The Australian Waler Horse
The Australian Waler Horse is a unique breed of riding horses that originated in New South Wales. The breed is named after the area where the horse was first bred, so its name may come from its colonial origins. This article will discuss the breed’s history, origins, bloodlines, and impact on the country’s colonial past. Let’s get started! Listed below are some facts and figures about the Australian Waler Horse.
History of the Australian Waler Horse
The history of the Australian Waler horse is largely a story of rescue, remounting and military use. Its descendants served as a great asset to the North Australia Observer Unit during World War I, and they were used in the Indian Army as remounts. As the Australian Light Horse was used in war, the breed was brought into domestic homes around Australia. The first herd was discovered near Alice Springs, and its descendants were later relocated to domestic homes in remote areas.
This equine breed was used for centuries as a working horse. It is still regarded as an elite breed due to its unique bloodlines. In fact, Dr. Gus Cothran, one of the world’s leading equine geneticists, says the horse is unique in the world. The Waler’s unique bloodline has been the source of many innovations in the world of horse breeding.
The first database of known Walers was created in 1997. The database is a resource for people to trace breeding to Foundation bloodlines. The Foundation maintains a database of all known Walers, which is vital for the breed’s survival. However, the database does not act as a studbook or breed register. Rather, it is a repository for information on the horses. This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of the Australian Waler.
The Waler was not bred specifically for cavalry duties, but it was used to rescue British cavalry during the Indian Mutiny. It was commissioned in 1857 to replace local breeds during the British colonial era, and remount officers continued the process. The horses continued to serve in the military in greater numbers during the Boer War, and over one thousand were used in the Lancers, Mounted Rifles, and Bushmen Troop.
Origins of the breed
The Australian Waler Horse is a heritage breed of horses. They were first used as working horses and remount horses in the northern Territory. The Northern Territory government aimed to eliminate feral animals in the Territory and began the process of culling them. The horses were then sent to abattoirs and culled from helicopters. The Walers were eventually retired from use as working horses and turned out to run feral.
The early history of the Australian Waler Horse dates back to the early 1800s when they evolved from imported horses. They developed an enviable reputation for being a hardy, sturdy and intelligent breed. As early as the 1830s, the British Army used them in military operations. In the Boer War, the Australian Infantry Force used 37,000 Walers. The horse was used in many conflicts and was valued for its endurance and gait.
The remount trade from Australia almost completely stopped in the 1950s. The majority of these horses now roam the outback and crossbreed with other breeds. The pure bloodlines are now near extinct. Because of their location, they have undergone extensive genetic isolation. While it is impossible to know which breed of horse will dominate the Australian market, it is likely that some breeds of horses are closely related.
Hundreds of thousands of horses left Australia in the 1840s, and they were shipped out from ports all across Australia. Personnel on the ships called the horses “Walers” and “New South Wales” as well. The “New South Wales” name took some time to write down. Local princes in India sought these horses as carriage and army horses. By the 1860s, they had become known as one of the finest Cavalry breeds in the world.
Bloodlines of the breed
The Waler was a native breed of horse originally from Australia, but there were different types of them. Some were specifically bred for military use; others were developed as a result of the mix of breeding stock available to the property owner. Regardless of the type, each horse must meet the characteristics of the Waler breed. Listed below are some of the more popular examples of Walers. Further reading on the breed will give you more information about these horses and their heritage.
The first Waler breeder was in northern Australia, where remount trade and commercial breeding were virtually non-existent. The vast majority of the horses were crossbred with other breeds, and many are still found in the outback. The eradication of feral animals in the 1950s led to the almost complete extinction of pure bloodlines. Today, the Australian Waler Society is working to maintain the breed and preserve its history.
During the colonial era, the settlers brought horses from Europe and named their new colony as New South Wales. The name ‘Waler’ was first used for the breed during the British-Indian period. The trade of these horses continued until the 1940s, and in the meantime, the Australian Horse was gaining popularity as a working horse. The British Army used them extensively for cavalry and artillery remounts. Today, they are used for sport in India.
The current Waler horse derives its name from the bloodlines of horses that arrived in Australia before 1945. This breed association, along with the Waler Society of Australia Inc., has set up stud books for these horses. The association is composed of foundation members and original breeders. These breeders formed the studbook and registered the first horses as Walers. The association was incorporated in 2005. Further, it has a studbook and an official website.
Impact of the breed on Australia’s colonial past
While the Europeans first arrived in Australia in 1608, Aboriginal Australians were already living on the continent and had developed distinct cultures and complex relationships. Once the Europeans arrived, conflict began. Aborigines were forced from their land by the Europeans, and they waged guerrilla attacks to stop them. Europeans also introduced new ways to exploit the land, clearing it for agriculture and urban development. They also slaughtered Indigenous people for specific grievances. The Europeans also ended Indigenous fire-management practices. This forced removal of small-medium mammals is still being considered a major environmental issue today, and can be traced back to Australia’s colonial history.
The first military units in Australia were formed in December 1788. Governor Phillip Gidley King assigned six free male settlers to practice musketry on Saturdays. This unit was replaced by a unit specifically recruited for colonial service: the 73rd Regiment of Foot. The 73rd Regiment of Foot became the first line regiment in Australia. By 1840, 25 British infantry regiments were stationed in the colonial colonies, along with smaller artillery and engineer units.
Current status of the breed
The Australian Waler Horse is one of the most endangered breeds of Australian horses. Its declining use in the remount industry, as well as its decline in military use, have led many people to believe that this breed of horse no longer exists. Indeed, as the remount trade declined in the early 1940s, many breeders shot the herds. Only a handful of property owners allowed their Walers to roam freely in the outback, and many of those horses now registered as Walers have come from former remount stations.
Commercial breeding and remount trade in Australia almost ceased in the 1950s, and most pure bloodline horses were left to roam the outback. Because of the widespread use of feral animals, many of these horses were forced to be killed and were not bred with other horses. Today, they are nearly extinct, and the horses that remain are mostly crossbred with other breeds. There are fewer than 100 pure-blooded Walers remaining, but the surviving ones are considered a valuable commodity.
The Australian Waler Horse is highly adaptable, and they can survive for long periods without water. This adaptation allows them to be used as stock horses as well as for pleasure riding. The Australian Waler Horse has four distinct types: pony, officer, medium and tall heavy. They have a thick mane and can stand between 15 and 16 hands. In the early 1800s, these horses were primarily used as bush troopers and military mounts.
The Great War depleted the Australian and New Zealand horse populations. In that war, Australia committed more than one hundred thousand horses and 8,000 came back home. Most of those who survived were killed in battle or were unable to return to their home country. The Australian Waler Horse was renowned for its charge at Beersheba. Although the breed was later banned in the United Kingdom, it was still widely used during the Boer War.
