee conducting the event will be responsible for selecting which section will be contested.

A minimum of 2 sections must be contested. Hack, Working, Time Trial, or Cattle.  Scores from each section are added together, with the exception of the time trial score in seconds, which is deducted from the total score to give the overall score.

In South Australia we run Open, Encourage and Junior categories.

Does the term "Registered ASH" also refer to 1st & 2nd crosses registered with the society? Ie: can 1st & 2nd cross horses compete in ASH events along side stud book horses?

Yes, they can, as long as they are owned or leased by a financial member of the Australian Stock Horse Society Ltd.