These guidelines to enable a standard to be maintained in all areas. Assessment is according to the Australian National Saddlehorse Association Standard of Excellence.

Minimum Height:  Over 14h.    Minimum Age for inspection:  2 Years from foaling date.

Each horse must be free from hereditary defects. Soundness is paramount. Strong functional conformation should be evident reflecting good breeding. There should be no signs of coarseness or commonness. Horses must be correct enough structurally to enable them to stay sound for a long. productive life under saddle. They must have a well proportioned body to produce a comfortable and pleasurable ride.

The ideal horse is well conformed saddle horse type, demonstrating good temperament and ability. Versatility is valued and encouraged.

Classifiers should refrain from viewing breeding papers prior to inspection of the horse. All horses must have identification brands (refer to section 13 of the regulations). A simple performance of basic paces under saddle - broodmare excepted where necessary. Straight action when walk, trot and canter.

Video classification may be excepted (arranged via head office)

Horses with performance records can be admitted to the registry without going through classification inspection. The following is an alternative to presenting classification system for entry of horses to the ANSA registry. This allows horses with proven ability to be admitted straight to the register. The intention of this system is not to erode the quality of horses recognised by ANSA but instead to introduce a system which is flexible and administratively convenient but at the same time identify the excellence in the saddle horse and also to encourage a greater number of performance horses into the organisation.

Horses  are admitted to a register on the basis of performance. It is most likely that horses with hereditary defects will not have an appropriate performance record which would allow them to be admitted. If the owner of such a horse chosen to have the horse classified, again it is most unlikely that the horse would be admitted.

All applications received to enter directly into the registry shall, prior to entry be approved by the Registration Approval Committee. This Committee requests document evidence to support an application for registration and may reject any horse which they regard as not having attained the required level of performance. Any horse rejected on these grounds is still eligible to enter the registry following classification inspection.