The Walers Belong to the People
Angela Tiede, 13 February 2026. Image: Waler stallion TRD Pinjee, at Darraweit Guim Victoria, November 2025
It’s strange how history is so easily discarded by those in Associations and Societies claiming to be advocates for particular breeds, carelessly and with no regard to those involved. Let’s not even mention wanton lack of due process which of course should be integral in any decision making, in particular where money is collected from members of those groups.
Fortunately, the horses don’t care, and the consequences are immaterial to many of us who own and breed Waler horses, the Australian made all-rounder. But the principle of any matter of careless behaviour is always the most important element I think as if nothing is said or done to try and change that behaviour it will most likely become entrenched, with negative outcomes along the way. That has certainly been my personal experience, and I am writing this post as, lo and behold, here we go AGAIN.
Images: Waler stallion TRD Pinjee WHSA registration certificate
The principal purpose of a breed society is to preserve the breed they represent, in the most original form practicable, surely? Certainly, those claims are made by the two Waler groups I know about: Waler Horse Society of Australia, and Waler Horse Owners and Breeders Association Australia. All actions logically therefore would support this, and membership is derived from believers of this principal purpose who wish to invest time and money into supporting those endeavours through this mechanism.
So why is this not how they work in practice? I was astounded to discover this to be the case when I first entered the world of Waler Horses in 2006, an unsuspecting private individual embarking on a journey of discovery. I soon worked out that all is not what it seems, and questioning was not well received by the status quo, who are presumably those who think they have some kind of ownership and power and hence control. I make no claims about understanding motives I hasten to add, but hidden agendas are at the core it seems to me. It certainly was a whole new experience which took a little while for me to understand as I was always just thinking about advocacy for the horses, naively as it turns out.
My first attempt to improve outcomes for Walers resulted in an internal investigation within the Waler Horse Owners and Breeders Association Australia, which I had joined as my horses were registered with them and the people who sold them to me were members. It was a welcome outcome, a process was instigated by a long-standing executive committee member, communications were undertaken and disseminated in a written report, with the process and findings made known to everyone involved. The report was thorough and insightful and provided a way forward that would be positive for all, most of all the horses. Unfortunately, the messenger was duly shot and in the ensuing scuffle members departed (including the messenger), me included. It was the best and the worst of times…and of course, recollections may vary.
My next go was to try and find a more secure place for Walers within a larger organisation by proposing a new section within the Australian Stock Horse Society, sunk by extreme resistance by all parties to the very mention of combining forces (although ironically it seems that WHSA now accepts selected heritage stock horses into their studbook, dear oh dear). I gave up on that membership after a couple of years of learning more about the studbook concerns from a groundswell of members.
Lesson learned, No More Associations for me, of any kind.
Fast forward to 2021. My Waler herd has grown, many adventures have been had, and breed showing became a regular thing for us until around 2014, always taking a stallion, mare, gelding and part-bred Waler, as a minimum. Enter COVID lockdowns to disrupt our daily lives, except for those of us who spend our days on the land with our horses albeit no more attending competitions, lessons or club rallies.
Online shows become the way to keep participating in horse events. I don’t participate, rightfully leaving it to members of the two Waler groups. I get asked to, and asked again, and again. OK, yes, I have registered horses, yes, I can support Walers in this way. I mean, a bit of a spruce up and a few photos, spend a few dollars on entries, and improve the participation rate for the show, all useful Waler advocacy actions. Still so naive, a decade and a half later, oh dear!
Everyone is very supportive. My horses have success, I am very proud. Especially of my stallions Newhaven Virtuoso who won his led class and also led Supreme Waler and Classic Ezekiel who won ridden Waler Stallion 8yrs & over and working hunter, and my young mare Classic Faith just started under saddle in time for the show, winning ridden Waler mare up to 4yrs. Wonderful!
But now I become a person of interest, who is she of the old-fashioned brown horses in her paddocks? I am contacted, I willingly share my experience and knowledge, and despite my preference being to simply enjoy my horses in my own way I feel like I am being helpful and appreciated in return so it’s a positive change.
Then it starts, would I join the Waler Horse Society of Australia and register my Todd River Downs horses (noticed by my new Waler Facebook friends) should WHSA decide they are acceptable for consideration based on the research done about the location. As explained to me there were a few in the membership and on the committee actively seeking to add much needed diversity (the kindest way I can think of to record this problem) to the studbook.
Images: Waler Stallion TRD Pinjee, mare TRD Hale, gelding TRD Tommy
I had not, nor would have, sought to register my TRD horses. I was asked to. I agreed to a visit by the WHSA President in May 2022 to inspect those horses with a view to registration. We all enjoyed the time together, my Walers just love visitors.
