Re-Homing
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Introduction
In simple terms, Re-Homing is the process of relocating brumby horses from a wild situation, be it a government conservation area or a station property and settling them into a domestic environment. But nothing is quite that simple and to successfully and humanely take a brumby from the wild and take it to the point of ownership involves a number of steps.
For more than a century, horsemen have been capturing wild horses for their own use, typically (but not always) on horseback by chasing and roping horses (Brumby Running). For the purpose of this discussion, however, we will be describing the types of activities and issues for recognized Re-Homing groups such as member groups of ABA.
ABA Members have prepared a booklet on rescuing and caring for horses. his is a great guide for prospective Re-Homing groups or for others wantng more detail on capture, rescue and care of wild horses. To download the pdf file (1.2MB) click on the title below:
Care and Rescue of Australian Wild HorsesHowever if you want to get general overview, read on !
Contents
Establishing a Re-Homing Group
Working with Authorities
Capture
Transport
Settling In
Care and Assessment
Handling and Training
Sponsorship
Adoption and Sale
Follow Up
Brumby Promotion
Fund Raising
Issues
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Many groups start with one or two individuals who hear about a cull or inhumane treatment to brumbies and want to do something. Some have adopted a brumby and learn more about their plight. Most have some horse experience but not necessarily with handling and training wild or green broke horses, let alone setting up a Re-Homing group. Initially there may only be a few core people involved.
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The first phase is generally investigation – contacting ABA or ABA Member groups. If there is not a Re-Homing group nearby where they can offer help, it is then that the idea to start another group tends to emerge.
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Assistance from existing Re-Homing groups is important for information, support and to help speed up the process. ABA Members must be incorporated not-for profit bodies, preferably with charity status. Help with this process, including developing a Constitution and relevant documents and paperwork is one example of how ABA can help.
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A number of administrative and operational issues need to be sorted and developed and each Re-Homing group needs to tailor these to their resources, environment and the type of horse populations they plan to re-home.
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All ABA Re-Homing groups have some form of agreement with government authorities in regard to taking horses and offering a Re-Homing program. Negotiation often takes months and the Re-Homing group will have to demonstrate its ability to carry out the job. Usually RSPCA approval is also obtained. This forms the basis for the ongoing relationship with government authorities and ground staff and may lead to the Re-Homing group having a representative on some form of management or steering committee.
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Capture is not responsibility of the Re-Homing groups although occasionally groups may assist government staff. Not all capture methods are what ABA considers humane and we are working to change this. Current practices used in government capture programs vary from humane passive trapping, mustering on horseback, motorbike or helicopter into a trap area or by brumby running (roping from horseback).
Captured horses are kept in yards, or sometimes tied to trees (see Brumby Running) until sufficient numbers are caught for transport out of the area.
ABA stongly advocates for humane passive trapping methods. |
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In passive trapping programs, horses are usually assessed if fit for transport and identification information is recorded. To determine an appropriate capture method, we recommend you take the following measures:
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It is generally at the Re-Homing group’s expense that horses are transported from the removal area. Some groups use their own horse trucks or floats and, in the case of the OHHAWA, may travel great distances to take horses. Other groups, may engage a horse transport contractor with ability to access remote areas to transport horses.
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Although most Re-Homing groups have at least one horse float or trailer among their membership, these are difficult to use with a wild horse that has not been float trained. It is much easier for horses and humans to use good horse trucks in the first instance.
Transport is always a stressful operation, even for domestic horses. All care is taken to get the job done as quickly and as stress free as possible. Nevertheless, accidents will happen and occasional injury can result during transport.
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When horses arrive at their next destination, be it a temporary or permanent home, they are put in one or more holding yards with food (hay) and water and left to settle for a bit. Where possible horses are separated, for example, small mobs of stallions, mares and foals may be grouped together; stallions may be separated from mares; young ones from older ones, or injured ones.
Settling may take one day or a week or more. So much depends on the horses’ built in temperament, what happened to them in the wild and how stressful capture and transport were.
In the meantime, observations can be made for identification, condition etc and continued feeding and watering will help desensitize the horses to human interaction.
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Horses are often assessed and described for record keeping: colour, markings, age, sex, injury, temperament etc. In some cases, as with the Guy Fawkes Brumbies, it is a condition of the National Parks that the horses are branded. Freeze branding is done in a crush. Assessment and branding is done as soon as practical.
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As soon as horses are settled enough, they may be checked and treated for injury, wormed, checked by a vet, and gelded. But mostly they are ensured safe paddocks, feed and water.
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At the very least most Re-Homing groups try to desensitize the brumbies to accept human touch. It is then important to halter train, teach the horse to lead and for someone to be able to pick up their feet for hoof care. If the horse is going to be further relocated, float training is also very important.
Some groups may take a brumby to saddle prior to adopting out but not always. Mostly, this is left to the new owner to do or organise.
