Brumby Bridges

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 1 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

From the wild to the Show ring!

Brumby Bridges

The quarterly newsletter of the ABA

JUNE 2014

ISSUE 14-2

ABA Inc. Charity/ABN No: 9-784718191

IN THIS ISSUE…..

Page 4……….Barmah Brumby Preservation Group

Page 11……..Conservation Grazing

Page 6……….Member News

Page 3……….National Parks legislation

Page 6……….NSWNPW Kosi Field Trip

Page 4……….Ramsar Convention

Page 5&10…Vet’s Brumby Working Group

The ABA

The Australian Brumby Alliance Inc. (ABA) was

established in 2008 to help facilitate the efforts of

like-minded wild horse interest groups throughout

Australia. We do this by sharing information and

expertise as well as providing a collective voice in

regard to the humane management, welfare,

preservation and promotion of what we consider to

be a National Treasure - The Australian Brumby.

Congratulations to

Guy Fawkes Casuarina and

Shanlee Duckett who took out

Champion All Breeds Ridden

at the 2014 Bellingen Show!

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 2 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

ABA News

President’s Chat

We are challenged on several fronts by Wild Horse reviews

of Kozcuisko National Park, the Victorian Alps and Barmah

National Park. While the first two reviews are still in

progress, Parks Victoria have decided to bypass their

Barmah Horse Advisory Committee (BHAC) formed to

provide specialist advice on horse management, and have

now commenced plans to remove the remaining 140

Brumbies from Barmah Park. It is vital this decision is

reversed.

ABA member groups work tirelessly to promote the social,

heritage and biodiversity values Brumbies provide, but it

seems we need more untried strategies to counteract

Parks reliance on inaccurate and outdated views. Ideas

such as:

The National Parks Act (Victoria) Page1 has three over-

riding thrusts to ensure Parks are available for the benefit

of the pubic: a) includes historical values, b) “areas that

demonstrate man’s effect on his environment whether

through his agricultural or pastoral pursuits or otherwise”,

and c) includes recreational use. The Act’s clear intent to

include man’s effect, historical and recreational use, in my

view, clearly supports the concept to keep sustainable

numbers of Brumbies living wild in areas they have co-

existed with for decades. (more page 3)

Ramsar Wetland (Barmah wetlands are Ramsar listed).

Ramsar requires that no changes be considered without

first undertaking comprehensive scientific studies to

ensure any change considered will not degrade Ramsar’s

listing integrity. Lyn Sutton (HOOFs) and the ABA have

separately asked Ramsar to consider whether Parks

Victoria met required obligations before deciding to

remove the Brumbies from Barmah. (more page 4)

Heritage listings can preserve man’s pastoral values and

history working the land. Why can’t this be extended to

Brumbies? This move is being investigated and an

application to Heritage Victoria is in progress to introduce

the notion that heritage listing need not be limited to non-

living values. We often read of Living History in historical

and Aboriginal documents. There can be no doubt in

anyone mind that Barmah Brumbies, living wild and

descendants from earlier European settlement are Living

History.

Positive developments include: -

The Barmah Brumby Preservation Group Inc. with Murray

Willaton (member Barmah Forest Cattleman’s

Association), as President has been formed by several

Barmah community groups. The Victorian Brumby

Association, the ABA and HOOFS2010 Inc. are also

involved so we can present a significant, unified

community voice to Parks Victoria on why it is essential

that Brumbies remain living wild in Barmah Park. (more

page 4)

Andrea Harvey is forming a Vet/science group to spread

Brumby awareness to the veterinary profession and focus

the need for science based Brumby research. (more page 5

& 10)

Kosciuszko NPWS staff hosted several Brumby groups,

including the ABA, HVBA and VBA for two day long visits to

a variety of Brumby sites. The scenery and information

gained from other groups and NPWS staff was invaluable

and I came away determined that I, and maybe all of us,

need to study relevant Park Acts. (more page 6)

Positive Brumby Information Sheets. The subtle influence

of repeated statements such as Brumbies introduce weeds

can become the norm. After hearing, during the recent

visit to Kozcuisko, that NPWS staff actually introduced fast

growing grasses (exotic weeds) to stabilise banks some

decades ago, and before their potential to overrun

indigenous grasses was understood, I started drafting

information sheets to refute the myth Brumbies cause

damage, but am only part finished. Any volunteers to

help?

