20/05/2026
The ASHS New Proposal Debacle 😞
I’ve deliberately stayed quieter than normal on this issue until now.
Not because I don’t care, but because I wanted to sit back, listen to people on both sides, read the opinions, watch what has unfolded and have conversations with people who both share and oppose my perspective.
Honestly, I’ve come away from many of those conversations respecting people’s passion, even when we completely disagree.
But the one thing I keep coming back to is this:
As it stands right now, nobody truly wins here.
Whether the division within the Society was intended or not, the reality is it has happened. And because of that, when this vote is done, one side of passionate members is going to walk away disappointed, hurt or feeling like they no longer belong.
For me, that just doesn’t sit right within a Society that is supposed to unite people through horses.
Upon reflecting on it all today, I realised something else too.
If I absolutely had to, I could walk away from breeding horses tomorrow.
But the thing I would struggle to walk away from is the youth side of this Society.
Because regardless of people’s opinions on this proposal, the one thing almost everyone agrees on is this:
The ASHS got the youth right.
The youth programs.
The youth camps.
The encouragement.
The opportunities.
The friendships.
The confidence these horses and this Society give kids.
That is the true strength of the Australian Stock Horse Society in my opinion, and that’s ultimately what I breed and stay passionate about.
Not politics.
Not division.
Not percentages on paper.
The future generation that grows up loving horses because of the opportunities this Society provides.
It has also made me reflect deeply on what this all means, not only for our breeding program, but for the future of the Australian Stock Horse Society as a whole.
We breed, ride and compete our horses across multiple disciplines and, like many members, we value temperament, versatility, trainability and horses that everyday people can genuinely enjoy.
That’s what has always made the Australian Stock Horse special in our eyes.
Not one discipline.
Not one type.
Not one single breeding philosophy.
A versatile horse and a versatile Society that allows people from all walks of life to breed, compete and enjoy horses in different ways under the same umbrella.
Some people breed to win a led class.
Some breed for campdrafting.
Some for challenges.
Some for pony club.
Some for polocrosse.
Some for all-round family horses.
And the beauty of the ASH has always been that there is room for all of us.
In my opinion, that diversity is exactly what has made the Australian Stock Horse one of the greatest and most versatile breeds in the world.
That’s why the current proposal concerns me so much.
Not because I am against preserving Heritage bloodlines. I absolutely respect the breeders passionate about preserving those horses and I think Heritage blood has an important place within the Society.
What concerns me is the division this process has created and the lack of clear communication, financial modelling and long-term transparency around what this actually means moving forward.
Because right now, members are being asked to vote on something that could significantly shape the future direction of the Society without having a full picture of the long-term impacts on breeders, registrations, participation and membership.
Especially when the publicly accessible studbook figures show Heritage horses are still strongly represented within the breeding population.
Looking specifically at mares of breeding age/current future breeding influence from the online studbook, HSH mares remain the single largest collective within the breeding population by a significant margin.
Those figures do not suggest a breed disappearing.
They suggest a diverse and functioning registry made up of many different breeders, disciplines and horse families all contributing to the same Society.
That is why so many members are asking:
If this proposal is supposedly only affecting a very small percentage of the studbook, then why the urgency?
Why the division?
Why the fear-based rhetoric?
Why the lack of detailed analysis presented to members before such a major vote?
I genuinely believe most members are not against preserving Heritage blood.
What many people are against is the growing narrative that derivative breeders somehow don’t belong in the Society, or that people breeding versatile performance horses are somehow less authentic supporters of the breed.
Because the reality is many of those same breeders are also:
👉🏼 supporting branches
👉🏼 sponsoring events
👉🏼 volunteering
👉🏼 taking horses to shows
👉🏼 campdrafting
👉🏼 pony clubbing
👉🏼 promoting the breed every single weekend
At the end of the day, this Society is not just built on bloodlines.
It’s built on people.
And right now, I personally believe the greatest threat to the Society is not Quarter Horse influence or Heritage preservation.
It’s division.
Unfortunately I won’t be attending the AGM due to dry conditions, feeding commitments and family life. However, I do have trusted people attending on my behalf who will carry my proxy vote AGAINST this proposal in its current form.
Not because I am anti-Heritage.
Not because I am anti-change.
But because I believe something this significant deserves more time, more transparency, better communication and proper consultation before decisions are made that may permanently alter the direction of the Society and affect future generations coming through it.
Because ultimately, at the end of the day, there is no real winner here.
For me, a win would look like:
👉🏼 proper consultation
👉🏼 transparency
👉🏼 financial modelling
👉🏼 open communication
👉🏼 and bringing people together instead of dividing them
Right now, I think the greatest threat to the Society isn’t Heritage blood disappearing.
It’s the loss of unity, trust and participation within the people who keep the Society alive.
If you are looking for someone trustworthy attending the AGM to carry your proxy vote, please feel free to contact me privately on 0407 243 146.
There are only two days left to lodge your Proxy, and it is very important that you do.
Shelly Barnett
