Mountain Brumbies
Around the middle of the nineteenth century started the legacy of the Snowy Mountain brumbies. Domestic stock horses turned wild, they now add to the mystical landscape where the "Banjo" found his inspiration and the legend of The Man From Snowy River was born.
Nowdays, mountain brumbies are a controversial topic. As an introduced species, parties disagree on whether the brumbies should remain part of Kosciuszko National Park. Programs to remove some of the brumby population have commenced, where the wild horses are 'broken in' and sold or sent to sanctuaries.
Snowy Wilderness
The Snowy Wilderness concept was born as a way to protect Australia's wild brumbies and the Snowy Wilderness are passionate about the brumbies and proud to be able to share this experience with you.
One of only two Australina brumby sactuaries, Snowy Wilderness is home to more than 70 wild brumbies - including the legendary silver brumby. You're guaranteed to see some of the mob during your visit along, with some of our other residents - kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, echidnas, wedge tail eagles, emus and deer, not to mention the collection of birdlife and native flora.
Contact us on 1800 218 171 or visit our website www.snowywilderness.com.au
Challenge to Tame Snowy Brumbies
By Anthony Dennis Sydney Morning Herald
June 25 2002
Beyond an undulating paddock high above the trickle of the nearby Snowy River, the peaks of the Snowy Mountains form a ragged, white outline that stretches across the horizon.
Until recently the mountains were the harsh and unforgiving home to a mob of brumbies - "Banjo" Paterson's "small and weedy beasts". Now, well-trained and well-fed, they are galloping alongside their domesticated counterparts in, effectively, a home away from home.
Once wild bush horses, the brumbies are more like mild bush horses as a result of the care, patience and attention of Kerry Rayer and Brian Seears, whose adjoining properties, Billigal and Booroola, are located near Dalgety on the banks of the Snowy River in the south-east of NSW.
They are among the first recipients of brumbies from a special program that is seeing introduced wild horses removed from the fragile alpine environments of the Kosciuszko National Park. In a humane alternative to culling, the wild horses of the Snowys are being trapped, after having been attracted by salt blocks, and then rounded up by stockriders.
Some of them may be placed in the custody of horse handlers, like Ms Rayer and Mr Seears, who will break them in, providing them with a far healthier and longer life than they would have enjoyed in the Snowy Mountains.
Once broken in, some may be evenly tempered enough to be sold as riding ponies for children. So far, 34 Snowy Mountains brumbies have been delivered to Billigal and Booroola. These are the first brumbies Ms Rayer has broken in.
She says she is learning that brumbies are far from the equine delinquents they are sometimes portrayed, even though when they arrive at her property they are in general poor health, "little fuzz-balls all ribs and hair".
Within a relatively short period a few of the brumbies are ready to be ridden. Eventually Ms Rayer and Mr Seears plan to break in all of their nearly three dozen brumbies removed from the Kosciuszko National Park.
"They're not aggressive, nasty horses," says Ms Rayer. "They're just scared. It's understandable because they're never seen people before.When you first approach them they're so afraid. Our main aim is to remove the fear. Even after 15 minutes the barriers begin to break down."
In a 10-day process, Ms Rayer says that it is important to gain both the confidence and respect of the horses. Because they are so unaccustomed to humans the horses must be allowed to absorb each new element in the process.
"You get addicted to the feeling you get when they first come," she says. "They're in such poor condition. But within no time at all, with a bit of TLC, they've become quite magnificent horses
"People keep saying `you're going to have to start selling them'. But that's going to be the hardest part. I don't think I'll ever let them go completely."