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

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Conservation grazing is gathering momentum in many

parts of the world. We all need to keep up to date and

quote information on this new science. Sandy Radke has

written about is role in arresting desertification in this

issue’s Editor’s Tail (more page 11).

Read on for a range of fascinating articles in this Brumby

Bridges – Jill Pickering, President, ABA

Vital to know your state National Parks Acts

The National Parks Act (Vic) Page1 has three key objectives

to ensure Parks are available for the benefit of the pubic:

a) includes historical values;

b) “areas that demonstrate man’s effect on his

environment whether through his agricultural or

pastoral pursuits or otherwise”; and

c) includes recreational use.

The Australian Brumby Alliance wrote to Bill Jackson, CEO

Parks Victoria in February 2014 to ask why Parks Victoria

had decided to remove all Brumbies in Barmah National

Park, his response included:

“Barmah National Park contains significant

cultural and environmental values and Ramsar-

listed wetlands of International significance”.

Then goes on:

“As part of its responsibility under the National

Parks Act 1975, Parks Victoria plans to remove all

the wild horses from the national park. This

objective is supported by the Yorta Yorta Nation

Aboriginal Corporation, which has expressed the

view that all wild horses should be removed from

the national park”.

My responses are:

 The need for Ramsar to consider whether Parks

Victoria had met its Ramsar obligations before

deciding to remove the Brumbies from Barmah; (see

President’s Chat)

 The National Parks Act 1975 states that Parks should

be made available for the benefit of the public, in

particular Areas that demonstrate man's effect on his

environment whether through his agricultural or

pastoral pursuits or otherwise;

 The reference to exterminate or control exotic fauna is

a single line on page 21; and

 The Yorta Yorta Nation, whose headquarters are in St.

Kilda Road, Melbourne, may not be the closest

traditional owners of Barmah Forest.

The Act’s reference to man's effect on his environment

surely includes Aboriginal and settlements over the past

200 years. Australia correctly protects Aboriginal culture,

however this should not be at the expense of 200 years of

other settlement history and culture. Both should, and

can, be sustained in a non-conflicting and complementary

manner.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) second

objective (b) is:

the conservation of objects, places or features (including

biological diversity) of cultural value within the landscape,

including, but not limited to:

(i) places, objects and features of significance to

Aboriginal people, and

(ii) places of social value to the people of New

South Wales, and

(iii) places of historic, architectural or scientific

significance;

and the third:

enjoyment of nature and cultural heritage and their

conservation.

The Act’s objectives are to be achieved by applying the

principles of ecologically sustainable development, and

public interest in the protection of the values for which

land is reserved.

In my opinion, these NSW and Victorian Park Acts

examples provide a firm basis upon which ABA members

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

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can argue for governments to support sustainable Brumby

management. Once all ABA groups have reviewed their

relevant Acts we will be well positioned to advise on a

National sustainable Brumby management program.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (http://ramsar.wetlands.org)

The "Ramsar Convention" is an intergovernmental treaty

that embodies the commitments of its member countries

to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of

International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or

sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.

(Ramsar website)

At the centre of the Ramsar philosophy is the “wise use”

concept, defined as "the maintenance of their ecological

character, achieved through the implementation of

ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable

development".

"Wise use" therefore has at its heart the conservation and

sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the

benefit of humankind. Source:

http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-

home/main/ramsar/1_4000_0__

Barmah was once a common land for grazing animals, such

as cattle and horses with an annual muster to keep herds

within sustainable numbers. It was during this period that

Ramsar listed the Barmah Wetlands as an area of

significance. However subsequently the government

ceased cattle and logging leases resulting in increased

undergrowth density. Currently 140 Brumbies remain, to

do all they can to limit the undergrowth, as they have

done for over 150 years.

Ramsar requires that no changes be considered without

first undertaking comprehensive scientific studies to

ensure any change considered will not degrade Ramsar

listing integrity. However no studies on the negative

impact of removing cattle occurred. It is vital studies are

conducted prior to even considering the total remove of

Barmah’s Brumbies.

The concept of “wise use” emphasizes that human uses on

a sustainable basis is entirely compatible with Ramsar

principles and wetland conservation in general. The

principle is crucial to ensure wetlands can continue fully to

deliver their vital role in supporting maintenance of

biological diversity and human well-being.

