The Australian Stock Horse originated, as the name suggests, in Australia. Early settlers to Australia brought with them a selection of hardy smaller horses which stood up to the tough conditions and by the 1830′s, the importation and use of thoroughbred stallions over the hardened mares produced the versatile horse of today.
In the background to some of the most successful stock horses are the blood lines of great thoroughbreds like Carbine (imported from New Zealand in 1887), and great stock horse sires like Cecil, Dimray and Bobbie Bruce. Other greats mentioned are Cecil Bruce and Rivoli Ray.
The horses here at Willatook Park carry the blood lines of Warrenbri Romeo, Rivoli Ray, Cecil Bruce, Reality, Scrumlo Victory, Knights Nicholas and Abdul.
We do not have a resident stallion at Willatook Park, preferring to send mares to well-performed stallions with good bloodlines.
We also breed to Quarter Horse stallions and use the stock horse/quarter horse infusion in performance horses. The blood lines we are interested in relate to Doc’s Spinfex which are generally well performed wherever they appear.
The current breeding program is suspended while the owners take time out to enjoy campdrafting.
