Every year on the 1st of August we celebrate the Horse’s birthday and appreciate all the horses in our lives both good and bad, past and present, fast walkers, slow walkers and of course, the jig-joggers. We all remember the kid’s horses with gentle temperaments, and no doubt we all experienced a cantankerous pony we would sooner forget! Horses that got excited at the thought of chasing a cow and we all remember the first one we could send to the front of the mob and block the lead no matter the terrain, fearless and surefooted.
The horse has indeed been an integral part of Australia’s agricultural history. Its role has evolved significantly over time, in the early days, horses were essential for almost any manual farm work. From powering ploughs to pulling carts, they were crucial to the development of the nation’s farming landscape.
Not so long ago, horses were still a daily fixture in working with livestock, not just for leisure, but as essential partners in our work. We would saddle up every other day and ride to every paddock, we kept a large contingent of workhorses shod and fed for no other reason than for mustering.
20 years ago, what took 5 people on horses to do, now may only take 1 or 2 to do the same job. Today, we use a combination of motorbikes, helicopters, and horses for mustering. Developments such as laneways, improved pastures, quieter cattle that are easier to handle, and holding paddocks have significantly reduced the need for horses for work. But the trade-off for this, has led to a decline in general horsemanship skills in the next generation coming through, which then further decreases the involvement of the horses in work.
The upside, the horses that we have now, are a vast improvement on what we used to ride. With improved genetics and access to horsemanship clinics plus the advent of better workplace health and safety, this has meant that the horses themselves can do the job better than ever.
Whilst we may look to the future of trialling drones and virtual fencing, which will further reduce our reliance on the horse, we can’t help but feel a little nostalgic. Nothing beats a cold August morning, saddling up in the dark and riding out at first light, the thrill of the chase when the mob has gone wayward, and riding home with chaffed legs and weary muscles.
Happy Birthday to all the horses!