Horse
Pronunciation:
Ost-trail-lee-in BRUM-bee
Breed Description:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is native to Australia. They are wild, free-roaming horses found all over that country, many of which are roam in the Australian Alps and Australian Outback. The word brumby means feral horse, and in the past they didn’t really have much practical use. They weren’t even used for leisure riding. Very occasionally these days Brumbies are domesticated and used as working horses on farms or in national parks. Or sometimes people use them as trail horses or show ponies for Pony Club. They are often regarded as pests as they roam in large herds (or mobs as they are commonly named) and destroy the vegetation. The Australian Brumby does not have good conformation. Their legs are slender yet strong. Even though they are agile and quick-moving horses, they often have weak hind quarters, and cow hocks are often seen in the breed. They do have hardy, strong hooves that can withstand any type of ground.
Temperament:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is known to have a kind, gentle nature.
Height:
The Australian Brumby averages 12 hands to 16 hands, or 48 to 64 inches at the withers – more usually smaller.
Weight:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is rarely a consistent size so it also varies in terms of weight.
Health Problems:
Its bad conformation may adversely affect its health.
Living Conditions:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is wild, and it roams free so is able to withstand all weather and terrain conditions.
Exercise:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is mostly in the wild, and those that are domesticated don’t have any particular exercise regime.
Life Expectancy:
They probably live to their twenties.
Grooming:
None.
Origin:
The Australian Brumby breed of horse is said to be descended from horses that escaped or were released into the wild and became feral, having to fend for themselves. These feral creatures were themselves descended from the earliest horses sent to Australia from the South African Cape in the late 18th century, that were bred as Walers for use on the vast sheep farms. Some say that they are the Australian equivalent of the American Mustang. 