Despite the place that brumbies have earned in Australian folk law and their major contribution to our heritage and culture, the majority of States regard wild horses as being “feral” and they have little protection under current legislation. Their commercial value as potentially versatile riding horses has also largely been neglected.
The proposed new body has identified a number of major areas that will need to be addressed further, namely;
• Techniques for capturing and removing horses from a range of different environments
• Programs for re-homing horses to ensure they are place in the best possible care
• The potential to use fertility control methods to ensure the number of horses on government lands does not become unsustainable
• Research to gain scientific evidence regarding the real environmental, social and economic impact of wild horse populations
• Funding options, including support from the Federal and State governments
• Meaningful animal welfare requirements with special consideration to the needs of wild horses, and
• Legislative changes to overcome the negative connotation of wild horses as “feral”.
WA representatives on the Australian Brumby Alliance will be Outback Heritage Horse Association of WA Veterinary Advisor, Dr Sheila Greenwell, and Association President, Ian Lockyer. Other member groups include the Victorian Brumby Association, Save The Brumbies, NSW, The Coffin Bay Pony Association (SA), Oxley River Brumbies & Snowy Mountains Bush Users Group (NSW).
The Outback Heritage Horse Association of WA is an incorporated charity dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of at-risk old bloodline horses in remote areas of Western Australia.
Source: Outback Heritage Horse Association WA