The Australian Cattle Horse evolved through targeted breeding. The history of the breed begins in 1788. The first horses were brought from South Africa to the colony of New South Wales, which was known at that time in Australia. The exact origins of Australian cattle horses are unknown. These horses were most likely descendants of English Thoroughbreds and Spanish Thoroughbreds.
The horses that arrived in this colony had to have excellent physical characteristics. After all, they had to not only endure a grueling and long journey, which lasted 9-12 months, but also work a lot on land. First of all, these horses had to be hardy and strong. After the animals arrived at their destination, hard work awaited them in an unfamiliar and undeveloped environment. The primeval world became their new home. In such conditions, the animal had to have special resilience.
At a certain point in time, settlers moved inland to develop the territory. Reliable horses became real helpers in overcoming many obstacles. Literally everyone needed horses: explorers, settlers, shepherds and fugitive criminals. After all, only with the help of horses could one overcome enormous distances. Weak horses were immediately discarded. Only the strong were left. They were used to breed strong riding horses with strong legs and hooves, which became extremely necessary for the development of the colony.
Height at withers: 147–163 cm.
Suit: any one-color suit.
Features of the Australian cattle breed of horses
The name "herding horse" was approved in 1971. Before this period, the breed was called "ueler". The horse received this name in honor of New South Wales, where it was brought. These horses were famous, above all, for their courage and endurance. In addition, they had fairly good health and were especially popular in the cavalry. It must be said that modern herding horses are descendants of the Uehler. In addition to purebred Arabians, others also took part in the formation of the breed: various ponies and heavyweights such as Clydesdales and Suffolk Punchies.
Applications of the Australian Cattle Horse
In essence, the Australian Cattle Horse has remained a quality riding horse. Demand for representatives of this breed still exists today. The horse takes great pleasure in working with cattle. In addition, this breed of horse can be found at rodeos. After all, such horses are quite suitable for ordinary types of riding, including sports competitions.
Brumbies are a wild horse breed native to Australia. In fact, these are not wild horses, but are descended from domestic horses that simply escaped or were set free by their owners during the gold rush that took place in 1851.
How did brumbie horses end up in Australia?
Horses were first brought to Australia in 1788. Since the transportation conditions were terrible, only the strongest animals managed to survive, and most of the horses did not survive the journey. In 1810 horse racing became popular and horse racing was imported from England. large number excellent horses.
There are several theories about the origin of the name "Brumby". According to one version, the name comes from the local Aboriginal word “baroomby” and is translated as “wild”. And according to another theory, the name came from the name of James Brumby.
Born James Brumby in Lincolnshire, Scotland, he was a soldier in the New South Wales Corps and was also a blacksmith in charge of horses in the organized Australian Colonies. It is believed that when he was transferred to Tasmania, he left a few individuals in New South Wales. When local residents asked whose horses these were, they were told that they were Brumbies.
At first, horses were used to work on farms; they brought a lot of benefits during the development of Australian lands. Horses and oxen were used as beasts of burden and transport. Later, horses began to be bred for sale. At one time they were valued as a source of meat, and their hair was also used.
The fences where the horses were kept were not very secure, and as a result, a large number of horses escaped. And some horses were abandoned because they were replaced by cars. The horses that were released into nature quickly went wild and took root in the wild.
Features of the appearance of brumbies
Brumbies are a community of different breeds of free-ranging horses whose ancestors were most likely Percherons, Wallers, Anglo-Arabs, Australian cattle horses and even some breeds of ponies mated with horses. In this regard, brumbies do not have uniformity in their appearance.
When horses were released, their external characteristics changed due to environmental conditions. Their growth became smaller than that of domestic horses, they became more playful and fast.
The height at the withers of a brumby ranges from 140 to 150 centimeters. Weight is approximately 450 kilograms. The exterior of these horses is very different.
Most often they have a heavy head, powerful back, short neck, straight shoulders, strong legs and sloping body.
Life of brumby horses in nature
Brumbies naturally gather in herds. They have become so adapted to Australia's harsh climate that they can survive by eating only the sparse vegetation on the steppes.
Wild horses graze in large herds, the number of individuals in such herds can reach 70 pieces. The herds contain both stallions and mares. But most often there are small groups consisting of 3-4 mares, led by a leader.
Mares are able to become pregnant every year, but they do not always produce offspring, especially if the weather is dry. Australia is characterized by a very harsh climate; in such difficult conditions, it is possible to raise foals only during the rainy season, when there is enough humidity and green vegetation.
Pregnancy in mares lasts 11 months. The mother takes care of the foal for another 10-11 months. Young males are kicked out of the herd. The stallions live in separate herds along with other exiles. Stallions reach puberty at 2 years of age, but at this time they rarely manage to organize their own harem. Most often this happens at 5-6 years of age.
Brumby character traits
Unfortunately, these horses are not suitable as riding horses, since herd animals are incredibly difficult to tame and train. They have a freedom-loving disposition. In addition, in Australia there are enough breeds of riding horses, so it makes no sense to domesticate brumbies.
Brumbie numbers
At one time, the number of brumby horses increased, and this negatively affected local agriculture. In the 60s, these horses began to be actively destroyed, as a result of which this breed almost completely disappeared. Horses were hunted by helicopter using guns. During such a hunt, the unfortunate animals were seriously injured, and their death was painful. Such cruelty to horses shocked the world community.
