Welcome

The site is currently being reconstructed, we apologise for any inconvenience during this transitional period. 

The Standardbred Pleasure & Performance Horse Association of Victoria (SPPHAV) offers encouragement and support to owners of ridden Standardbred and partbred Standardbred horses.  The SPPHAV is the peak body for horses shown at agricultural shows within Victoria.

Our Home Page runs as a bulletin board.  If you are aware of an issue of significance for the Standardbred or partbred Standardbred horse, please bring it to our attention and we will publish it here.

SPPHAV membership to become a requirement to contest Standardbred rings at all shows in the HRV High Point and the Standardbred National High Point competitions - In keeping with other breed societies it is time for the SPPHAV to require competitors in some Standardbred show rings to be members and to have their horses registered with us.  While this will be new to these rings it is a practice that has been in place with other breed groups for many years

Shows affected are: Bendigo, Dandenong, Kilmore and Yarra Glen Agricultural Shows, the Melton ARC Show (April 2009), the 2009 Mark Sagona Memorial Show and the SPPHAV State Championship Show in January.  This membership rule also applies to the Standardbred ring at the Melbourne Summer Royal Horse Show and the Barastoc Horse of the Year Show.  Participants at shows not run by the SPPHAV will need to provide a photocopy of their current membership card when prepaying or purchasing entry tickets on the day, at those shows.  To assist non-members to enter these shows, members of the SPPHAV Committee will be ringside at these shows and will take membership and horse registration fees on the day.

These arrangements will come into existence with the opening of the 2008 – 2009 show season.  We have requested that this year’s show programs reflect this new requirement

INSURANCE COVER Also from July 2008 people entering into the ring to lead, ride or drive (and passenger) a horse at the SPPHAV State Championships, the Dressage and Show Jumping State Championships, the Champagne and Novice Dressage Series, our ring at Barastoc and the Mark Sagona Memorial show will need to be a current financial member (family, single or associate) of the SPPHAV or pay a $10 insurance levy for each show, to do so

Extension to closing date of the 2007-2008 show season Performance cards for 2007-2008 are required to be at the post office box no later than Friday 8th August 2008.  This is a once only change to the acceptance date due to the Melton ARC show being moved from April to July

LATEST AGRICULTURAL SHOW NEWS –          

Harness Horse Society Barastoc Championships will hold a class program for standardbreds at Ayr Park, Berwick on 5th October 2008.  Please refer to the show listing for a program                                   

SPPHAV ANNUAL AWARDS – The committee will discuss the implications of these cancellations on our High Point Competition and the Standardbred National High Point Competition and will advise the membership of what is decided.

2008-2009 Standardbred National High Point Competition Performance Cards, discussion is still happening on a national basis for this season's competition but it will be similar to the competition held in 2006-2007.  Details and entry forms will be distributed with the next newsletter mail out

STANDARDBRED HORSES THAT DO NOT CARRY A HARNESS BOARD FREEZE BRAND

The legal definition of a Standardbred horse in Australia and New Zealand includes the freeze brand.  Legally, a horse that does not carry a freeze brand cannot be called a Standardbred. 

The SPPHAV is currently working with the Australian Harness Racing Council (AHRC) and Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) to provide a way for any purebred Standardbred horse that does not carry an official freeze brand to be branded. 

We will be requesting that the few purebred horses that are registered with the SPPHAV be able to continue to be shown as purebreds.  However, any progeny foaled from these horses after 1 July 2008 cannot be registered with the SPPHAV or shown as a Standardbred unless it carries a freeze brand.   Owners of any stallion or mare that does not carry a freeze brand and who intends to breed from that horse must have the horse correctly branded to do so.  If you know someone who has a Standardbred horse that does not carry an official neck brand, please draw this information to their attention and suggest they contact our Secretary at secretary@spphav.org

Show results for :-

Show results for Melton ARC Show held on Sunday 13th July 2008 are now available for viewing on the show and event calendar.

Annual General Meeting

This year's Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday October 11th, at Moonee Valley - with a harness race meeting being held that night.  Information and booking slips, for the AGM, will be distributed with the next newsletter.  In the meantime, please put the date in your diaries and plan to come along and enjoy dinner and the spectacle of harness racing with us. 

Recent SPPHAV Updates

04/08/08: Updated Horses Available for Placement

21/08/08: Show listing updated with the 2008-09 Calendar of Events

Objectives of the Association

• To promote the Standardbred as race horses and as pleasure and performance horses.
• To raise the profile of the Standardbred in all equestrian events.
• To provide fair and equal competition in all aspects of equestrian events.
• To prove that the Standardbred is as good as any other breed in all aspects of the equestrian arena.
• To inform the public of the versatility of the Standardbred.
• To promote the good nature and temperament of the breed.
• To provide a vehicle for owners of the Standardbred to meet and communicate.

 

The SPPHAV  

• provides the means for owners to present their pure and part bred Standardbred horses in breed classes
• assists owners to raise the level of their skills
• encourages owners to compete alongside all other breeds at the many competitions held annually

By becoming a member of the SPPHAV you help give this gentle, faithful horse the united front it needs for recognition in all equestrian activities, not just harness racing.

Whether your horse is a champion harness racer, a breeding stallion, a brood mare or a ridden gelding, when you register your pure or part bred Standardbred with the SPPHAV you can participate in a variety of equestrian events.