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About The SQHA
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 The Sydney Quarter Horse Association was formed to enable the owners of all western breed horses in the Sydney region to show their horses at high levels of all aspects of western horsemanship, whether it be western pleasure, trail classes, reining or halter events.
The association, known as the SQHA holds several shows and clinics throughout the year. This helps beginners to compete on an even basis, and also helps to refresh the experienced riders to keep up with modern trends in the training of their own western horse.
The shows conducted by the SQHA are judged by the best qualified judges available, so that competitors are assured that the standard of competition is maintained at a high level.
The association caters for all Western breeds, that is, Appaloosa, Paint, Palouse Pony, Quarter Horses etc, with classes held for each of these categories at all our shows.
The SQHA holds three meetings each year, two general meetings and one annual general meeting during which the committee is elected by democratic vote.
Our members are kept fully informed of the club's activities and show dates by newsletter on a regular basis.
Should you require further information, please contact our club secretary, Mrs Linda Gillroy on (02) 4773-8168 who will be more than happy to assist you. |
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The History of the Quarter Horse
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The worlds most versatile horse is how the Quarter Horse is known today.
Founded from Arab, Barb and Turk breeds shipped to America by the Spanish explorers and traders, selected stallions from these original herds were then crossed with mares which arrived from England in 1611. This cross produced a compact, heavily muscled horse which could run short distances faster than any other horse.
As the country grew and more Englishmen arrived, they soon replaced the quarter mile racing with the traditional longer distance races which were not particularly suited to the stocky Quarter Horse and from his start in racing in colonial America, the Quarter Horse began its change from sporting horse to working horse.
With the westward movement of the pioneers also went the Quarter Horse and in the 1800's, vast cattle ranches began stretching across the plains and it was there the breed established its reputation. The Quarter Horse proved to have cow sense - a natural ability to judge the actions of cattle - making him the greatest cattle round-up and trail driving horse in history. |
The approach of the 1900's brought the breed's reputation as a ranch horse to its peak but with this also came technological changes and settlement of western states causing a decline in the number and size of massive cattle ranches. With a number of ranchers becoming concerned that the Quarter Horse breed might not survive, it was decided that something should be done. In 1939 at the South-western Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas a handful of breeders met to lay the groundwork for an organisation to represent and preserve the Quarter Horse.
One year later on 15 March, 1940, representatives from several states and the Republic of Mexico met in Fort Worth to formally establish a registry known as the American Quarter Horse Association. Eight hundred shares of stock were sold at $10 a share to finance operations.
 The founders of the American Quarter Horse Association determined that the Grand Champion Stallion at the 1941 South-western Exposition and Fat Stock show in Fort Worth would receive Number 1 in the registry. Top honours were captured by King Ranch who owned "Wimpy" of Kingsville, Texas. Sired by Solis and out of the mare Panda, his bloodlines trace back to Old Sorrel, Hickory Bill and Peter McCue, three of the most famed foundation sires of the modern Quarter Horse. Foaled in 1935 on the King Ranch, Wimpy became one of the world's most noted Quarter Horses. He died in 1959 just four years after the first Quarter Horse arrived in Australia.
'Wimpy' - Foundation Quarter Horse No.1 |
The Legendary 'Doc Bar' |
Foundation QH Sire 'Leo' |
Foundation QH sire 'Skipper W' |
'Three Bars' |
For more information on the early history of the Quarter Horse Breed go to 'The American Quarter Horse'
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