Standard of Excellence
The following Standard of Excellence is based on the original ASHS description of ‘ The Australian Stock Horse ’ from 1971 .
• Head alert and intelligent with broad forehead , full , well-set eyes , wide nostrils . A fine , clean gullet , allowing plenty of breathing room .
• A good length of rein , well set into the shoulder .
• Sloping shoulder , not too heavily muscled , a well-defined wither slightly higher than the croup .
• Deep chest , not too wide in proportion , but showing plenty of heart room .
• Ribs well sprung and back strong and of medium length in proportion .
• In forelegs , forearms well developed , cannon bones slightly flat , pasterns short and slightly sloping .
• Hindquarters strong , rounded and well muscled , nicely sloping to give a full line from croup to hock . Hocks broad , flat and clean , the cannon relatively short with well-defined tendons . The hind legs well under when standing .
• The Hooves hard and in proportion to the size of the horse , with a wide heel and feet straight .
• The whole of these component parts to be in balance according to the size .
• Preferred heights between 14 and 16 hands .
An artist ' s impression of the Australian Stock Horse Standard of Excellence is pictured above . ( Artist : Deidre Hunt )
Australian Stock Horse Society 1971 - 2011 7