Brumby

Brumbies are Australian feral horses that developed from domestic horses that either escaped or were abandoned around the time of the gold rush in 1851. Brumby is really a heading for a number of different types of horse, all of which are feral, and it is likely to include descendents of both Walers, Stock Horses, Anglo-Arabs, Percherons and some pony breed, all of which have interbred. They, therefore, do not have any startlingly uniform characteristics and can vary quite considerably in appearance. They naturally formed into herds, and through prolific breeding, and interbreeding, their members dramatically increased with detrimental effect to farming and agriculture.

The Brumby had become so well adapted to the harsh, arid, climate and environment of Australia,  that they were surviving and thriving at the expense of many native Brumby flora and fauna. This was especially evident during the drought season. Finally during the 1960s, systematic and excessive culling was introduced forcing the Brumby into virtual extinction. The barbaric culling, which took place using rifles from helicopters and often resulted in horrific injuries rather than immediate death, provoked an international outcry. Now the numbers of Brumby are greatly reduced, but it is still necessary to control their numbers and methods for doing this have been subject to great debate.

Unfortunately, the Brumby has little value as a riding horse. They are, like any feral animal, extremely difficult to capture and tame, and have rebellious and willful natures. There is also no shortage of excellent riding horses in the form of the Stock Horse, making it unnecessary to use the Brumby. As they became feral in the 19th century their physical characteristics altered as they adapted to life in the wild. They became small, faster, and more cunning than the domestic horse, as well as  enduring and extremely tough.

The Brumby varies in conformation but generally has a heavy head with a short neck and back, straight shoulders, sloping quarters, and strong legs. Their shape is generally poor although the occasional one has a through back to Thoroughbred ancestry and will have some quality, especially in the head region. They can be any color and their height varies but they tend to be small - although the odd horse will exceed 15. hh

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