Brumby Horse

Brumby horse derives its name from the Australian language. Brumby stands for ‘wild horse’. The origin of the name is not known, but it is thought to have come from one of three sources: from a pioneer horse breeder called James Brumby, from baroomby, the Queens-land aboriginal word for wild, or from Baramba, the name of a station and creek in Queensland. Whatsoever is the origin of the name, as a matter of fact, Brumby horse is immensely popular by this name and its native land is Australia.

History of Brumby Horse

The first evidence of arrival of horses in Australia is recorded in the year 1788. It was in 1810 that high-quality thoroughbreds were imported to Australia from England. The very first horses were used for working in farms. They made significant contribution for opening up the pastoral land of Australia. These horses were used by the explorers for transport. For remount trade also these horses were bred later. Several horses escaped because of small number and low quality of fences. Irregular musters were also responsible for this escape. The advent of the machinery also caused the abandonment of these horses as these machineries took over the tasks done by the horses.

Physique of Brumby Horse

Head of Brumby horse is a bit heavy. Its neck and back are short and shoulders are straight. Its quarters are sloping. A good deal of thoroughbred blood is carried by some of the Brumby horses; such horses are pretty sophisticated and well conformed. Whether this horse will be a good contender for endurance competitions or not is doubtful. For hardy and tough horses, nature is the best breeder.

Height of Brumby Horse

The Brumby horse is usually found to be 14 to 15 hands high tall.

Body Color of Brumby Horse

Conformation, color or size is found to be inconsistent in case of Brumby horse as domestic mares may escape and unite with herds of feral horses. In addition, they were initially of assorted type which includes draught and thoroughbred.

Temperament of Brumby Horse

Brumby horse is a genuine wild horse of considerable intelligence. It is almost impossible to catch it and once caught, it is almost impossible to train it.

Uses of Brumby Horse

When Brumby horse is captured, it is trained as stock horses and other saddle horses. Sight seeing of feral herds may encourage tourists. They also fill the hungry bellies of people in Europe as their meat is relished in European countries. Hair and skin of these horses are also in great demand and use. Wild Brumbies are extensively used in brumby training camps. It is done by the organizations that encourage interaction between anxious youths. These horses are also used in the Brumby catch and handle event.

During the great gold rush of the mid-19th century many domestic horses were turned loose on the ranges, breeding freely and in many cases becoming inbred and deteriorating in quality. As usual when domestic horses run wild only the most adaptable and the brainiest survived; but the Australian climate suits horses well and Brumbies soon became so numerous that they became a threat to agriculture. Mechanization following World War I added to the problem when further quantities of unwanted domestichorses were loosed and soon Brumbies were regarded as pests through the damage caused to pasture, fences, water holes and their perpetual invitation to station horses. Culling became necessary by gun, by running into traps and by trapping through building concealed corrals along their favorite routes, and in the early 1960s Brumbies were hunted with jeeps with motor cycles and with light aircraft.