Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Brumbies are inbred weedy horses and poorly conformed, aren’t they?
A: In a word, no! The reason that Brumbies have stayed alive in our harsh Australian conditions is due to natural selection. The stronger survived, the weaker perished. Todays Brumbies are solid, well put together and sound horses.
Q: Do Brumbies always stay wilder than domestic horses?
A: Brumbies develop a really strong bond with their herd leader – once they realize that is YOU, you’ll have a friend for life!
Q: Are Brumbies suited to being a childs pony?
A: Absolutely – they love the attention and love that comes with being anyones ‘special horse’. They are also very quiet, placid animals – in the wild, they spend most of their time eating or sleeping!
Q: Do Brumbies require shoes when ridden?
A: Generally not. They are exceptionally hard hooved and tend not to require shoes. Talk to your farrier as you go along and take their advice, but don’t be afraid to leave them barefoot – the way nature intended them to be!
Q: If my Brumby has a break from being ridden, will he go ‘feral’?
A: No more than any other horse will. Brumbies are sensible and intelligent – they enjoy interacting with you and will miss the attention and be delighted to get back into it after their holiday!
Q: Can I ride my Brumby in groups without him thinking he is back in the wild?
A: Yes! Brumbies are sociable creatures, but above all, they respect their herd leader, so they WILL listen to you.
Q: What is the temperament and trainability of the average Brumby?
A: Many trick riders and trainers in Australia work with Brumbies due to their high intelligence and ability to learn – the more you teach your Brumby, the more he will want to learn! Temperament – placid, sensible and affectionate.
Q: Why can’t the Brumbies just stay where they are – wild and free?
A: There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, the Government has declared Brumbies a feral pest and as such is now responsible for removing them from the wild. Secondly, in high numbers, they do cause untold damage to some of our more sensitive ecosystems. We support the ethical and humane management of the wild population of Brumbies. We DO NOT support any of the methods that the government feels are ‘humane’ such as aerial or ground shooting or mustering Brumbies and sending them to knackeries. Please tell your friends about our Brumbies – the more we can rehome and raise their profile, the fewer will end up in knackeries!
Q: What colours and heights do Brumbies come in?
A: The Brumbies in Victorias Alps tend to mature between 13.2 and 15hh. You may get the odd one that will be smaller or larger than this. Colours – well, pretty much anything! The majority are Chestnuts (often with flaxen manes), Bay, brown and Black. There are also paints, palominos, cremellos, buckskins etc…
Q: Do Brumbies require much food?
A: Brumbies require either a grassy paddock or good quality grass hay. They have evolved on this diet ( often less!) and don’t need more than this. Brumbies love their mineral licks also! Giving Brumbies ‘hard feeds’ such as oats or barley is unnecessary and can give them tummy upsets.
Q: If Brumbies are such ‘good doers’ – will my Brumby founder if he gets too fat?
A: No horse should be obese. That said, in the wild, the weight of the average Brumby fluctuates. By early summer, he will generally be quite fat and then use this body fat to assist him to get through winter. If your Brumby is simply on grass or grass hay, he won’t have founder issues.
Q: What skills do I need to have to own a Brumby?
A: Brumbies are like any other horse. When they are sold by the Victorian Brumby Association, they will lead, tie up, pick up their feet and be comfortable being handled and around people. All you need is time and love!
Q: What sort of living requirements do Brumbies have? Can I keep mine in a normal paddock?
A: Brumbies requirements are the same as the average horse. Clean fresh water, shade and shelter from the elements, another horse to be friend with. Standard fencing will be absolutely fine to contain your Brumbies – they are no more likely to jump fences than any other horse.
Q: Can I keep my Brumby alone?
A: No. Brumbies have evolved in herds and are very unhappy when kept alone (as most horses are). We cannot sell Brumbies to homes where they will be the only horse, but we are more than happy to sell you TWO if you would like!
Q: Where did Brumbies come from? How did they get to be Brumbies?
A: That’s rather a long story – have a look at our page titled ‘Brumby Information Sheets’ for that one!