Recognizing that for the conservation of wetlands and the

wise use of their resources, an overall agreement is

essential among the various managers, owners, occupiers

and other stakeholders to benefit the quality of life for

local and indigenous people and that these people, in

addition to their involvement in site management, should

derive the benefits that result from conservation and

sustainable use of wetlands.

Ramsar listing, especially in sites subject to intense use by

human communities, either to extract resources or to

benefit from the natural functions of the wetland, helps to

provide the necessary protection to ensure its long-term

sustainability. This can best be achieved by preparing and

implementing an appropriate management plan, with the

active participation of all stakeholders. (Source Ramsar

Manual - http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/lib/manual6-2013-

e.pdf )

Somehow we must enable Parks Victoria to recognise

Ramsar’s concept of Wise Use.

Barmah Brumby Preservation Group Inc. (BBPG)

Barmah National Park, previously called Barmah Forest, is

located east of Ecucha adjacent to the Murray River. No

documented evidence has been produced by Parks

Victoria to back their claims that Barmah Brumbies should

be removed. Such claims appear based on unfounded and

based on outdated views.

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

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The determined mantra that Brumbies cause damage so

should be removed continues despite overseas science

now promoting the value of ‘Conservation Grazing’. Equids

and cattle are now being used as an effective control to

stop the spread of tall, dense, dry undergrowth, which

then fuels intensely overheated wildfires that destroy the

land for decades to come.

Colleen O’Brien, Victorian Brumby Association and local

Barmah key stake holders on Parks Victoria Barmah Horse

Advisory Committee (BHAC) have worked for several years

to produce recommendations on Barmah Horse

management options.

The Barmah Brumby Preservation Group Inc. was formed

in May 2014 by local Barmah groups along with the ABA,

VBA and HOOFS2010 Inc. to provide a united voice to

reverse Parks Victoria sudden decision to remove the

remaining 140 Barmah Brumbies from June 2014. BBPG

membership also includes Aboriginal people who

traditionally worked this area and still live nearby.

BBPG’s Mission Statement is to maintain a sustainable

number of Barmah Brumbies living in the wild of the

Barmah National Park Victoria.

BBPG aims to achieve the Mission in order: -

 To ensure the Heritage of Barmah National Park

is recognized, maintained and restored for

future generations of all Australians

 To promote the historical and heritage

significance of the Barmah Brumbies

 To assist the government in managing the

Barmah Brumbies by utilizing the expertise of

members forming the Barmah Brumby

Preservation Group

Removing Brumbies from where they have existed for 150

years will destroy the ‘living heritage’ we now enjoy and

value. Furthermore, Barmah’s current bio-diversity will

become bio-dense, as we saw in the exclusion areas of the

Alpine National Park.

BBPG is moving fast to raise the issues and develop a

platform to represent positive values of Brumbies in

Barmah to Parks Victoria and the Victorian Government.

New Science/Vet focused Group

Andrea Harvey, a vet with

several Brumbies from Save The

Brumbies (STB), is helping with

STB’s fertility control trial.

Andrea is also keen to support

the Brumby Welfare work ABA members carry out by

forming a new group of representatives from scientific and

veterinary backgrounds to develop science based Brumby

management information.

Andrea hopes to progress the vital need for science based

research to guide government authorities on humane

Brumby management. Andrea is concerned that Park staff

seem to make Brumby management decisions based on

outdated and emotive views.

For example conducting random aerial culls of thousands

of Brumbies with no scientific reasoning that a cull is

necessary. No scientific research on how best to control

numbers, then use reports that an aerial cull was humane

to justify further aerial shooting.

Andrea, as a scientist, has read these aerial cull reports

and finds them scientifically flawed and therefore, in her

opinion, essentially useless.

I spoke with Andrea early May 2014 after she had recently

spoken with Sheila Greenwell (OHHAWA vet) and Bidda

Jones (RSPCA Canberra). I put Andrea in contact with Lyn

Hinds (CSIRO Canberra) and Magdalena Zabek (Brumby

supporter/researcher QLD). If anyone has additional

contact suggestions for Andrea, please let me know.

This group has potential to spread awareness across

Science and Veterinary Professionals about issues facing

Brumbies, and to promote the need for Australian

scientifically sound research papers that we can use when

negotiating with Australian Authorities.

