Question:
Is an outback bred Waler horse just a brumby?
Answer:
Though there are numerous definitions, a brumby is considered to be a wild horse with unknown bloodlines. Most people perceive a brumby to be a poorly conformed horse and frequently inbred. It is important to note that wild bred Walers can be considered brumbies but not all brumbies can be considered Walers! during wartime, the demand for horses was great and it is possible that in some cases brumbies were selected as remounts and they were also known as Walers. However the majority of Walers were selectively bred on large properties, where, though running semi-wild they were generally branded, culled and managed.
Question:
Can Waler horses be grey?
Answer:
Many people remember Walers as the mount of Australian Light Horse and believe that Walers only come in the colours most used by the army which were: bay, chestnut, brown and black. Documents and photos from the war days prove that grey Walers, while not always popular, were in fact exported and were used by the Australian army overseas. Also, Walers exported to the British Army and others in India during the 1800s included many greys. Further research has also shown that while the Military both here and overseas put certain requirements on colour, markings, size, type and age, Walers were in fact all colours including grey and palomino.
Question:
Do Walers only come in solid colours?
Answer:
Whilst most horses exported and used by the army were solid colours, research has proven that Walers were not just solid colours. Original documentation and photos has shown pinto Walers being used here at home and exported overseas. Today some stations still breed coloured Walers. Flecking in coat colour is also acceptable as is taffy colouring or multi colouring in manes and tails.
Question:
Do Walers have white markings?
Answer:
Many horses exported for military purposes had little or no white markings though some horses that see service did in fact have white markings. White markings are acceptable, though excessive white markings are not desirable in breeding stock.
Question:
Are Walers only of “light horse” type?
Answer:
The horses of the Australian Light Horse are the most famous Walers but research has shown that Walers were of different types. Many Walers were bred specifically to the requirements set by buyers, which ranged from the military seeking officer’s mounts, trooper’s mounts and artillery horses and to the civilians (both here and overseas) requiring, ponies, stock horses, racing horses, light to heavy harness horses. Many other Walers simply developed from the mix of breeding stock available to the property owner. The Society today now recognizes four types of Waler being Pony, Light, Medium and Heavy. All however, should continue to exhibit Waler breed characteristics as per the Standard of Excellence.
Question:
I’d heard Waler horses no longer exist?
Answer:
Due to the decline in remount and export trade as well as in military and use of horses in everyday life, many people are of the impression that Walers no longer exist. When the remount trade began to decline from the early 1940’s, many breeders shot their herds. However a few property owners let their herds go in the outback or left them to run free on their stations. These former remount stations are where many of today’s registered Walers originated. Sadly, Walers were also bought for the meat-works market and were also the victims of the Northern Territory Government’s feral animal eradication program during the 1980’s.Through ongoing breeding, the Society aims to maintain and preserve this breed thereby ensuring that the old bloodlines and the breed itself are not lost forever.
Question:
Is the Waler now considered a breed or simply a type?
Answer:
All “breeds” of any kind of animal are established by the successive progeny breeding true to a certain type and meeting a standard that is set down. Since the start of the Society in 1986, Walers have been breeding for several generations with some studs now producing up to 5th and 6th generation stud-bred Walers. Many old bloodline Walers have well over 150 years breeding behind them and the descendants of those of early-day horses continue to breed true to type. This therefore establishes the Waler as a breed.
Question:
Are Walers horses also Stockhorses?
Answer:
In 1971 the Australian Stockhorse Association (ASHA) was set up to create a truly Australian horse. Many wished to recreate the Waler. In early times, Walers were foundation stock of the Stock Horse. However, in more recent times, other purebreds have also been registered as Stock Horses e.g., Quarter horses, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods and Arabs. Many Stock horses have Waler ancestry but have been refined with modern bloodlines. Walers are not eligible for registration as a purebred of any other breed but they may however qualify for dual registration with a colour Society (e.g. palomino or pinto Walers) or as an Australian Stock Horse.
Question:
Does the frugality of a Waler mean that they are a cheap horse to own?
Answer:
Walers are not necessarily cheaper to own and maintain than any other breed of horse. Most if not all Walers today descend from the outback, where they ran free and lived on what was available. Some people mistakenly think that when they bring a horse in from the outback they can leave them in a paddock with little or no feed and they will be fine. Running in the outback on thousands of hectares is not the same as running in a paddock regardless of how big that paddock is. Once you bring a Waler, or any horse, in from the wild it should be treated no different to any other breed of horse. Like all horses factors such as paddock condition, type of grass available, time of year, amount of work and the age of the horse should all be taken into account. Hand feeding should be done if required but only cool feeds should be used. Other factors such as regular trimming of hooves, regular worming and teeth care are also important.