The Australian Brumby Story 4 _________________

A couple of horses were saddled for us and we jumped on to go looking for this mob. Eventually we had them rounded up in this yard as high as at least 3m (10ft). This skinny scrawny buckskin with beautiful eyes and ugly looking neck caught my eye. I was told she was not for sale but eventually they agreed on $250.
I was exhausted and happy as the horse I was riding for the round up didn't know how to slow down or stop but I found myself a bargain.
We came back another day to hand over the money and pick her up. The way she trusted me was almost magical. I had no idea owning a brumby could be so beautiful.
Within months her condition picked up, her ugly duckling appearance disappeared and I gently broke her in. I named her "Jaadhin" ( Yaadhin) as she has this Arabian look about her.
On 26th September 1987 she had a colt and I had no idea she was in foal when I purchased her. I just thought she was getting fat and lazy until two weeks before, she kept bucking me off and I had a neighbour Jack Frost ( another legend who taught me how to shoe horses and lots more, originally from Goondiwindi, Queensland ) take a look at her. What a surprise that was!
Herby was born over night a colt ( we missed it ) with no complications. Years later I eventually sold him to Jack Frost.
Jaadhin is still with me today and would follow me to the end of the world.
To describe a brumby I would say they are: wild yet gentle, very loyal to their owner, a pleasure to handle and care for, low maintenance, their hooves are tough and have less problems than other horses, and little feed is required to keep them in good condition.
Jaadhin is now approximately 18 years young and in foal for the second time which is due around 26th September 2002 .
It would be of one Australia's greatest waste to cull brumbies or send them to the knackeries.
I emplore anyone who can, to adopt a brumby or help to protect and manage these great horses.
I dread the day when I have to say good-bye to my beautiful buckskin brumby.
Owning one of these wild horses really changes your life.

In November 1986 whilst looking to buy a horse for pleasure riding I came across a large property near Reesville, via Maleny, Queensland, through a friend where there was a mob of wild horses.
The property's owner's nickname was "Buffalo Jim" who was a buffalo hunter from way back.
We were invited into his home which resembled a typical old "Donga".
There were rifles hanging on the wall and we met his Aboriginal wife and sons.
A pack of dogs were chained up outside to old car wrecks and anything else that could give shelter.
You wouldn't dare go near them looking at their smiles.
Buffalo Jim pulled out old photos from crocodile hunting days that showed them to be wider than the dining table and who knows how long. The croc teeth in our hands were almost as big as ice cream cones.
You don't see crocodiles like that any more!
It was as if time had stood still up here. This historical Australiana atmosphere left a lasting impression on me that can not be put in words. Buffalo Jim was obviously one of Australia's legends.

A little about Buffalo Jim
Buffalo Jim was described in a newspaper in the early 1990's as "Maleny's king of the mountain". His three-bedroom shack was built from one single log.
He decided to sell his 2680 hectare (approx. 6,600 acre) property and return to the Northern Territory to hunt buffalo. Jim said his best mates were Aborigines.
Jim is a bush poet, but said that he would get writer's cramp if he wrote down all of his poems, so he preferred to keep them in his head.
Not many people used to visit Jim's property. The council visited him 28 years before, but never bothered him since.