The Australian Stock Horse (or Stockhorse), has been especially bred for Australian climatic conditions. Horses were introduced to Australia for the first time with the arrival of the First Fleet in Botany Bay in January, 1788.
The ancestry of the Stock Horse includes the Arabian horse, Barb horse , American Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred.
The Australian Stock Horse is intelligent, with courage, toughness and stamina, and has a good temperament. The Stock Horse is used for rodeos, harness work, Polo playing and Equestrian competitions, as well as for general riding and stock work on rural properties. ('stock' refers to horses and cattle etc.)
The dependable Australian Stock Horse was used by the Australian Army in the First World War.
There was a tribute to the Australian Stock Horse during the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony when an Australian Stock Horse reared and then a further 120 Stock Horses were ridden into the Stadium and performed intricate dressage formations to the music of the especially written Olympics version of the main theme of "The Man From Snowy River" by Australian composer Bruce Rowland.
