American Stock Horse Association
About ASHA
American Stock Horse Association
The American Stock Horse Association was established as a nonprofit organization in 2008 with a clear purpose: to strengthen the stock horse industry.
We're doing this through education, training, and meaningful competition.
Everything we do is rooted in tradition and guided by
horsemanship to enrich the experience of horse ownership and
riding. We believe the way to do this is by developing both better
horses and more knowledgeable, confident horsemen.
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At our core, the Association believes that progress comes from
understanding, partnership, and purpose. That's why every
program, event, and resource is designed to support riders at
every stage of their journey and to foster a deeper connection
between horse and rider.
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Our mission is simple and enduring: Help People Ride a Better Horse.
The History of
American Stock Horse Association
The American Stock Horse Association was brought to life through the realization that there were problems developing in the horse industry. The original organizers viewed these problems as being immediately detrimental with a long-term impact that wouldn't be beneficial for the horses and horsemen who dedicate themselves to the industry.
One of the main problems the founders vowed to correct was the trend of emphasizing specialized horses and replacing the versatility of the horses in the past. Rider skills were also becoming specialized, relating only to a single discipline or event.
There was no longer a link between a truly well-trained horse and the versatile horse that could perform many tasks.
These original organizers also recognized a need for affordable education for the many horsemen who wanted to learn to ride better horses, but their situation or location prevented them the opportunity.
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Thus The American Stock Horse Association was born and remains a strong pillar of the industry today.
The Future of
American Stock Horse Association
Today, The American Stock Horse Association boasts a robust community full of engaged members, exceptional trainers, and educated judges.
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The idea of having a clinic preceding every competition has proven successful.
It meets the need for providing affordable, standardized western stock horse riding and training clinics that are fun and challenging. Having a competition the following day helps riders evaluate their progress.
While we're relatively young as a national organization, our programs including philosophy, educational methods, and competitions have been well tested in Texas before offering the program nationwide.
The philosophy of how to measure the worth of a good stock or ranch horse and how to teach the skills is so sound and well accepted that national demand ultimately led to the formation of The American Stock Horse association we have today.
This type of non-traditional horse competition activity has experienced unparalleled growth in the past few years and we're poised to further our growth in the years ahead.
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Will you be along for the ride?
