The Great Outdoors, Waltzing Brumbies and Other Miscellaneous Bush Paraphernalia

The brumby in all its shapes, sizes and forms, is another of Australia’s eccentric inhabitants, with friends like the long Footed Potoroo, the Spotted Tree Frog and the Mountain Pygmy Possum, you’re bound to be a bit special. Admittedly, the Brumby did arrive a little later, and does have many close relatives around the world although made quite a splash in Australia, as Brumbies are now considered to be the largest population of wild horses in the world. Let’s face it, it’s not hard to be over the top in the Australian outback, the iconic bush, where blueys, billies and billabongs are the norm… 

And by the sounds of it, or by the looks of Banjo Patterson’s poetry, if you’re not a swagman, the man from Snowy River or Clancy of the Overflow, you may feel right out of place. It’s a far cry from Bondi Beach, Kakadu National Parks or the Sydney Opera House, it’s the untamable high country where another set of Australian myths and traditions of Australian identity were born. 

Back to the Brumby - horses first arrived on the red continent with the first settlers but became Brumbys (or known as) at some point in the early 1800s. Why these wild horses would soon be known as Brumbies is debatable, although two explanations stand out: 

The name "brumby" may have originated from the Aboriginal word "baroomby" meaning wild. 

Or, the name "brumby" may have originated from references to horses which were released into the wild in the early 1800's by a certain James Brumby. Having arrived some time around 1791 he sailed to Tasmania in 1804 as part of a new settlement. He left horses behind which ran wild and were unable to be mustered, and who, legend has it, were known as Brumby's horses, or more simply as Brumby's when referring to his free-running horses, and later as brumbies. 

However it was, it came into existence, the name "brumby" became part of the Australian language, and as it has stood the test of tradition, is now the official name of Australia's wild horse. Indeed, the domestic stock horses turned wild soon enough become an integral/essential part of the mystical landscape where "Banjo" found his inspiration. 

Brumbies can generally be found in the bush and semi-desert and remote regions of Australia living in family mobs, as mobs of colts, as mobs of stallions, and as lone bachelor stallions. A family mob is generally made up of a dominant stallion, a lead mare, and other mares with their foals and yearling foals. A lead mare is a very dominant mare which will lead the mob. She will lead the mob to where feed is, or to water, and take the lead when there is a need to go somewhere at a canter. As a general rule, a mob may vary in size from two to say twelve. A common size is probably around five to seven. A strong stallion may have a large mob, while a weak one may have only one mare with her foal. 

Given Australia’s dry climate, the law of survival of the fittest has definitely had an impact on the type of horse the brumby is – a tough and hardy horse, curious but cautious and very varied, whether it be in terms of size, colouring, shape... Sizes can vary from small, about 12 hands, to quite large, say 16 1/2 hands. Brumbies are generally smaller than domestic horses though. There are even reports of shetland pony brumbies in Australia. There are also some typical features, such as the U-neck (where the top of the neck is concave downwards), and the big head.

And if you can’t contain yourself any longer and need to Waltz Matilda, the lure and lore of the Bush have gotten to the better of you …

[Stage directions: Readers stand up and sing] 

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled
"Who'll come a-Waltzing Matilda, with me?" 

And if the picture fits, Banjo need have sung long for a curious Brumby or a mob of them to come a-Waltzing Matilda with him…