Preserving Our Heritage

Protecting the Legacy of our Brumbies

LATEST NEWS
  1. Latest news as of April 2024- still getting wonderful rain- hope you are getting some too-over an inch last night!  We are into all sorts of jobs on Bony Mountain- mulching, planting, fencing, gardening, the horses are all fat! Don't like the storms- but they do bring the rain! so can't complain .What an amazing summer we have had- Autumn now- & the nights are chilling off!  Got another great lineup for you- some new faces-old faces- & our famous Ukulele School!  Remember our Bony Mountain Festival dates- September 20-21-22 -gates open on 16th- go to www.bonympountainfolkfestival.com    Won't mention the Brumby situation-other than to say what a great rally-recently at Kosciusko! meanwhile we wait to see what happens over April!

WHAT IS A BRUMBY
I should tell you all, that I have been in love with horses all of my life! So no surprise when I heard tales of them being shot/slaughtered/culled? and declared a feral animaI, suddenly realized ! wow! these brumbies belong to all of us ! they are part of our heritage, our history, how can they be destroyed? what the hell is going on? Okay so now can you help please?  by checking on any brumbies/wild horses?in your area. find out the stories of how they got there? what stallions were there? do you know the bloodlines? for example I've been told by one Victorian ,that one of the Melbourne Cup winners ,maybe Archer? or maybe his colt? ran with the brumby mob- actually the Man from Snowy river story does confirm that (the colt from Old Regret) had got away? so I'm sure there were some serious quality bloodlines involved in the mob! I've already got dribs & drabs from some of you! but it is so critical that we record all this knowledge in one place! hopefully this web site! At some stage I am hoping a book can come out of all this! We are are talking huge numbers -200,000 remounts/horses gathered from all over Australia. -being used also as /stock horses/carriage horses/people were not breeding their own horses back 100/200 years ago- Another contact has assured me that (Suffolk Punch) blood was introduced at one point-to another Victorian mob! also some Clydesdale blood ,I find all this fascinating & I hope you all agree. An original photo of the big muster for world war 1.

THE MIST
THE MIST 
I think I see them through the mist ,are they really there
I think I hear them gallop down ,those ridges stark & bare
The little colts are playing, and the fillies oh, so gay
Their little whinnies on the breeze,they sound so far away
I think I see them coming now ,or do I imagine that
To see the stallions & the mares, all sleek and shiny fat

Was it my imagination that the mob came ambling past
Was it my imagination ,were they coming slow or fast

But I think I see them through the mist, or maybe just my tears
Will we see them run again ,in spite of all our fears

I dream of mobs of brumbies, I see them on the brow
I dream they'll be a sight to see, one hundred years from now

Norma O'Hara Murphy

Please leave a comment on the web site! when you have looked through! appreciate your feedback!

Contact

  • Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

I want to make this site as accurate as possible- so I invite you to contribute , and please leave your details so I can contact you! I'm after early history from where you live! old photos, or if you have a worthy story to tell -you'd like to share !

SAVING OUR HERITAGE
I invite you all to please send me any of your stories of the brumbies- the Lighthorses, the lighthorsemen, war stories, but in particular tales of some of the breeding, the old stallions who have had an influence on who the brumby is today!  If we don't gather all this up & save it- most of it will be lost. So obviously this is definately not a brumby- but here I am in Celebrity Cutting in Tamworth-way back in 1993 -on this great little Qtr horse-