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Handling and training, even to just this basic level takes time, skill and patience. Most Re-Homing Groups do not have enough volunteers that are able to take on the task, so it can take some time before a mob of horses that have just come in from a park or property are all ready for adoption.
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As with people, horses are individuals and handling and training needs to be mindful of that. Some horses are relatively calm when they arrive and handling might take only a few weeks. Others, because of temperament, age or what happened to them in their previous life, are more challenging and may take many months.
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Sometimes the new owners are experienced horse people and are able to take horses with little handling but most people are inexperienced with green, un-started horses and it is vital for the success of the adoption program that early handling is done well. It will form the basis for the future training and pleasure of owning a brumby horse.
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Some groups place horses in sponsorship if they are injured, too young or too old to be adopted out. In this case, members of the public sponsor the care of a particular horse and help with the costs of feed and vet care. Some horses are in sponsorship until fit enough for travel and adoption; others stay in long term sponsorship care.
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The ultimate game plan is to get the horses to new homes and groups use many vehicles for marketing their brumby horses. Some groups need to have a pre-sale commitment prior to rescuing horses. Others advertise after taking and assessing the horses.
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Websites and emailed newsletters are one of the most important ways that brumbies are promoted and are the usual first notice to prospective new owners.
Open Days and Inspections by Appointment are other common approaches as are direct advertisement in magazines such as Horse Deals.
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Groups vary on their policies regarding adoption and sale. Some have a probationary period to see if the Re-Homing works out. Generally there is care taken to match the horse with the owner in terms of experience required and where the horses will be kept.
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Good fenced paddocks and preferably a small yard to work with the horse is required. It is important that the new owner continue the handling that was started by the Re-Homing group to get the horse used to its new owner and surrounds and to reinforce the learning that has already taken place. If the brumby is turned out into a paddock for a month without handling it is likely the horse will revert to a less manageable state.
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As horses are herd animals, it is best to have the brumby homed where at least one other horse is present. Some groups insist on this, or on adopting two brumbies.
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New owners range from the very experienced to someone just wanting to own a paddock horse. They may be horse breeders, endurance riders, pleasure trail riders, someone just wanting a companion horse, an animal lover or someone who would just like to own and Australian Brumby.
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The resources of Re-Homing groups are usually stretched so it is unrealistic that they will be able to hold every new owner's hand all the way. It is up to the new owners to take on the responsibility of owning the horse.
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Having said that, Re-Homing groups are often available to help with the transition to the new home and they like to keep in touch with owners and the horses. Groups can also provide referrals to trainers, farriers and vets, if the horse is not relocated too far away.
Re-Homing groups may also hold handing and training clinics and social activities such as competitions and trail rides which are a great way to continue learning and developing a relationship between the new owner and the brumby.
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Through all their activities, Re-Homing groups are engaged in promoting the heritage value of the Australian Brumby as well as its value as a good “all round” horse. They do this through their websites, emails, newsletters, advertisements, media releases and publication of magazine articles. They also have stands at horse events from the local agricultural show to major events like Equitana.
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While some groups attract minor grant funding from time to time from public and private sources, none receive major government assistance. Funding is primarily through adoption/sale fees, sponsorship and donations from the public. Groups raise funds in any way they can to pay for land costs, equipment and infrastructure, feed and vet care, and other expenses.
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Access to land - The biggest challenge for Re-Homing is access to land either by ownership, lease or donation. Where a single large block of land is not available, groups may distribute horses to members who are able to take and look after them until adopted or sold.
Even if there is available land, good fencing and other infrastructure is required to hold horses.
There are no government holding areas where horses removed from parks or properties can remain temporarily. Re-Homing groups are therefore, forced to either take all the horses or select what they can handle - a difficult choice as most will go to the abattoirs. With limited land, there is a restriction on the number of horses that a group can take at any one time.
Costs – Set up costs to access land, erect and maintain fences and yards, provide water and, if possible, have a race and crush facility are substantial for volunteer organisations. Add to this insurance and initial vet and feed bills, and it is estimated that set up costs are on the order of $20k. Ongoing costs, in particular feed can be significant for a not-for-profit venture and it is generally the case that adoptions fees pay for less than half of what is required. Volunteer help and donations are vital. Despite this, Re-Homing groups often have members of the public wondering why they can’t get a brumby for free!
Volunteers - Having volunteers with specialised skills is sometimes difficult. Most notably, this is with horse handling and training which can cause another “bottleneck” to taking horses. Other valuable skills include: financial, web and internet, fund raising, etc.
Considering the above issues, the work of these groups to date is an astonishing dedication to humane management of Australian Brumbies. And it can be a rewarding and fulfilling venture. But clearly, there is a great barrier to expanding the capacity of existing groups and the establishment of more Re-Homing groups that could work with governments to remove horses.