Held at the historic Braidwood Showground in NSW on 9 May, the event brings together breeders, handlers, historians and the wider community to showcase the strength, versatility and quiet temperament of traditional working breeds including Clydesdales, Shires and Percherons.
Through competition classes, harness displays and skill demonstrations, the show provides a living link to the working landscapes of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Central to the 2026 program is the continued recognition of the Alma Cup, a feature event that honours one of the district’s most notable heavy horses and the legacy of excellence associated with his name.
The Alma Cup
The Alma Cup commemorates Alma, a distinguished Clydesdale stallion associated with the Braidwood district and widely regarded as an exemplar of type, strength and working reliability. Historical references place Alma within the era when heavy horses were indispensable to transport, agriculture and timber industries across southern New South Wales. Horses of his calibre were not only valued for their physical capability, but also for their temperament and trainability — qualities essential to the success of rural enterprises. The naming of the Alma Cup reflects both a recognition of this individual animal and a broader tribute to the generations of heavy horses that underpinned regional development.
The Alma Cup has a $1000 cash prize, sponsored by Community Bank Braidwood.
Event organisers emphasise that the show is as much about cultural heritage as it is about competition.
“The Heavy Horse Show is an opportunity to preserve and share knowledge that might otherwise be lost,” President Cai Thomas said. “It connects current and future generations with the animals and skills that built communities like Braidwood.”
The event continues to attract participants and visitors from across New South Wales and beyond, contributing to local tourism and reinforcing Braidwood’s reputation as a centre for heritage experiences.
The Braidwood and District Heavy Horse Show will take place 9 May, 2026.
