Since the first Dalby Australian Stock Horse Sale, held in 1974, the first weekend in December has seen crowds flock to the Dalby township.
This year will be no different with entertainment, campdrafting and quality Australian Stock Horses sure to draw a crowd.
The Darling Downs Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society, along with selling agents Grant Daniel and Long, said the action starts on Friday morning, December 2, with the Dalby Sale Campdraft and Challenge.
We are taking drafting to a whole new level. There’s a cracking line-up of horses.
- ASH Society Darling Downs branch president Jim Ryan
The program includes:
- The Martin’s Stock Haulage Open Incentive, which is open to all horses sold from 2010 - 2015 and 2016 catalogued horses, $10,000 combined prize money
- Riverina Future Champions, $9500 prize money, plus $2000 to vendor of winning horse
- Riverina Aged Champions, $16,500 prize money plus $2000 to vendor of winning horse
- Donrica Stock Horse Stud Gelding Incentive, $10,000 total prize money with $1000 paid to the vendor of the winning horse
New to the program in 2016 is the Future Champions four and under Challenge. The challenge will be held in the undercover arena and will consist of a working pattern and a time trial.
On Friday night, on completion of the incentive events and presentations, will be the Inaugural Longhorn Feedlot Challenge.
This event will showcase the local feedlot industry and see teams of three compete for the Longhorn Perpetual Trophy and raise funds for their selected charities.
President of the Darling Downs Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society Jim Ryan said the team draft had 10 entries from various feedlots.
“We are taking drafting to a whole new level,” Mr Ryan said. “It will showcase of feed lots and we have had a great response. It will be awesome drafting.”
Last year organisers estimated that thousands packed the stands for the draft and sale and Mr Ryan said he hopes this year’s event will be even bigger.
“There’s a cracking line-up of horses,” he said. “We have about 230 entries, with about 110 for the open incentive with one round and one final and about 120 for the other incentives with two rounds.”
