Standardbred Pleasure & Performance Horse Association of Victoria Inc

Welcome

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 Agricultural and other shows that include a Standardbred ring in their program - In keeping with other breed societies it is time for the SPPHAV to require competitors in all Standardbred show rings to be members and to have their horses registered with us. While this will be new to the Standardbred ring it is a practice that has been in place with other breed groups for many years.

In the next few months we will be writing to all agricultural societies and other shows that offer a Standardbred ring requesting that they include this requirement in their show program and ask that competitors provide a photocopy of their current membership card when prepaying or purchasing entry tickets on the day.

These arrangements will come into existence with the opening of the 2008 – 2009 show season.

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. Please remember, associate members cannot hold a performance card.

EQUINE INFLUENZA – Victoria remains EI free.

Limited movement controls (VHEDs) of animals entering from QLD and NSW will remain in place. The horse owning public are encouraged to report all cases of respiratory disease in hoses to DPI staff until the end of 2008, so they can be followed up and freedom from EI verified. For any further updates please refer to the DPI website (www.dpi.vic.gov.au)

SPPHAV MEMBERS LEADING HARNESS RACE FIELDS OUT – SPPHAV members led the race fields out at the Hunters Cup meeting on Sunday 3 February. Members will also lead out at Geelong on 16 February – Interdominion heats and Saturdays 23 February and March 1, at Moonee Valley – Interdominion Semi Finals and Finals. If you are at these meetings call by and say hello.

LATEST AGRICULTURAL SHOW NEWS –

Red Hill – they have requested the Standardbred as feature breed be postponed until 2009. There will be no Standardbred classes at Red Hill this year.

Warragul – while their show program lists horse classes, they are not running them. Their show program was printed before the EI outbreak and they did not think to attach a note, advising of the cancellation of horse events, to the programs before distributing them

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.

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.

There is an amnesty in place at the present time but there will come a time during 2008 that non freeze branded Standardbred horses will legally not be able to be called Standardbreds. 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

The SPPHAV 2006-2007 Season Awards and the SHHA 2006-2007 National High Point Awards Results - are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. Well done to those who received awards.

SPPHAV State Championships 2008 results - are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. Well done everyone for a fun day, and to those of you who went home with awards

The Mark Sagona Memorial Show – are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. Well done everyone for a fantastic day.

Barastoc Horse of the Year results- are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. Well done everyone for a fun day, and to those of you who went home with awards

2008 Royal Melbourne Summer Horse Show results- are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. Well done everyone for a fantastic day.

2008 Dressage & Showjumping Dates have been altered, these are available for viewing in the Show & Event calendar. For further details concerning the Dressage and Showjumping series please refer to the flyer and entry form link supplied in the show & Event Calendar.

Recent SPPHAV Updates

06/04/08: Updated Horses Available for Placement

04/04/08: Show listing updated with the 2007-08 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.