Brumby Watch Australia Photo Album 3 Page 2 ________________________

Left : Brumbies approximately 18 to 20 years ago at about 10km (6 miles) south of Indian Head. These brumbies would most likely be dead, not from old age, but by an "unannounced" culling of brumbies which was done by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service about 15 years ago. The carcasses of many brumbies were left lying about the island.

Left : This foal named "Doriemus" was born in November 1995 on Melbourne Cup Day. The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous horse race. The foal was named after the race horse Doriemus. He was a very ambitious young stallion as he started pinching mares from other stallions about the age of three years.

He then disappeared at the age of three years and wasn't seen again.

Right : These brumbies are seen here grazing next to a driveway made from timber sleepers. The brumby near the tree is " The old mare with the white blaze ". The brumby on the left hand side of the photo is " Friskie ".

Left : The foal here is " Babe". She was born on Australia Day, the 26th January 1996. This photo was taken not long after she was born. Later that day at about 12 hours old she was attacked by dingoes. The mother ran off and it was up to some of the locals to save her life. She was badly bitten and some of the scars remain today. She was taken to the home of Bob Buyers in Brisbane to be raised. She is now a beautiful mare.

Right : Jill Russell is seen here riding " Babe ". She now looks after her. " Babe " has draught and Arab in her breeding and has turned out to be a very strong, gentle, affectionate and beautiful mare. She is six years old now.

Many brumbies turn out to very good riding horses.

How many times have you heard expressions like "it's a bit of a brumby" or "a brumby job". These Australian expressions mean not up to scratch, a rough job, rough looking, or generally something along these lines? These expressions have originated from the fact that the appearance and conformation of the brumby has not always been as refined or "shapely" as domestic breeders would like to see a horse. Nature's method of increasing the population of wild horses is to produce offspring which will be strong, tough, have good endurance and be able to survive the hard and cruel conditions which are so often found in Australia such as drought for example. Nature doesn't necessarily breed for "good looks and good conformation" as man would expect. No one can argue however that "Babe" is not a beautiful horse with good conformation - a beautiful brumby.