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 6 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

Thanks Jan for Andrea’s involvement - Lets watch this

space with keen interest.

(See Also Hoofprints, Page 10)

Member News

Australian Brumby Horse Register (ABHR)

At the recent Bellingen Show,

ABHR Registered Brumby

Guy Fawkes Casuarina ridden

by Shanlee Duckett was

Champion All Breeds

Ridden. The judges supported

their choice of Champion

by stating they were

impressed that she was captured in the wild and is now in

the show ring.

Hunter Valley Brumby Association (HVBA)

Kosciuszko Field Trip

Kath, Sharlone and Sam headed to Jindabyne in March for

a two day field trip with NPWS and reps from the VBA,

ABA, RSPCA, Snowy Mountains Bush Users Group and the

newly formed local Brumby management group. The field

trip was organised by NPWS with the intension of showing

us the damage or “impact” caused by Brumbies. With all

of the media and claims by NPWS of the problems caused

by Brumbies and the increasing populations we travelled

around with our eyes open.

Brumbies have been in Kosciuszko National Park for more

than 150 years. This was the first time the HVBA has had a

chance to do a field trip here. We have previously tried to

go to the northern end of Kosciuszko when picking up

Brumbies and have a look around, but by the time we get

there, and with a very long trip home the next day

transporting brumbies, it just hasn’t been possible.

The first day was an exhausting 11 hours in the 4 wheel

drives. We were taken to southern areas of the park

including creeks and plains that are used by Brumbies. To

say we were shocked at what we saw is an

understatement. A few hoof prints here and there – and

no Brumbies! We were expecting them everywhere! After

11 hours of driving, we saw only 11 Brumbies. The

waterways that we saw were pristine and the Brumbies

were changing where they crossed over time. The previous

crossings had plenty of regrowth of vegetation. We also

noted areas where Brumbies were grazing on the lower

plains and leaving the native grasses on the higher areas to

grow and flourish.

The second day we were shown how a trap yard works

which was very educational. As the trap yard was being

demonstrated, with more than 20 people standing there,

out came a very

large wild dog! He

was huge and a

small foal left

outside the yards

would be no

match for him.

Unfortunately all

of the Brumbies

trapped in the southern end of the park are sent to

slaughter.

As we travelled around some of the plains we saw some

more Brumbies and pristine waterways that had

absolutely no damage from Brumbies. In fact the most

damage done to the waterways was by the 4WDs!

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

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We were all taken to a site that is just across the Victorian

border where a “study” is being done. This study is very

poorly designed.

Four fenced plots

have been set up

with only a few

meters between

them – all in a

row and within a

water way.

These plots are supposed to show what the grass growth

would be if grazing animals (i.e. Brumbies) were not in the

park causing damage. The problem is they are so close

together that it has forced the Brumbies, and other grazing

animals, to walk between and has created more damage

than what would naturally be there.

But the major concern with this site is that it is the first

place the media are taken - “see look at this, look at what

they are doing”.

Which is why

Brumbies are now

labelled as

destroying the

whole park.

Brumbies only

occupy one third

of Kosciuszko National Park, they have been there for

many generations and their “impact” is very minimal that

we observed.

We saw some beautiful sites like Mount Kosciuszko and

restored huts on our drives and of course some beautiful

Brumbies. But it was clear that it was a “butter up” trip.

Brumbies are in areas where they could be trapped but

impossible to transport out and NPWS want Brumby

groups to agree to other methods. The new management

plan that is in development has called for all methods to

be put on the table. NPWS are considering everything

from cyanide poisoning to aerial culling – and

unfortunately they do have RSPCA NSW on side that will

agree to aerial culling.

We agree that there are some sensitive wilderness areas in

the park where Brumbies should not be – and walkers are

finding Brumby poo offensive on the top of Mount

Kosciuszko. The HVBA will certainly be keeping involved in

the development of the management plan and we will not

agree to any inhumane methods.

The HVBA finished the trip with our own tour of the

northern parts of the park where our Brumbies are

trapped. Again, we struggled to find any!

The area of Long Plain is targeted by NPWS as it is very

easy to transport the Brumbies out once they are trapped.

We found a horse riding camp in the area and we stopped

for a chat. We were told that they had been riding there

for 30 years. In the early days Brumbies would confidently

wander the plains in full view of the wonderful site. But

now due to trapping and people chasing the Brumbies

they mainly stay in the trees where they feel safe.

