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Be a part of Australia’s premier representative body for Trail Horse Riders.

Ride with confidence when you have an ATHRA club membership.

ATHRA provides members with great value and benefits.

Australian Horse Alliance (AHA)

The importance of the horse in Australia’s cultural heritage is often exploited when it comes to significant events like  the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games. Our folklore is rich in stories of horses and horsemanship. Yet, despite the obvious bond Australians have with these traditions, present day Australian Governments and bureaucrats are making it increasingly difficult, for those of us who love horses, to keep alive the enjoyment of riding horses through the Australian countryside.

The Australian Horse Alliance (AHA) was formed in 1993 to try and arrest growing anti-horse sentiments that are threatening horse riding access to public land.  

The AHA is an umbrella organisation representing the views of the recreational horse riding fraternity. The Management Committee is comprised, in part, of representatives of a number of Peak bodies. These bodies include the NSW Pony Club Association, Australian Trail Horse Riders Association (ATHRA), the NSW Endurance Riders Association, (NSW-ERA) and Horse Riding Centres of Australia (representing commercial riding centres). The remainder of the Committee consists of delegates from a number of riding clubs. Many clubs, individuals and families have now joined the AHA to provide much needed financial and other support.

The AHA is organised in two levels: the Management Committee and a number of local branches. To date local branches have been formed in the Mid North Coast, The Hunter District, the Central Coast and the Illawarra.  

The AHA can be looked upon as the political wing of the horse riding fraternity. It is NOT a party political organisation but we are not so naïve as to believe we can get anywhere without accepting the realities of the political system. The AHA regularly lobbies politicians of all parties and senior bureaucrats with regard to horse access issues. Delegates from the Management Committee have spoken to the NSW Minister for the Environment and to the Director General of NPWS on a number of occasions.

In addition to this, the AHA provides support in the form of information and tactical advice for regional groups who are fighting for local access rights. In 1998 an ‘Information Package’ was produced to provide useful information to anyone who is involved in educating and lobbying bureaucrats and politicians. This is available to members for the cost of printing ($20). This website will also be used for disseminating information.

An initiative we consider of crucial importance is the replacement of the existing Horse Riding Policy for National  Parks. The AHA has drawn up a draft document and is currently negotiating with NPWS on the matter. The Policy seeks to establish a number of general principles which obviate the usual objections and give horse riders certain rights which must be factored into any plan of management. Without such a document we face the same tired old arguments and go through the same dispute whenever a new plan of management is released.

While the AHA headquarters are based in NSW and the association is therefore most active in that state we are aware that riders are facing similar obstacles in other states and groups and individuals from other states have also joined the AHA for support.

Visit the AHA here

 

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