Australian stock horse
The Australian Stock Horse descends from the horses landed with the First Fleet in 1788 — Cape horses, Thoroughbreds, Arabians and Spanish stock — shaped by two centuries of work in hard country.
It was originally called the Waler, after New South Wales, and Walers were exported in enormous numbers as cavalry remounts, notably to the Australian Light Horse in the First World War.
It stands 14 to 16.2 hands, a clean-legged, deep-girthed horse with good bone and famous stamina. It is the working horse of the Australian cattle industry, and also competes in campdrafting, polocrosse, eventing and endurance. Toughness and sure-footedness over rough ground are its defining qualities.
- Origin
- Australia, from 1788 colonial stock
- Height
- 14–16.2 hands
- Lifespan
- 25–30 years
- Build
- Deep girth, good bone, hard clean legs
- Best known for
- Cattle work, campdrafting, polocrosse and endurance
- Temperament
- Sensible, willing, unflappable
2 australian stock horse photos, newest first
Living with a australian stock horse
A hardy breed that does well on rough grazing and gains weight easily on improved pasture. Restricted grazing and a track system suit them better than lush paddocks.
They are bred to work and are better for having a job; long idle spells suit them less than most breeds.
Hard feet are a breed strength, and many work unshod. Regular trimming matters more than shoeing for most.
No breed-specific genetic disease is widespread.
In hot climates the real risks are heat and dehydration in work, and access to shade and clean water is not a small point.
They are notably level-headed, which is why they suit stock work and why they make good horses for a rider who wants sense rather than sparkle.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual horses vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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