OUR BRUMBY DIARY 
Norma O'Hara Murphy is the Author & creator of this web site , a Singer/Songwriter, dedicated lover of horses.  I am inspired by  other like minded Brumby groups- dedicated people who (like me) are fighting to save them.  If I am using your photos- please let me know so I can credit you!  Please bear in mind this site is still under construction. So many of us are working hard to support the preservation of our Heritage horses. so this Web Site  is my contribution- also I've written a special song!  Kosciuszko . And I believe like a lot of others- they are indeed a heritage horse- having evolved from over 100 years from some of the best bloodlines. With bloodlines- of our first imported Thouroughbreds/Timor ponies/Heavy horses/Carriage horses and the best of our Stock Horses- bred by Station owners, our Pioneers, Early settlers, even our Bushrangers. I have been told of many of our First World war Diggers who turned out their beloved stock horses -until they returned! Well, a lot never returned, and so there are some great bloodlines among these (so called wild horses) - Back in 1915 - until the end of the war approx 200,000 remounts were needed- and shipped over to the bloody battles. Never to return -now here we are in 2023 & behold ! suddenly they are declared feral animals- to be shot, slaughtered, gotten rid of by any means? well a lot of us have other ideas! Ted Egan & Norma -taken in Tamworth-  both are lovers of our History & heritage . 

BEST OF THE BEST 

  • BRUMBIES IN THE SNOW

    Our mountain brumbies -generations born & bred in the Kosciuszko National park- must be hardy & strong, a product of this extreme environment .

  • KOSCIUSZKO

    This magnificent stallion was the inspiration for my song- Kosciuszko and it breaks my heart to think he may not be there anymore! We as Australians must respect our heritage, our past ,what our Grandfathers fought for, what they achieved, it is part of being Australian, I am very proud of this Nation, what we have achieved as a race- of Convicts/Indigenous/Migrants/Pioneers -aren't you? special thank you to Ian & Michelle Snowy Mountain Photography! for this magnificent photograph!

    http:/www.normaoharamurphy.com

  • OUR AUSSIE REMOUNTS

    Most were brumby bred, they created the legend of the lighthorse-and carried their riders to hell & back. Survived the desert, the mountains, the beaches, and many a Lighthorseman owed his very life to his horse.

  • THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER

    The man from Snowy River a famous poem- a famous movie- but all inspired by a little brumby horse - that was described thus- three parts TB at least-he was something like a racehorse undersized! and that describes one of my little mares to a T. Even today those bloodlines are there, thank God we have rescued many- from the bullets- but it must be stopped!

  • THE GALLANT LIGHTHORSE

    Our lighthorses are legendary- their riders are too! I remember hearing stories when I was a kid, but as you get older-you realize just what they really went through! Those horses were immortalized even by the Turks-the enemy-they recognized them as bigger/faster/stronger/ better than their own .

  • THE BEST OF THE BEST

    Pretty much describes our brumby today-they have survived the harshest winters-snow & ice-had to find feed-shelter- mares have had to defend their foals- it boggles the mind what they have come through to arrive at today! now they are being hunted and shot from the air(Helicopters) by cowards-and criminals .

  • KOSCIUSZKO BRUMBIES

    They roamed free in these mountains for nearly 200 years , now suddenly they are destroying the environment? OMG I just cannot believe all the lies & propaganda that comes out about this! The KNP will become overrun with wild pigs- feral goats etc -not to mention the fires that will get totally out of control with all the ground fuel that will accumulate with no grazing horses?

  • THE HEAVY HORSES

    A certain percentage of the horses roaming free-were cross bred with heavy breeds- I believe Suffolk Punch-Clydesdale & others -also there are testimonies from knowledgeable academics-proof of Buggy horses-English breeds now no longer exist in England- these were carriage horses/ponies imported here- irreplaceable bloodlines -but no respect-no consideration from modern day politicians!

  • OUR WAR HORSES

    No doubt about it -back in 1915-the war years our horses were our warriors. They proved themselves time & time again on the battlefield- behind the lines- pulling guns-wagons -hauling up hills- through mud- whatever was thrown at them -giving it everything they had. They were loyal, faithful, and saved many lives!

  • HONOURING OUR HORSES

    All over Australia there are tributes for our Diggers-our Lighthorsemen- our Lighthorses- this is one of many- reminds me of the story of (Bill the Bastard) ) a famous story of a big red horse-who carried approx 7-or 8 troopers off the battlefield at full gallop and saved them all. There are some amazing sculptures !

  • WAR HORSES

    Old photographs capturing the charges, the battles ,what horse & man went though we could never imagine!

