The Victorian Division was started in 1962, when Mrs A.D.D Maclean was asked by the council of the Arab Horse Society of Australasia to form a Branch to promote the Arabian and Arabianbred horses in Victoria. Mrs Maclean and Mrs Luckock attended the first meeting held at the Melbourne Showgrounds on the 25th of September, 1962 after Cecily and John Cornish and Mrs Maclean had drawn up a basic constitution. Mrs Luckock was elected the first President with Mrs Cornish the secretary. Mesdames Hannah, Maclean and Grayson were the first general committee. The initial few years were devoted to getting Arabian classes scheduled at agricultural shows.

 

In 1971 the first Arabian Horse Show was held at the Bendigo Showgrounds in conjunction with the Palomino Association. This was the forerunner of the Arabian Horse Classic and for the first seven years it was held at the Bendigo Showgrounds but moved to the Melbourne Show Grounds and took on a new name of the Victorian Arabian Classic. The event thrived over the next several years and at that time there were around one thousand entries at each show!

 

In the beginning the program was reasonably basic with only twenty classes for halter and ridden classes for purebreds, Anglo and Part-bred horses as well as the first costume classes. Over the following years the show became more popular and more classes were added.

 

VAHA itself has a rich history over more than sixty years since its inception. At one stage the Classic itself was considered to be the largest Arabian horse show in the Southern Hemisphere! But it was not the only event that VAHA held with events such as dressage days, educational days, the Arabian Performance Show and stallion parades and auctions of horses also being held by committees over time. They also ran Christmas gatherings at different places every year, which were very well attended.

 

The current committee is very keen to continue on the proud heritage of the Victorian Arabian Horse Association and planned events will be announced shortly. Members are encouraged to regularly visit our new website on