With the phasing out of freeze branding, owners entering Standardbred and partbred Standardbred horses in breed classes at agricultural shows and other equine events across Australia, where breed is relevant, must be current financial members and horses registered with the home state’s Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association.
Relevant membership and registration numbers must be provided with entries and copies must be available on the day for viewing. Competitors failing to provide proof may be refused on the day and/or may be disqualified from the event. Judges have authority to question a horse’s registration if they believe a horse is in the wrong breed ring, show class or, event section.
Background
Harness Racing Australia has phased out the freeze branding of Standardbred horses; registered Yearlings are now microchipped when having DNA taken and recorded. Currently, freeze branded Standardbred horses can be shown, with or without membership and horse registration with one of the five state Standardbred Pleasure Associations.
Rise in popularity of the breed, as a pleasure horse, is behind the increased number of agricultural shows, across Australia, offering a Standardbred ring. The phasing out of the freeze brand introduces an identification problem, for the breed, in all equine pursuits, other than harness racing.
The Standardbred Horse Association of Australia – SHAA is seeking the assistance of the state Agricultural Societies to aid in the establishment of Australia wide requirement to qualify the breed at agricultural shows via a statement in show programs where there is a Standardbred ring offered or just a few Standardbred classes in a breed ring.
In 2005, the Standardbred Horse Association of Australia Inc (SHAA) was formed and an important function of SHAA is the management of current partbred and non-racing bred Standardbred horse registrations. Working with Harness Racing Australia (HRA), a Stud Book and Partbred Register, now managed by SHAA, was established with the first edition published in November 2012. Since then, the opportunity for home state registration of unbranded purebred (non-racing) Standardbred horses bred for activities other than harness racing, and partbred Standardbred horses has generated a significant listing of DNA confirmed horses.
These horses are provided with an interim registration with their home state association prior to DNA sampling being secured through SHAA and full registration confirmed once certified. Owners receive a home state horse registration card that provides ownership details, membership and horse registration numbers, microchip number, proof of DNA certification plus a photo of the horse. SHAA is the only Association recognised by HRA, to perform this service. For authenticity, the testing of all hair samples is carried out in the laboratories used by Harness Racing Australia.