  • FROM THE ARCHIVES

    Actual photos of our Light horsemen & their horses -from the deserts to the wells of Bersheeba! unforgettable battles - Lest we forget!

  • IN FULL FLIGHT

    There were approx 40,000 horses recruited into the First world war! they had no say in it- they never returned home! So the ultimate sacrifice was theirs!

  • LOADING ONTO SHIPS

    Our very first sailors-imagine shipping 40,000 horses today! it is mind boggling- I dare say some would not have made it -although with dedicated Diggers taking care of them- it may not have been so bad! But just the logistics of it all-

  • BRUMBIES-GREY MOB

    Collected some of these photos on Facebook- some beautiful photos that really capture these wonderful horses-out in their habitat!

  • BRUMBY MARE-TAFFY

    So many colours/types incorporating several breeds-the infusion of Welsh Mountain/Cobs/Suffolk Punch? putting some real solid bone into the mobs! Plus the light coloured manes & tails! it is such a strong gene!

  • KOORONG BRUMBIES

    This gorgeous photo I found on FB -love this bloke he is so solid & such a good type! Obviously a strong TB influence here! One can only hope he is still there! He actually is on my video clip- of my Kosciuszko song!

  • BRUMBY MARE & FOAL

    What a lovely picture they are! Lovely big solid mare, and some of that (Suffolk) blood showing through I reckon!

  • LIGHTHORSE PACK

    A lighthorse pack at the gathering for the Sandy memorial

  • ALLORA LIGHTHORSES

    Allora have some Lighthorse Members- attending ANZAC day parades

  • LIGHTHORSEMEN ON PARADE

    A group of Lighthorsemen & their horses-modern day versions

  • ON PARADE

    So many dedicated to the memory of our Lighthorses & their riders- every time there is a Parade and a March- they come out in force!

  • BARELLEN HORSE TEAM

    Australians love their horses- heavy horses-light horses-ponies-every sort- There are some amazing Horse events- showing off past glories- showing off what horses are capable of- pulling heavy loads- doing all the work they used to do.

  • WARWICK LIGHT HORSEMEN

    At Bony Mountain Festival in 2015- on Sunday-which was 100 years to the day- from when our troops marched away in 1915 -we held a big Commemoration Ceremony on our Sunday- it was all filmed- (still in the can) it was offered to the War Memorial Canberra! but we have heard nothing back!

  • BONY MOUNTAIN CEREMONY

    Bony Mountain Festival Sunday -100 years to the day since our boys marched away- & our horses were recruited too- to mark this -we held a special Ceremony with Warwick RSL branch- quite a few returned Soldiers attended- along with Warwick Light Horse Members.

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  • THE COMMEMORATION FOR SANDY!

    This photo was collected off a Facebook post! a lovely shot of the gathering for the commemoration of a particular War Horse (Sandy) I am really hoping to gather many photos- and stories together to feature on this Web Site! I hope you will support me- I think its important!

  • THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG

    The Australian flag meant so much to so many , men fought & died under this flag- and we fly it proudly every year at Bony Mountain. We also fly a lot of other flags too- but I reckon they remind us all we are ALL under one flag-one nation- one people.

  • ANZAC DAY WARWICK -2012

    Warwick always puts on a big Parade a big Ceremony to remember the Anzacs! Here are some pictures that capture the day!

  • SCHOOL KIDS

    Anzac day is a big day for the local Schools too-

  • MARCHING BANDS

    Marching Bands are a huge part of Anzac day-

  • MARCHING BANDS -2

    Nearly every School is represented- local Pipe Bands all participate!

  • WARWICK WEST

    Local Schools were all involved it was great to see.

  • SES MARCHED

    Local Fire & Emergency Services marched too-

  • THE EPITAPH

    The centre of it all on Anzac day- with the Soldiers on guard- it is all very moving!

