Our story - where it all began

My involvement with the ASHS began in about 1972. At this time I was a veterinarian working in beef cattle research. In this capacity I came in contact with many cattle breeders across North Queensland. Many were keen horsemen, particularly Campdraft competitors. My engagement with these people increased after I commenced private veterinary practice in Charters Towers in 1973. At one of the first ASH classification days held in Charters Towers in about 1974 our first horse was classified. He was a brown gelding named Timber. He was accepted on inspection and carries the registration number 9186. His sire is recorded as Doctor and his dam was called Trees, hardly an impeccable pedigree. He did however excel in many events when my son rode him in many Pony Club events. Thus the journey began.
The sale of the veterinary practice and purchase of a large cattle property named Stockhaven, in the Central Burnett was the catalyst for a greater involvement with Stock Horses . The Stockhaven stud prefix was first registered in 1984. Over the past 35 years the stud has relocated several times and now resides just outside Kingaroy. We have operated as a boutique operation breeding primarily for our own use with a few selected progeny offered for sale. To date some 77 horses carry the Stockhaven prefix.
The earliest resident sire was Koyuna Willisee, sired by Koyuna Souvenir, who was a very prolific sire of show jumping horses in Victoria. This acquisition was to satisfy a daughter who was a keen eventing competitor at that time.
The next sire to enter the stud was the one who was to have a profound influence on our breeding and competition programme from the early 1990s to this day. The horse was Bluff Downs Jake foaled in 1989. His sire was Yallatup Simon, by Rivoli Rex and bred by Glen Gough. Yallatup Simon was sold to Bluff Downs Pastoral company and became a prolific sire of Campdraft winners in North Queensland. Jake arrived as a yearling and was gifted to us by Alasdair and Della Macdougall who managed Bluff Downs station at Charters Towers. Bluff Downs had a reputation for breeding quality stock horses which extended back almost 100 years. Jake began his competition career at Widgee Futurity in 1992 and was a regular member of our competition team for the next ten years. He had an impeccable temperament, was very trainable and had great cattle sense. All these features were passed on to his many progeny over the succeeding years. Tragically he passed away at age 19 at a time when his full value as a sire was becoming apparent and he was attracting considerable outside interest.
The next acquisition of note was the mare Renral Glamour purchased from Peter Larner at Mundubbera. Her sire Joken was an outstanding Campdrafter winning many Open Drafts at a high level. Ultimately Glamour was bred to Bluff Downs Jake several times. Three progeny of note were Stockhaven Harmony, Stockhaven Rhythm and Stockhaven Banjo. The latter two were draft winners and Harmony has since produced a favourite gelding son in Stockhaven Rockstar. More of him later.
In the 1990s several outside purchases were made to add to our competition team. Our first Warrenbri Omega purchase was the gelding Kirby's Stud Orca. He proved to be an outstanding competitor in Futurity and Drafting events. We followed with the purchase of Kirkby’s Stud Cheers, also by Omega. She was a lovely mare to ride and had an amazing ability to stop, as good as any reining horse. Cheers was bred to Bluff Downs Jake and gave us Stockhaven Ballerina. She has been our best competition horse and has subsequently produced two lovely filly foals to Boonara Mentor and will foal to Glencoe Last Word in October 2020.
In 2010 the sire Roscommon Anzac was purchased. He was a grandson of Warrenbri Romeo and was used for several breeding seasons. His daughter Stockhaven Poppy remains in the current Campdraft team. She is a daughter of Stockhaven Rhthym, who was a daughter of Renral Glamour.
As well as our resident sires we have utilised a number of outside stallions in our breeding programme. Of note we used Bluff Downs Bega (Warrenbri Omega x Yallatup Simon mare), Boonara Mentor, Ropely Park Brigalow, Kirkby’s Stud Remedy. Of interest Kirkby's Stud Remedy was used by frozen semen, bred by AI in the early days prior to having access to ultrasound to guide the ovulation process.
The stud now operates under the ownership of Peter and Kerrie Allan in conjunction with James and Kristie Bargenquast and now their son Mitchell who is just starting his riding career with Stockhaven Rockstar. Thus the journey continues as we ride the third generation of horses with our own prefix and a strong preference for Heritage Bred horses.