The Waler or Australian stock horse comes from New South Wales.
stock horse
Horses were imported to the area and the breed was a mix of Thoroughbreds, Barbs, Arabs and Basiato ponies to work on the cattle and sheep ranches all day.
Walers were once used as calvery horses in the First World War.
At the end of the war the Australian-government made an order to destroy all the horses, thus allowing none to return home.
The remaining Walers were improved by introducing Percherons, Anglo-Arab and Quarter horses along with some pony blood.
This produced the modern horse of today.
The height varies from 14.2hh to 16hh (147cm – 163cm) and any colour is acceptable.
The ideal Australian Stock Horse is well proportioned in all respects according to its size.
Desired traits include a finely cut, expressive head with large eye and a broad forehead.
The neck is long, arched, with head well set on.
The withers should be well defined.
Overall conformation is well-muscled but not bulky, with correct conformation that includes a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, strong and broad back, and powerful hindquarters.
The hooves are hard and well-conformed.
The breed is renowned for being strong and powerful with great powers of endurance, which enables it to be ridden and worked all day.
The Stock Horse is used in many competitive disciplines, including polo, polocrosse, dressage, campdrafting, show jumping, eventing and endurance riding.
It is also used for stockman challenges, Pony Club activities, general hacking, and stock work on cattle stations.
While horses are now often being replaced in the flatter Outback by motorcycles and helicopters, they are still necessary today for mustering (roundups) in rugged mountain terrain.
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