WHOBAA COMMUNITY MESSAGE FORUM - By digitalcreations

Does anyone want an annual Classifying Day in Tas, and if so, when and where?
I think a good month's notice re ads would be good.
Any thoughts from the little island with the big heart?????
please

Do I get free flights and free accom?? If yes, then COUNT ME IN

I wish! Hope you can arrange one in your state!!! Could do a fare swap....ha ha

Hi old mare, Please excuse my ignorance, but could you please explain what your classifying day involves? then I'll know if I should YA or NAY . Cheers

Yes, M-M, it means arranging a date (for example 1st Dec) and a place (for example Royal SHowgrounds).
Then advertise in local papers well before.
On the day, Waler owners bring the horses to the designated place. The horses are classified.
This saves classifiers running all about the state (time and money, who had em). Also, it means the horses must be at least leading and loading.
With so few horses, it would be interesting to see if we got takers, or if we have to go back to trailing all about the place to classify.
Breeds such as Riding Ponies etc have this practise of an annual classifying day - you take the horse to the classifier, no vice versa. Can be a tad sad if said horse does not pass mind you....
There are quite a few Walers, (mine also) awaiting classifying.
The idea in fact was suggested to me by a member in my own state, who has not been forthcoming yet with a suggestion - carn, get into it...!!Hmmm, we shall see...
I hope this answers your question M-M but please tell me/ask if there's anything else I can help with (bearing in mind I am a bear of little brain...) cheers

me again sorry about typos, got my specs on now.....

Hi old mare, pardon my ignorance again! Question 1: So is the classifying to determine medium weight, light weight etc, for horse owners seeking registration for their horses?
Question 2: I have a horse registered with another Waler society, will she need to be classified to be registered with this Association?
Question 3: How many classifiers does WHOBAA have?
Question 4: Is there a course within your association where members can become classifiers?
if so when, where, how, why, and why not?
Cheers old mare, good night!

MM - We have 1 classifier in NSW. His name is Andrew Nash and he lives in Goulburn. Very lovely man. PM if you would like his number

Howdy there Snowy,
and thanks Marey-Marey

First, Classifying is mainly to determine it IS a Waler. NUMBER ONE!

Second, we do not rate them as "light" etc - well we do - but that is our opinion and brings into regard the horse's age/maturity/origion. If it gets registered, we do not put the "Heavy/med/lite category on the Registration Certificate, it remains in records, - as breeding on, and to what bred, bears out our opinion. All sorts of things happen with horses caught wild - their progeny often mature heavier/taller etc - but, not always! Breeding on tells.
With geldings, hardly a metter( except for records). If you go in say Endurance, or Heavyweight Hunter at a show, they will rate your horse (and rider) as they see fit, regardless of what a breed organisation does. If ever we got enough Waler classes for the weight/build categories, then perhaps (dream) we could think about four studbooks for these categories, such as the Welsh. For now - if it passes, it's a Waler. Genetic makeup is our driving force. Keep the breed pure, as it's unique.
Of course, correct conformation, breed characteristics, lack of inbreeding and lack of congenital faults are important. Even the owner!!! (bad owners make bad horses and good owners make good horses).

We have few Classifiers, we need more. Those we have, need to do more - er...............some do, but time, money etc are considerations.
If interested in becoming a Classifier, I suggest you attend our next AGM, where even for one person (hopefully more) we are more than happy to run a Classifiers School. This is, as expected, gruelling (more so for the poor testers!!!) Ghastly in fact. One cannot stuff about with a rare breed, Classifiers are the gatekeepers of the breed. If they are not able to do the job through lack of basic knowledge, it is kinder for them to go and learn some more, and try again. It keeps the breed safe.
It involves a basic sound knowledge of good conformation, congential faults etc and most importantly, a knowledge of what a Waler is.
Temperament is vastly important with us. Action also comes into play.
Remember - no horse is perfect.
The best thing, is send to our Secretary or Treasurer and buy a copy of the Classifiers Manual and study it up!!!! I wish we could give it away but we need to cover costs (it's sent at cost). Think it comes as a disk to print out, to save further cost to us (and you if we had to do all this, bind and post etc). Frankly, it's basic, big, but covers all bases.
a tome to browse through over a year!
Oh - and to add to .....

It's a big responsibility being a Classifier but very rewarding, there is nothing better than seeing other Walers, heart touching beyond belief; and nothing more (is there a word) sad/annoying. ..to travel far for those that are not Walers at all...

Re being registered with say WHSA Inc or ASHA Inc, etc; we have a discount for transferring (big discount) but, we must be sure ourselves the horse is a Waler. As in, The Full Monty - background etc. I have no idea who you are (nor you me I guess!!!) and all best wishes, but to I must state now to you, who I have heaps of respect for re reading the forum, and anyone reading this, we will not register any horse from Clayton. Nor Naryilco. Nor a few others........but if your horse is not any of these (I hope!) then I am sure we can help! Contact the Studbook Keeper, Pat Fischer, thru this site, or PM me for contact details. And good luck! No matter what your horse is, if you love it that's the main thing. If it's suss by us, keep it registered elsewhere! and enjoy.....cheers! any more I can help with, get in touch....
best of all, I hope you have a true Waler (if it's anything to do with Newhaven, judging from the Forum, then you're laughing... and welcome to the secret world of real Walers)

G'day old mare, well everything I wanted to know and so much more, just brilliant! the one thing I've noticed so far about this Association is the Passion, Pride and Confidence in what you all believe in.
keep up the good work.
Cheers

Hey OM - I would love to get my hands on the classifiers book. Where/when is the next AGM???
I am based in the Snowies and would love to be able to become a classifier once my knowledge is 100%

Watch in the Members section - next newsletter - for details how to get the Class Man. (gees, that sounds like someone I need!!,,,.....er...)
usually the AGM is in Vic, which gives a year to save etc!!!!!! and also, great to catch up with old mates and new, and see lots of Walers. So watch out for next newsletter. Heart in the right place, and you will take giant leaps...

oh, the agm IS USUALLY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL YEAR, ABOUT jULY...see newsletter or Gatekeeper and confirm, anyway plenty time to think about it..
oops got a cap lock sorry, back to me brandy....

Having done the classifer's school, I can say it's a fair bit of work, a big learning curve, and a lot of fun!

OM, I think the idea of a horse classifying day is a good one, and not just for Tassie, but something that could be done in every State, or different areas as needed.

Horses who for some reason can't travel would still need to be done on their home properties, but we could cut classifer's travel a lot.

am I seeing triple or has someone else been at the brandy...