  • OLD VETERANS

    Some of the old Vets struggle a bit-but they still come

  • CHILDREN MARCHING

    Love to see all the kids marching so proudly- to remember those who are gone! LEST WE FORGET

  • CHANGI POWS

    World War 2- Phils Dad was a POW in Changi-and on the Burma railway- He came home but would never speak of the War. It was something that haunted him until he died. He passed away on Anzac day - I wrote him a song (his words) Barbwire & Bamboo- on one of my Albums. He was a great bloke-

  • PHILS DAD (JB)

    John Phillips- he called himself when he signed up- (under age) as so many were- to go off and fight in the Second World War- he was taken prisoner in Singapore- spent the war interned in POW camps- worked on Burma Railway & was about 20 miles from Nagasaki when they dropped the bomb!

  • WARWICK CHORAL SOCIETY

    These Ladies are amazing -they all dressed in suitable garb-old fashioned, (First World War ) clothing-they dress appropriately each year to attend our Festival- & always perform at big Celebrations in Warwick .

  • STALLIONS

    This beautiful grey was captured in this magnificent painting - I'm trying to get more info! Many of these Stallions are top Quality, as good as you would find anywhere! Several top shelf Thoroughbred stallions were added over the years, some deliberately ,some escaped- there were no fences back in the 1800s -and so the best bloodlines were introduced into those foundation horses - Any wonder they bred up to such a high standard.

  • OUR CAMPDRAFTERS

    Many top ASHA bloodlines will trace back to Brumby bred mares/colts there were no fences in those early days-in the 1800s- and most land owners just went out & rounded up the wild horses- for their own use- for Mustering- Farm work, whatever they needed- kids ponies to ride to School- the Brumby was a versatile horse- pulling a cart- plowing a field- and I reckon most of the Camp drafters going around today- would carry some Brumby blood!

About The Website
Bony Mountain Brumbies is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history and legend of the Australian Brumby. Our website showcases these magnificent heritage horses, paying homage to their rich heritage and the role they have played in shaping our culture. From their rugged strength to their gentle nature, the Brumbies have evolved into a very special breed.  From the Mountains to the Outback! Join us on a journey into the world of these iconic horses, as we explore their captivating stories and promote their cause,  Discover the history and be inspired by their enduring legacy. Learn more about these unique horses and the efforts being made to safeguard their future. While the Beaurocrats & the fanatics, try to exterminate them, hundreds of groups are fighting to save them. We hope & pray someday soon the powers that be! will learn to embrace the heritage and honor the legend of the Australian Brumby. join us on this Web Site- we invite you to leave a comment!  
STALLIONS
Poster Boy 
Poster Boy -has been named -for obvious reasons, what a great type he is - 
STALLIONS 
KOSCIUSKO , my idea of a special Brumby! I only hope he continues to survive! What a quality example he is -beautiful bone- lovely head, great colour, I'd be happy to breed a few more like him!

STALLIONS
SABLE - a Taffy Stallion situated in a certain area of Kosciosko National Park- amazing mane ! there are quite a few very distinctive Stallions- who invariably leave their mark!

STALLIONS
This is a painting- but what a magnificent horse! more info coming!

STALLIONS
STEEL GRAY- what a spectacular horse-great body, great bone, these blokes are such qaulity- heartbreaking to consider some will be gone!

STALLIONS
TAFFY BOY- not quite the quality of some of the other boys- but a nice boy!

STALLIONS
This boy - KOORYONG- he actually is on my video (Kosciusko) what a magnificent specimen he is! I only hope & pray these beautiful boys survived the killing fields! He lives in the Kooryong , such a good type. You can see the TB influence with this bloke!

OUR WAR HORSES
While the (so called Environmentalists) have declared our Horses (feral) all around our great Country there are monuments & tributes to these amazing horses! There are some Legendary tales from the wars- the story of (Bill the bastard) is one. My mate Tom McIvor )wrote a great poem! plus an entire Album dedicated to our Australian Horses,Horsemen- Recently on FB found all this pictorial of the Memorial ! It is an exceptional tale- here are the photos!
Bill the bastard
These photos-depict the memorial to this wonderful war hero- who was known as- Bill the bastard! Rescued 5 troopers in all-full gallop off the battlefield- he was a big horse-with a big heart- now immortalised

Bill the bastard memorial 

  • Bill the bastard memorial

    This amazing piece of Lighthorse history immortalized in bronze!

