A
couple of years ago, an acquaintance of ours returned
from filming a Dingo documentary on a remote station
(ranch) in the Northern Territory. He told me of “magnificent”
horses that he had seen there, and showed me some
photos.
Having seen hundreds of horses from these areas over
the years, we were quite impressed by what we saw
and what he described. So we decided to look into
these horses further. We talked to acquaintances in
Alice Springs familiar with the history of stations
and stock in the area – including tour operators,
stock and station agents, station owners, family members
of the owner of this particular station, the owner
himself, local historians, “Brumby Runners”,
horse dealers, and rodeo devotees who had been acquiring
horses from the area over many years.
These horses were from traditional working stock that
had been introduced onto the station some 40 years
ago with minimal introduction of “outside”
horses since, and then only those of the same background.
The same blood and environmental influences that produced
the original Waler.
After much investigation and considering that the
station had been sold, the horses were to be consigned
as meat animals, the opportunity was too good to pass
up. Here, nature, quality blood and the harsh environment
had bred and managed the horses over the years - better
than we can duplicate today - and selected the best.
The same formula that produced the traditional stock
and working horse from which horses were selected
for military service and export. The Walers.
So over the next year we obtained and facilitated
others to obtain a number of these horses.
Many were immature, prematurely separated from their
mothers, and “ugly ducklings……….
Some were mature horses, including stallions……..
Yet given an even chance, treated with respect, understanding,
given the opportunity to trust, they grow into themselves
and show their true selves………..
We have voluntarily obtained many Foundation horses
over the years for members of the Waler Society by application
of the same principles. They have been increasingly
difficult to find with the advance of time and depletion
of original stock. Fortunately, we had the chance with
these and they have proven to be excellent in themselves
and potentially outstanding for what they will produce.
