Association Profile: The Australian Warmblood Horse Association (AWHA)

Sandrels (pictured above) is registered with the AWHA as is D'Dur - the horse whose service reached the highest price during the Flood Auction - and many of the other high quality stallions who took part.

With Warmblood stallions being so well represented and achieving the highest prices for the recent Flood Auction, we decided to look into the Association that represents and supports these very popular horses!

The AWHA is:

• The oldest Warmblood organisation in Australia
• An Australia-wide organisation with branches in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South & Western Australia.
• An ‘A’ Class member of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) ensuring pedigrees of AWHA registered horses are accepted by other overseas breed societies. The WBFSH is the major connection between the breeding organisations of sport horses and the international equestrian sport (FEI).
• A registered Australian company that is non-profit and audited annually in compliance with ASIC regulations.

 Horses bred under the AWHA banner:

• Meet with the Associations breeding guidelines to provide assurance of the quality of horses
• Can point to generations of proven pedigree.
• Are bred for performance riding

The objectives of the Australian Warmblood Horse Association (the AWHA) are to promote the Warmblood horse and to ensure that the horses registered by members are considered suitable for performance in dressage, show jumping, eventing and driving, displaying qualities of correct conformation, correct movement with impulsion, balance and cadence that have suitable character and temperament and an ability to jump with style and technique. The Association aims to encourage and promote the breeding, improvement, exhibition and participation in competition of the Warmblood horse. Another important advantage of the AWHA is that it encompasses multiple Warmblood breeds such as Oldenburgs, Hanoverians, Selle Francais, Dutch Warmblood which provides breeders with a greater flexibility when breeding their horses. "Breeding the best from the best"

The AWHA Studbook consists of over 25500 horses online and boasts an impressive field of both Approved and Licensed locally bred and imported Warmblood stallions and equally, of mares classified as elite, head studbook, studbook and foundation mares. As more and more Australians realise that in the world of serious equine sport, the Warmblood often has the winning edge, it is no wonder that the Warmbloods bred under the AWHA banner are keenly sought by breeders, amateur and professional competitors alike. The slogan “ AWHA Warmbloods are Winners” has never been more true.

Upcoming events run by various AWHA branches include:

• AWHA Vic Colt and Mare Classification and Gala Day - 5/3/11 at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre.
• AWHA Qld Branch Young Horse Show - 20/3/11 at Caboolture Showgrounds.
• AWHA NSW Branch Colt Selection Day - 3/4/11 at SIEC.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact the branch responsible for more information.  CLICK HERE to visit the comprehensive AWHA website for contact details and to find out more about the Association's history, membership, branches, horse registration and studbook.