  • THE MEMORIAL

    Bill the bastard -his memorial

  • THE MEMORIAL

    This amazing bronze work- really captures the whole story-of this big rough horse-who came through when it counted!

  • TRIBUTES TO OUR AMAZING HORSES

    Our Heritage horses- our Brumbies -over 200,000 remounts were shipped overseas to the war, and Brumbies would have made up the bulk of those. Taken from a lot of places ,mainly NSW- Victoria the high country- the Bogong High plains- these horses were renowned to be strong, superior mounts -even the enemy- the Turks were in awe of these War horses from Australia.

  • SANDY (another war hero)

    So many memorials now to our forgotten heroes- but it just proves to me-that the Nation has not forgotten- only t seems the Bureaucrats!

REMEMBERING SANDY 

WAR HORSES

LIGHT HORSES 

Our Australian Light Horses are legendary- ever since I can remember I heard stories of the Battles, the love the Troopers had for their horses was well known -the devastation of them having to leave their faithful mounts! it is well documented -the decision to put down their best mates! rather than leave them to an unknown future- It would seem our Politicians have not changed much! just imagine after such an amazing campaign -so many tales of their sacrifice- their heroic deeds-during battles- during the entire campaign! All over Australia we erect Tributes, Memorials, Statues, and remember their sacrifice, their participation in this horrible war. How quickly our Politicians forget , but we don't, every year on Anzac Day - our entire nation come together- Australians are very patriotic ,very loyal people, so it is beyond me to consider this current situation. These people who have declared they are now feral? what planet are they from? how can they ignore us? the Australian people?  I was upset to discover that only resident Victorians are eligible to sign any of the Government petitions? to discover public sentiment on the fate of our Brumbies!  What a fiasco- when these horses belong to the entire Nation! They belong to all of us, so it makes me very sad, and very mad that this is happening! 

Our legendary Light horses (archives)

EARLY FAMILIES 

MOUNTAIN BRUMBIES

MOUNTAIN BRUMBIES

The most ridiculous part about all this from an environmental aspect, is that these horses have been part of the landscape for nearly 200 years! On Kosciusko in particular, the mountain cattle & the horses keep the regrowth down, prevent all that long grass & fuel from taking over. These ignorant bureaucrats are just ignoring our history- as well as our heritage and seem oblivious to the facts, totally void of common sense! Sadly the feral s they should be targeting are the feral pigs! they do serious damage! Foul up water ways , root up valuable plants, no doubt destroying valuable habitat for any ground nesting birds, frogs etc

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THE HEAVY HORSE MIX

THE HEAVY HORSE MIX

No doubt that TBs were the main influence back in the early days- strong, fast, but as we grew as a Nation ,so too did our expectations, Even Timor ponies were part of the mix back in the day, a lot of the smaller horses would trace back to these breeds, from the Scottish Highlands , with the result of a very special horse indeed.

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OUR WAR HORSES
  • I know most of you reading this feel as I do about our Heritage horses-our brumbies. Lest we forget the huge part they played in first world war-lest we forget they carried many a soldier off the battlefield-under fire- well sadly it seems our Politicians have forgotten! although I tend to think a lot of them live in a bubble- don't know and don't care! no respect for our past- no respect !fullstop. Be very frightened of people who have no regard for the past? because they are bound to repeat those mistakes in the future! 

OUR HERITAGE HORSES 

STALLIONS
It seems to me that there are a few very significant stallions who have been the major influence on some of these mobs! In Kosciusko- in the Kooryung- Barmah Forest-and other places! I have gathered photos on Facebook- of Poster Boy! one of the Kooryung boys- I like to imagine somehow these wonderful Stallions are still there? I cannot even imagine the sheer stupidity of destroying such quality animals!  
THIS MAGNIFICENT BOY- (black boy) photo courtesy of Michelle & Ian. (Snowy Mountain Photography)