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Please don’t kill off our Brumbies

The Man from Snowy River is a famous poem created by A.B. (Banjo) Patterson, narrating the tale of a horseback chase to reclaim a colt from a prize-winning racehorse that has escaped and is now living among the wild brumbies (wild horses) in the mountainous regions.

As the chase unfolds, the brumbies navigate a seemingly impossible steep slope, prompting most riders to abandon the pursuit, save for the young protagonist.

He urges his pony onward, pursuing the herd down the incline.

The setting of the poem is around the headwaters of the ‘Snowy River’ in the Australian Alps, where Patterson spent part of his formative years rounding up brumbies after he later purchased a property there.

The Australian Alps represent the highest segment of the Great Dividing Range in Eastern Australia, crossing the borders of New South Wales and Victoria.

Composed in the late 19th Century, The Man From Snowy River contributed to shaping an ‘Australian’ identity as separate colonies contemplated the formation of a single nation.

Even though a vast majority of the populace now resides in urban areas, a robust connection and identification with ‘bush culture’ persists.

When the colt from old Regret escaped, the poem inspired Australians, alongside the brumbies that roamed freely across the land.

Often perceived romantically through bush poetry and stories, brumbies also encounter criticism from some bush residents who claim they harm the environment.

Libby Lovegrove initially indulged in horse riding as a hobby, which has evolved into a significant project aimed at protecting the wild horses of the Kimberley from extinction.

Destruction, as you may ask…yes, destruction is currently happening, and the population has plummeted to alarming lows. Libby’s passion transformed after an intimate encounter while camping in the central Kimberley, where she woke from her swag to observe two stunning horses foraging through the tall grass nearby. Following that, Libby learned of a sizable herd in the Lake Gregory area, south of Halls Creek, which was reportedly causing issues yet possessed Arab bloodlines and a captivating heritage.

The population of horses around Lake Gregory is estimated to reach five thousand and is believed to have descended from several original Arabs taken to the Balgo mission in the 1950s.

These horses face the threat of being culled by the Department of Agriculture in their culling program. They are exceedingly ‘at risk’. Thousands have already been eliminated. Evidence of this is scarce, as when the Brumbies are killed, they are buried together in unmarked holes. These ‘Brumby landfills’ are dispersed widely, making it exceedingly difficult to pinpoint their locations.

According to Libby Lovegrove, their lineage makes them a precious resource that warrants protection.

Recently, the Sheik of Dubai acquired 12 horses for use in the popular desert endurance races. These horses were meticulously selected by the billionaire’s veterinarian and have acclimatized well to their new environment in Dubai. Their innate endurance and stamina make them particularly suitable.

Libby Lovegrove mentioned that the next endeavor for her volunteer-led group involves routinely mustering the Lake Gregory horses and establishing a management plan in collaboration with the neighboring Aboriginal community. Executing this will pose a logistical challenge that necessitates motorbikes, trucks, and manpower.

Successfully gathered wild horses in the region have been purchased by buyers from various areas across the state, spurring interest from other parts of the nation as well. Horses recognized for their buckskin, paint, or palomino markings have been especially in demand. Similar breeds in the far north Kimberley trace their lineage back to Arabs used at the Kalumburu mission.

Eliminating these magnificent creatures cannot be the sole solution.

by David Livingstone

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