NPWS will be conducting a new aerial count survey in May

and we are eagerly awaiting the results – and we will be

sure to keep our members informed.

Singleton Brumbies

We are very pleased to announce that our good friend

Adam Sutton has been awarded the tender to trap the

Singleton Brumbies. A trial trap of 10 Brumbies will

commence in the coming weeks and if successful, the

remainder of the approximately 200 Brumbies to be

trapped in the coming years – our new sanctuary can’t

come soon enough!

Tocal Field Day

The HVBA team are gearing up for a huge weekend at

Tocal Field Day. We have lots of merchandise, Brumby

books and a new look stand! This year we are located at

site 114, right next to all the food! So you can’t miss us and

we hope to see many of our members over the weekend.

Cowboy and Bella will be given a workout during our daily

demonstrations at the arena.

The Man From Coxs River

This self-funded, documentary style movie has been

hitting the independent cinemas lately. The HVBA has

been critical of the movie since its release due to the

incredibly poor and sometimes brutal treatment of the

Brumbies.

The movie focuses on the removal of the Brumbies from

Warragamba Dam, outside Sydney. It is dramatised with a

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 8 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

sense of urgency that the Brumbies must be removed or

they will be shot. This movie is certainly a case of “never

let the truth get in the way of a good yarn” The Brumbies

were never in any danger of being shot as the five year

management plan clearly states that only 10% of the

Brumbies needed to be trapped in the first twelve months

for the program to be deemed successful.

It is our opinion that the only sense of urgency was due to

the time constraints by the contractor – in which case he

should not have put his hand up for the tender – and the

lack of budget of the documentary crew.

The way in which the Brumbies are handled and trained to

be taught to lead out of the park is very difficult to watch.

Unfortunately audiences are left thinking that Brumbies

need to and are handled in this way.

The movie will be screening at Avoca Beach on Thursday

the 8th May with a Q&A with the production crew

afterwards. The HVBA will be attending and we will

certainly have some questions and endeavoring to set the

record straight.

Save the Brumbies Inc. (STB)

STB is progressing with fertility control methods at the

New England Brumby Sanctuary. Specialist vets from

Sydney University are working with us on scientific data

which we will present to NSW Government in due course.

It is our sincere hope that fertility control will eventually

be introduced into the management plans for Guy Fawkes

River National Park and while not the panacea for overall

control yet combined with passive trapping and removal

will see a significant reduction in numbers of horses over a

five year period.

The Plan of Management we worked so hard to introduce

into Guy Fawkes after the horrific aerial slaughter in 2000

has been highly instrumental in convincing other national

parks to follow this example of more humane

management. Fertility control is the next step and one all

at STB feel passionate about.

Our main Sanctuary is still in severe drought going into

winter and we are at present unable to take more horses

until dams are full. The high cost of hay is also a drain on

the budget. However we have placed on a further ten

horses so far this year to approved owners although our

overall placement rate is down due to the drought

conditions.

We were so fortunate to have highly renowned and

respected horseman, Carlos Tabernaberri conduct a two

day clinic at our Bellingen Sanctuary on behalf of Save the

Brumbies Inc. on 12

and 13

April last.

The clinic was fully booked and to those who missed out,

take heart, Carlos will be back with us again in 2015.

Carlos has a very high regard for the intelligence and

temperament of the Brumby, his favourite horse to work

with, and this certainly proved to be true as most of the

horses participating were Brumbies we had placed with

caring owners.

The morning session concentrated on establishing a secure

foundation and covered extensive ground work, lunging,

flexion and response to the lightest pressure, as Carlos

emphasised, without solid ground work and control in

place before the saddle one cannot expect good results

once backed.

Carlos worked with the large group, demonstrating his

gentle methods and keeping all amused with his varied

and interesting stories about his past experiences with all

types of horses and owners.

Each participant then benefited with personal attention

from Carlos with focus on any problems causing concern.

The large group of Observers gathered around the arena

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

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were not forgotten; Carlos found time to answer the

questions fired at him and all were totally absorbed in the

proceedings.

A quick break for lunch and then the afternoon session

began. Most participants were in the saddle and again

benefited greatly from Carlos’s expert instruction. Carlos

rides bitless and although some were wary of forsaking

that bridle he soon had them confidently working in

halters and the horses obviously enjoyed this change of

direction.