There have never been horses in Australia. And the modern Australian cattle horse, in fact, follows the very first animals that were imported in small quantities from South Africa towards the end of the eighteenth century. And no one knows about the exact origin of these animals.
However, the Australian Cattle Horse breed is most likely of predominantly Barbary and Arabian blood. It doesn't take long before a stable connection is established between Australia and Europe. And each of the ships now makes its own contribution to the process of regular gradual increase in the horse population of vast Australia.
Australian Cattle Horse
The whole point is that the settlers needed strong horses. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that they tried to import mainly Arabs and horsemen. And, in fact, the very need for purebred horses could be explained by the fact that, in addition to everything else, there was also a growing interest in such an exciting new sport as horse racing. After all, he was gaining popularity at the most rapid pace, close to lightning speed. And all this, from the very beginning of the nineteenth century.
Modern Australian Cattle Horse Characteristic
It happens very often, even in the modern world, or even more so in it, that a strong and versatile breed becomes needed, simply for typical everyday needs. She must have a very lively temperament and a rare ability to work both under saddle and in harness. She should help in clearing the forest and plowing the land. These horses also need to be able to herd sheep and cows.
However, in its essence, the bred Australian cattle horse was able to remain a riding horse, doing its job, with the most high level quality. In addition, the horse excels in various sports competitions.
Australian cattle horses are intelligent and detail-savvy creatures. For example, the same Regal Relm is one of the huge galaxy of Australian cattle horses who took part in top-ranking competitions with incredible success.
11.04.2013
Growth of the Australian Cattle Horse- 150 - 165 cm.
Color - everything, but more often than others - bay.
Conformation - different representatives of these breeds can differ greatly from each other, however, the best representatives of this breed resemble purebreds, only they are a little more powerful. The head is beautiful, the forehead is wide, the eyes are large and clear. The neck is proportional to the body, the chest is deep, strong back, powerful and muscular croup, strong legs.
History of the Australian Cattle Breed
In general, there have never been horses in Australia, they were not found there, and the first horses were brought there at the end of the 18th century from South Africa. Most likely these were Barbary or Arabian horses. After trade routes were established between Australia and Europe, Australia's horse population began to gradually increase. To develop new territories, strong and hardy horses were required, so they tried to import mainly Arabians and Thoroughbred horses to Australia. In addition, interest in the then new sport grew
racing began to quickly gain popularity at the beginning of the 19th century, which is also why thoroughbreds were required. And for working needs, a special breed of horses was bred, strong, seasoned, which could plow the land, herd sheep and cows, work under saddle and clear the forest.
In 1971, the name of the breed was finally approved - Shepherd horse. Until this point, the breed was called Ueler. The herding horse was famous for its endurance, was brave and had good health. She was popular among the cavalry. Not only Arabians and Thoroughbreds, but also such breeds as Quarter Horses, Clydesdales, and Suffolkpunches took part in the formation of the new Shepherd breed of horses. All these breeds were brought to Australia and could easily participate in crossing.
In addition to the fact that the herding horse has become the best assistant to cattle breeders, it can be found at rodeos and sports competitions.
The modern Australian herding horse is a descendant of the first horses introduced to Australia. In general, horses have never been found in Australia; they came to the continent in the second half of the 18th century from South Africa. Most likely, Barbary and Arab blood flowed in the veins of these horses.
History of the Australian Cattle Horse
When communications between Australia and Europe were established, each ship carried large numbers of horses, thereby enriching the Australian horse population. In Australia, hardy horses were needed that would be useful in the development of new lands, so preference was given to Arabs and English thoroughbred horses.
Brought horses often ran away and ran wild. The horses that appeared on Australian soil in this way were hardened, they became hardy, courageous and versatile.
The name "herding horse" appeared in 1971, and before that these horses were called "wallers" from New South Wales. This breed was distinguished by excellent health, endurance and courage, so they were valued by the cavalry. Modern individuals descended from the Waler; in addition to the Arab and the purebred, the formation of the breed was also influenced by the American Quarter, heavy breeds and ponies. In 1971, the Australian Herding Horse Society was organized, which is still working on the development of the breed.
Exterior of an Australian Cattle Horse
The height at the withers of a shepherd horse reaches 152-166 centimeters. The color can be any, but most often it is bay.
The physique is quite varied, but the best representatives of the breed are similar to purebreds, but they are slightly more powerful. The Australian Cattle Horse has a beautiful head. The eyes are large and clear. The forehead is wide. The chest is deep, the neck is proportional to the body. The back and croup are very powerful, the legs are muscular.
Australian pony
Ponies were also not originally found in Australia. The first ponies appeared here in 1788, they were brought on the Fest Fleet from South Africa. In 1803, strong Timor ponies began to be imported to Australia from Indonesia, which became the basis for a new breed.
This breed has undergone a huge number of changes over the years of its formation. The most significant influences on the breed were Welsh mountain ponies, small English thoroughbreds, Arabians, Hackneys, Scottish ponies and Irish Connemara horses.
Peculiarities appearance modern Australian ponies suggests that the development of the breed was not without Arabian horses and a British breed of pony. The greatest influence on the breed was the Welsh mountain pony, and it is believed that the founder was the stallion Dwall Graylight, brought to Australia in 1911. This stallion passed on his attractive appearance to his descendants.
In 1931, a society responsible for the breed was organized. Today, over 27 thousand ponies are registered.
