AUSTRALIAN STOCKHORSE

Breed of horse developed in Australia after World War I (1914-1918) for working with cattle and hauling freight. The Australian stock horse has a strong, well-proportioned body with slender legs. It stands about 158 to 163 cm (about 62 to 64 in, or 15.5 to 16 hands) high at the withers(the high part of the back, located between the shoulder blades). Broad hindquarters increase the flexibility of this horse, and the back is well-suited for carrying a saddle. Intelligent eyes give it an alert expression. The Australian stock horse usually has a bay (reddish) coat, but any color except gray is acceptable for registration as a purebred. The first horses introduced on the Australian continent were imported from South Africa by English settlers in 1788. They developed a horse known as the waler, a hardy animal that was able to carry a rider with gear over rough terrain at a good pace, usually in hot, dry conditions. During World War I (1914-1918), Australia supplied the Allied forces with 120,000 troops mounted on walers then regarded as the finest cavalry horse in the world for its stamina and strength.After the war, the few walers that remained in Australia were crossed with the Percheron horse, quarter horse, and ponies, and eventually produced the Australian stock horse. Although not exceptionally fast, this horse is a good all-around worker with great stamina, which makes it well-suited for the harsh conditions in the Australian outback. Some sportsmen ride this horse in polo matches.

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