That one mare executed three steps of a canter pirouette

in a halter under Carlos’s hands was an inspiration to

watch.

A campfire BBQ, great horse stories, great company in the

evening concluded the first day.

Sunday was given over to private, one on one, lessons and

under Carlos’ direction many found this a great confidence

booster and gained much from the instruction. Carlos

backed a young Brumby for the first time and showed his

skill in all areas of horsemanship. There was even a

session with a young horse learning carriage work; horses

looking on had their first exposure to a ‘horse with wheels

attached’, all good training along the way.

Without exception, all enjoyed the time with Carlos

immensely and look forward to further clinics in the

future. We thank

Carlos Tabernaberri

most sincerely for his

expertise, his help, his

gentle understanding

of the horses’ mind

and feelings, as Carlos

says, it’s ‘Through the

Eyes of the Horse’ that we learn. JAN CARTER President,

Save the Brumbies Inc.

website for Carlos Tabernaberri:

www.whisperingacres.com.au

South East Queensland Brumby Association (SEQBA)

SEQBA has had a busy time lately with a Bunnings BBQ on

11 May, a Brumby spotting tour on 12 April and the

rehoming of Pearl and Gypsy.

Pearl was delivered to her new owner Michael who

lives near Gin Gin on 22 March 2014 but when she got

there she didn't want to get off the float. Eventually she

did get off and is doing well at her new home where she

will be a brood mare as she can't be used as a riding horse

due to an injury sustained whilst living the life of a wild

brumby.

Gypsy, a one and a half year old very pretty filly, was

delivered to her

new home near

Cooroy on 25 May

2014 where she is

being doted on by

her owner

Michaela who got

straight into

brushing her lovely

long flaxen mane.

Grace, who is mother of Gypsy, had a foal on the 7th Nov

2013. The foal has the very fancy name of Rainbow

Yarraman, Bo for short.

He is now 6 months old

and is being weaned

before he goes to his

new home near

Kenilworth in a couple

of months’ time. That

will leave SEQBA with

just one brumby,

namely Grace, to

rehome.

Terry and Anne Wilson, who were the primary founders of

SEQBA, have been caring for and training brumbies on a

voluntary basis for the past four and half years. They are

now going to take a break and are looking for any person

who lives between Gympie and Toowoomba who may be

interested to take on the role, on a voluntary basis of

caring for and training the brumbies. If you have

experience with horses, an adequate yard system (i.e.

yards inside a high fenced paddock), and most importantly

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the time please send an email to

seqbrumby@hotmail.com.

SEQBA is still waiting to hear what forestry plan to do in

the long term regarding the management of the

approximately 1,000 brumbies within the Toolara and

Beerwah state forests. In four and half years

approximately 75 brumbies have been trapped, removed

and rehomed. Unfortunately not all rehomings have been

successful and the removal of an average of 20 brumbies

per annum is insufficient to manage the increasing brumby

population. The trapper (Dave Berman) has advised he

intends to trap and remove another herd of brumbies in

the near future as there have been a number of vehicle

horse collisions in an area further north of where the 75

have been removed. If SEQBA is unable to find a new

volunteer carer and trainer before the trapping occurs

they can only hope Dave will take the brumbies to his

place and rehome them himself which thankfully he has

done in the past.

SEQBA has submitted a funding application to the Qld

ANZAC Centenary Grants Funding Program. The project is

called 136,000 Horses. The aim of the project is to raise

community awareness about the 136,000 Australian

horses used in the first world war of which only 1 came

back.

The project will incorporate three stages:

Stage 1. Research, including interviews, to obtain

information regarding the use of horses in World War I e.g.

where they were bred in Qld, how they were trained and

transported, what they were used for.

Stage 2. Preparation of at least 3 informative articles for

magazine publication.

Stage 3. To generate interest, an "Anzac Centenary Trek"

will be undertaken along the Bicentennial National Trail

with the 20 presentations occurring in towns along the

trail, e.g. Kilkivan, Nanango and Killarney.

The presentations to schools and the community will bring

to life stories involving the horses in the First World War

and will feature 4 authentic brumbies, examples of

equipment used in the war, power point display and maps.

Letters of support were provided by none other than the

ABA and the Bicentennial National Trail. SEQBA will be

advised sometime in June if their applications has been

successful.

