lessons from wild horses
Lessons from Wild Horses
Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to spend some time with Kerry Thomas observing brumbies (Australian wild horses) in the Kosciuszko National Park near Tantangara Reservoir.
Here is what I learned:
First, you have to find them! Tracks, hoof prints, and stallion piles marking territory are all signs.
They blend into the environment. This brumby family was grazing in a group of trees; it was only their movement that caught our attention.
The stallion acted like a curious sentry. This family consisted of one stallion (chestnut) and three mares (a black, a chestnut, and a young bay). The stallion detected our presence very quickly and assessed us from a distance. He mostly stayed between us and the mares.
The black mare was easy to overlook. After a while, the horses left the trees. The stallion went first, followed by the mares. The last mare to quietly wander out from the trees was the black mare. She hardly glanced at us the whole time, just kept her head down grazing.
The horse gods spoke! We decided to move on to investigate another herd in the distance. That took us a few meters closer to the herd, and that was when we witnessed a fascinating series of events. Firstly, the stallion made a beeline toward us to let us know to back off. Secondly, as soon as he charged towards us, the chestnut and bay mares made a beeline to the black mare and positioned her in the middle of them both. I took a video of these events, and you will find it in the first comment.
That black mare was important. She didn't need to look up as she had the ability to take us all in. She drew little attention to herself, but there was no doubt she was important.
There is great sadness in me as I post this because, right now, the government is aerially shooting the horses in this park. I met some brumby advocates on their way into the park to do what they could to protect the horses, to find foals left to die next to the bodies of their mothers, and to take photos of the way these horses are being killed.
I feel I need to do more and this is weighing heavy on my heart
Stay safe, brumby family; stick to those trees