Images: TRD Waler mares Topsy, Indi, Bess
As always, my only interest is advocating for Walers, so I agreed to proceed to membership and registration should WHSA decided to recognise TRD as a foundation location. I took the opportunity to let the WHSA president know personally my views on why I am not good membership material as I believe both WHOBAA and WHSA have been more successful in hindering a future for Walers than in securing one, driving people away rather than inviting them in. Failing to keep the horses as the priority and hence being distracted by vested interests. The experience of his visit and ongoing communications with the member who first approached me cemented my resolve to help revive a website started by a small group of Waler advocates to provide a public place for Waler knowledge to be accessed by anyone interested, as the Walers belong to the people. Not WHSA, not WHOBAA, not any one group or entity, no matter their claims, no matter their investment, no matter their perceived ownership, power and control.
Image: Facebook statement posted 10 February 2026 by WHSA
In May 2022 WHSA decides to accept TRD horses for consideration, I become a member and submit my 6 Todd River Downs horses for registration, all are accepted as Foundation Walers. It is a good news story for everyone involved or so I thought anyway.
I last three years as a member and learn more about the studbook and WHSA and decide once again that such groups are definitely not for me, so I communicate my concerns to the secretary and president in writing and do not renew my membership.
And what happens next? A Facebook statement surprise a few days ago.
I am including these communications below as despite written requests to various WHSA committee members (& the 2022 president) over the last few days to explain this FB statement made by WHSA as it appears to discredit the actions taken by the committee in 2022 (and myself in so doing), only one responded (the member who had originally contacted me about joining and registering my TRD horses, now apparently unable to clarify the current position for me), suggesting I contact the current President and VP. Which I have done.
Email from WHSA President 11 May 2022:
Dear Angela
We had a WHSA Committee meeting last night and I’m delighted to tell you that the TRD horses have been endorsed as meeting the requirements of Foundation Walers (subject to the usual classification process).
Email from Waler Horse Society President 12 May 2022:
Dear Angela
Thank you very much for this additional information and also for your continuing efforts to support these special horses and especially for letting me know that Pinjee will remain entire. I think he can look forward to an exciting breeding career after he matures. Also I hope your encouragement to other owners to join up will be successful. A horse breed needs a breed society and a breed society needs members who will work together to help preserve and promote the breed.
For your information alone, I have drafted a letter to Janet Lane advising that the WHSA has accorded TRD “Approved Station” status enabling horses to be registered as Foundation Walers. I have to get the letter draft approved by the Committee before sending.
(Subsequent announcement made by Janet Lane on May 28, Waler Data Base Facebook page implies the committee approved the letter and it was sent to her: Some good news. TRD horses may now apply to be registered with the Waler Horse Society of Australia Inc.)
Email from Waler Horse Society President 29 June 2022:
Dear Angela
First let me congratulate you for committing to a three year membership of the WHSA and also for making an application for registration of your TRD horses.
I have drafted a brief article that I would like to submit for the next WHSA Newsletter due out very soon and I would if you are happy with it being submitted. If so, please make any edits you feel are necessary.
Deafening silence to my request for clarification about the Facebook post. This is disappointing behaviour once again, seemingly entrenched as all corresponded with are complicit. I am the only person with TRD horses registered by WHSA. At the request of WHSA! If even I cannot be given an explanation, then it is mysterious indeed and certainly appears to be unprocedural at the very least. I have asked that if TRD horses are not now welcomed for consideration by WHSA that my membership and registration monies be returned and my horses removed from the studbook. A reasonable request it seems to me.
Follow-up by phone on 24 February revealed that a 30 day wait for a response is the minimum to expect, however an email was received from the President the next day. After a phone conversation on 26 February I emailed my suggestions for resolution: either the post is corrected to reflect the facts, or it is removed and a procedural determination made by WHSA (announced publicly) which clarifies their position on TRD horses being an approved foundation location and if it has changed then my horses be removed from the studbook and ideally compensation made back to me as I joined and registered them entirely at the request of WHSA, funding a three year membership, and two foal and six adult registrations. See what happens next.
It appears WHSA had another purpose with the FB post in mind and our reading of it is different, as there was no intention to discredit my TRD horses or myself (which clearly it does, ahem).
Is this really helping the future for the Walers that we are all working towards? No. No. Just no.
As well as everything else, the section in the WHSA FB statement about DNA testing demonstrates a lack of understanding, a very bad sign for a breed society. It also defames me as I wrote the content contained in the quotation marks. For those who do want to learn, this link may help explain the difference between breed ancestry testing which shows up old bloodlines (background breeds), and parentage testing which tests for relationships (to prevent in-breeding). Their statement conflates the two in order to discredit my quoted claim.