Hoofprints - Noteworthy Tracks

New Sentient Brumby Working Group

Andrea is a veterinarian who has adopted six Brumbies

and also set up a Brumby Working Group, within Sentient,

The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics. Andrea’s vision

is to form a group of veterinarians and other animal

scientists to become a central resource of scientific

information about Brumbies, and hopefully with time be

considered the ‘go to’ organisation for welfare advice

regarding their management. Key roles for the group

would be facilitating and compiling research into specific

areas that would advance the welfare of Brumbies,

forming strategic alliances with other organisations to

develop and propose policies for their humane

(SEQBA’s new float made by Terry)

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 11 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

management, and advocating on behalf of their

welfare to government and environmental groups.

Some of the key issues for Brumbies, historically,

have been claims of their negative impact on the

environment, welfare issues arising from mass aerial

shooting, limited alternative options for population

control (such as fertility control and passive trapping

and adoption), the fragmented approach to

advocating for their needs, and the lack of

independent scientific evidence upon which to base

decisions about the most humane management of

these unique wild horses. Andrea is seeking

interested people to get involved – if you are

interested in becoming involved with Sentient’s

Brumby Working Group, please contact Andrea on

andreaharvey.cat@gmail.com

The Editor’s Tail

The Role of Herbivores in Restoring Soils and Vegetation

I have been noticing that slowly but surely, people are

questioning the assumption that the presence of large

numbers of herbivores in the environment is categorically

bad. Conservation grazing, where wild and domesticated

herbivores are used to maintain and increase the

biodiversity of natural or semi-natural habitats, is gaining

recognition as an effective environmental approach.

Recently, I viewed a TED

talk by Allan Savory, a grassland

ecosystem pioneer, on his thoughts in regard to arresting

desertification of vast areas of land. The thrust of his

theory is that the movement of large (even dense) herds

are critical in maintaining sufficient organic matter in soils

to hold rainwater. Without this material, rain water will

either run off or evaporate quickly and his talk has

compelling evidence that removing animals in many areas

is a mistake.

The effectiveness of conservation grazing relies on a

holistic approach; implementation must consider each

environmental set of circumstances and the nature of the

species used for grazing. Other questions also come to

mind, for example the animal welfare implications of re-

establishing herds in already denuded and dry land, and it

applicability to Australian environment (lack of predators

being the biggie).

In arguing the case for maintaining wild horses in the

environment, it is tempting to latch on to the conservation

grazing model. But nothing is a panacea and more

understanding of its effects and consequences need to be

sought. Nevertheless, it places a healthy question mark on

current thinking.

I encourage you to watch this 22 minute presentation and,

although it does not discuss horses, I believe you will find

it interesting in its applicability to what is happening to

wild horse populations. There is also an interactive

transcript of the talk below the top screen at the link

below.

www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_wor

ld_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_change

SENTIENT

The Veterinary Institute for Animal Ethics...

...is an independent forum and lobby group that aims to bring the

recognition of animals as sentient beings to the national agenda and

to ensure that their needs are appropriately and ethically addressed

by governments, industry and the public.

As a veterinary driven body, Sentient offers scientific reflection

within an ethical framework to collaborate with the community in

furthering the animal protection movement.

http://www.sentient.org.au/Sentient/Home.html

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

Page | 12 Brumby Bridges Issue 14-2

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global set of

conferences from the non-profit Sapling Foundation aimed at

encouraging discussion of cutting edge ideas. TED

conferences can now be viewed online at www.ted.com

Australian Brumby Alliance Inc.

PO Box 3276, Victoria Gardens, Richmond, Vic 3121

Phone: (03) 9428 4709

info@australianbrumbyalliance.org.au

www.australianbrumbyalliance.org.au

Newsletter Contributions

Contact Sandy

sandyradke@bigpond.com

0458 105 221

ABA Member Groups

 Australian Brumby Horse Register

 Coffin Bay Brumby Preservation Society Inc. (SA)

 Hunter Valley Brumby Association (NSW)

 Kaimanawa Heritage Horses (NZ)

 Outback Heritage Horse Association of WA

 Save the Brumbies Inc. (NSW)

 Snowy Mountains Bush Users Group (NSW)

 South East Queensland Brumby Association

 Victorian Brumby Association