Show Horse Council of Australasia

The Show Horse Council of Australasia (SHCA) is the main governing body for show horse competition in Australia. It sets the rules, standards, and pathways for riders competing in the show horse discipline across the country.

Here’s how it works in practice:

What SHCA does

• Governs show horse competition nationally
• Sets official rules, judging standards, and class structures
• Oversees horse registration and ownership records
• Sanctions events run by affiliated state and regional associations

Structure

SHCA operates through a network of affiliates:

• State bodies (e.g. NSW, VIC, QLD branches)
• Regional groups like the Northern NSW Show Horse Association

These affiliates run local shows, while SHCA provides the national framework.

Major events

The SHCA is best known for running and overseeing high-level competitions, especially the:

• Grand National Championships
  • The premier show horse event in Australia
  • Held annually (usually in Sydney)
  • Riders must qualify through affiliated shows

This is essentially the pinnacle of the show horse circuit.

What you can register

Through SHCA, you can:

• Register horses and ponies
• Transfer ownership
• Record competition results
• Track eligibility for major events

Membership

To compete under SHCA:

• You must be a member of an affiliated association
• Your horse must be registered with SHCA
• You compete at local shows to qualify for larger events

Disciplines covered

SHCA focuses specifically on:

• Hacks
• Galloways
• Ponies
• Show hunters
• Leading (in-hand) classes