Horses Competition History
Development of early stock
In 1822 the Agricultural Society of NSW was founded to improve the practice of agriculture and confer suitable rewards and marks of distinction to persons excelling in different branches of agriculture. From the outset, one of the Society’s top priorities was the development of early horse stocks. The Society’s original 1822 prospectus reflects this, stating:
…[The] breeds of our sheep and our horses have begun to acquire exportable value and reputation, which can only be sustained by constant renewal. …[T]hough our Colony has been formed only five and thirty years, we have already begun to supply the wealthy in the old established Colonies of India and Batavia with stately horses for their carriages.
As a practical measure a subscription fund was quickly formed to finance the importation of improved breedstock. Meanwhile, superior local animals were to be recognised and encouraged at Society-held exhibitions.
Important leadership was also provided in 1870 when the Society published the first Australian Stud and Herd Book.
Competition
At the very first Show in 1823 there was one class for horses. A single prize was to be given for the ‘best Colonial-bred Stallion, not exceeding three years old’, but according to the Sydney Gazette, the quality of the horses on display was so fine that a second prize was awarded on the day. The honour of first went to Mr Samuel Terry, while second went to Captain Piper. Both horses had been bred by a Mr Bayly from the sire Model. It was a very significant beginning: the following year advertisements appeared advising that the sire of the two prize-winning horses was standing at stud – the first example of a Show win being used for endorsement. From this point onwards competition in the Horse section was keenly contested at all the Society’s annual Shows.
By 1858 the Society’s prize schedule had expanded. Awards were listed for:
Best & second-best thoroughbred stallion
Best & second-best two-year-old thoroughbred colt
Best & second-best two-year-old thoroughbred filly
Best & second-best cart stallion
Best & second-best two-year-old cart colt
Best & second-best two-year-old cart filly
Best & second-best cart mare
Up until 1878 only horses were judged, but horsemanship and other horse-related contests were steadily introduced thereafter:
1878 Jumping
1884 Steeplechase
1882 Equestrienne classes (the introduction of a special prize for a lady’s hackney, to be ridden by a lady)
1884 Harness
1885 Prizes for military (cavalry and mounted servicemen)
1885 Horsedrawn vehicles
1886 High jump
1886 Turnout
1886 Trotting
1887 Pony harness
1889 Pony jumping
1890 First male children’s class - best boy rider (under 18 - in pony classes)
1891 Water jump
1892 First female children’s class – best girl equestrienne for horsemanship and general appearance (under 16)
1895 Hunting contests
1895 Gentlemen’s riding
1901 Pony high jumping & trotting
1907 Tandem jumping
1911 Horse shoeing competition
1923 Mounted Police
1930 Flag races
1931 Rodeo (can include steer riding, bulldogging, buckjumping etc)
1934 Camp Draft (Ladies & Gentlemen)
1939 Polo
1952 Dressage
1957 Three-day events
1959 Polocrosse
1968 Tentpegging
1999 Cutting Horse Challenge
2000 Team Yarding and Reining Horse challenges
2000 Riding for the Disabled
Some of competitions listed are no longer run. For example, high jump was removed from the programme after the 1959 Show, and three-day events were discontinued after 1986. Some competitions, like children’s classes, temporarily vanished then reappeared.
Riding events perhaps changed most during the 1950s. As the 1956 Melbourne Olympics approached, rules were changed to conform to international standards so local riders could qualify.