The Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria (MCAV) successfully ran its annual Get-Together at Omeo over the weekend, but organisers were forced to think outside the square when it came to the planned brumby catch event for Sunday’s finals.
On Wednesday the MCAV received an email from Agriculture Victoria advising the wild horses they had sourced locally did not meet the requirements of the permit issued, as the stock needed to be supplied by a registered rodeo contractor.
The use of a rope or a halter was not allowed, as it ‘restrained’ the animal, meaning a return to the drawing board to come up with an alternative.
Eventually a decision was made and the judges of the event, Darren Towns of Maffra and Rick Hodge of Buchan, oversaw each of the six finalists in the open and ladies events compete in a ‘wild horse decorating’ event, where they attempted to clip a large paper clip, complete with strings of blue ribbon, to the mane of a wild horse, rather than placing a halter on its head.
The winning run was made by overall winner Daryl Baines who managed to set his clip in 12 seconds, having experience gained from using his steed for picking up cowboys at rodeos and brumby running in the bush.
Mr Towns, a former Alpine Brumby Management Association president, and former brumby trapper working for Parks Victoria, said the email from AgVic cited the animal welfare act which was insulting.
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“These decisions come from people who know nothing about what we’re doing, they’ve just read their answers in the government handbook,” Mr Towns said.
“All horses start with being caught, whether it’s for racing or stockhorses or anything, you don’t just get on them.
“It’s so hypocritical to bring up animal welfare saying a halter is cruel to horses, yet the government’s happy for them to be gut-shot and left for dead in the bush.”
“They’re saying we’re cruel to our animals, but we spend our lives training them, we’re not there to be cruel to our animals in front of thousands of people.
“It’s a traditional event showcasing bush skills.
“Everyone seems to be worried about their traditions and history, but when it comes to the High Country or the bush it doesn’t seem to matter.”
The annual MCAV Get-Together, known for its celebration of traditional bush activities like horsemanship and stockhandling, poetry and music attracted 3000 people to the Ferguson family’s property along Livingstone Creek on the Omeo Valley Road.
MCAV president, Cassie McCormack, Merrijig, said some of the competitors hated the decorating idea but for her, the threat of 12 months jail and hefty fines was a large factor.
“I think we made the best of a hard situation,” Ms McCormack said.
“This event is not all about the catch, it’s also about the horsemanship and how they work the brumby before and afterwards.
“It wasn’t so long ago the government was paying contractors to catch horses in the bush.”
The wild horses used were from local farmer, Jock Sievers’ place, who offered them for sale with the funds to go to MND research.
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, also attended the event.
“The irony from this government is ridiculous,” Mr Bull said.
“On one hand it is employing shooters to kill brumbies, but on the other hand is refusing permission for the Mountain Cattlemen to undertake a traditional activity.
“It’s time we stopped having people who live on concrete in the city dictate what can and can’t do in rural areas.”
Winner of the ladies for the second year running, Hayley Hinton, said the event not only showcased true horsemanship but kept the heritage alive.
“You only get two minutes in the arena with the wild horse and only the best riders make the finals.
“It’s the way the old stockmen would catch them then work with them to become ridden horses, it’s also the way the wild horse numbers were controlled for many years instead of inhumanely shooting them and leaving them to rot in waterways or feed our wild dog and pig population.
“There’s a lot of skill in setting both of the horses up for the catch and then the remaining time is spent working with the wild horse to encourage it to lead alongside you.
“I make the halters like the ones used in these wild horse catch events, they have what we call a stopper, so once the rope has pulled up to that point it can’t tighten anymore, there’s no constant pressure pulling tighter around the horses head.”
Agriculture Victoria was contacted for comment.
