The Brumbies of the Guy Fawkes River National Park, now known as Guy Fawkes Heritage Horses, have an extraordinary history and come from an incredibly beautiful area. The Guy Fawkes River National Park, covers more than 62,700 hectares (approximately 155,000 acres) of country near Ebor in northern New South Wales, just off the Waterfall Way. The brumby is a wild horse.

The Guy Fawkes River National Park is regarded as a "biodiversity hotspot" with over 40 different vegetation communities, 28 threatened plant species, 24 threatened fauna species and significant areas of old growth forest protected within the reserve. It contains spectacular examples of valley and rugged river gorges including the deeply incised Guy Fawkes River Valley and the rugged gorges of the Aberfoyle, Sara and Henry Rivers. It also conserves one of the most significant areas of wilderness in northern New South Wales.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a legislative responsibility to protect native habitats and wildlife within its reserves. It also has a responsibility to minimise the impact of introduced species including horses. Horses have been bred on lands in the vicinity of the park since the 1830s and since the 1930s have been present in a wild state in the area which, in 1972 became the Guy Fawkes River National Park. Management of brumbies in the national park began in the early 1990s, with capture and removal programs focused on removing brumbies from river flats along the Guy Fawkes River. Horse management however, became particularly contentious following an aerial cull of 610 brumbies in October 2000 and subsequent community concerns regarding management of the horses, and their heritage value.

In response, the Minister for the Environment commissioned a study into the heritage value of horses in the park (source:  Guy Fawkes River National Park - Wild horses heritage study) and indicated that should the brumbies be found to have genuine heritage significance they would be humanely removed from the park so that they can be managed properly in another location by people with an interest in their heritage value. In February 2002 the Heritage Working Party reported that "the horses have significant local heritage value." (source:  Guy Fawkes River National Park Draft Horse Management Plan).  For further information, please refer to our Resources page.

To this end, The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association Inc. (GFHHA) (formerly known as The Guy Fawkes Wild Horse Management Association Inc.) was formed in 2003 with the specific objective of managing the Guy Fawkes River National Park (GFRNP) brumbies once they are removed from the park and maintaining the genetic blood lines into the future.  

           The Constitutional Objectives are as follows:- 

·      To take possession of wild horses removed from the Guy Fawkes River National Park.

·         To maintain the Heritage Value of the wild horses.

·        To oversee the management of the wild horses once they are removed from the National Park.

·      To seek funding from all available sources to further the Objectives of the Association.

·         To sell suitable horses outright.

·     To maintain the Guy Fawkes Register to enhance the value of the horses removed from the Guy Fawkes River National Park

·     To re-home suitable family groups of horses to retain their Heritage Value.

·       To maintain the search for a suitable sanctuary that complies with The NPWS and RSPCA Guidelines and that complies with the requirements of the Executive Committee of the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association.

The primary focus of the Association is to relocate the brumbies by way of private ownership of the horses. A formal Register and Stud Book has been established for this purpose and horses are now being captured and removed from Guy Fawkes River National Park (GFRNP) in accordance with current Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC) ruling. 

This program of passive capture and removal was many months in the planning stage; an eight month trial has been completed in GFRNP and our success so far, has been highly rewarding.  As of June 2008 381 horses have been passively removed from GFRNP.

Many brumbies have now been placed in caring homes.  We do, however, still struggle to obtain the funds needed for ongoing management. The NPWS does not contribute any monies to the GFHHA Inc, we are totally self supporting.

Renowned local horsewoman, Erica Jessup, locating brumbies
in the Guy Fawkes River National Park, July 2003.

We are proud to offer these brumbies for sale to people interested in promoting a superior, quality horse.  For further information, please refer to our FOR SALE page.

The GFHHA works in conjunction with the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS). We manage the brumbies to maintain their inherent characteristics and to preserve the unique genetics of these wild horses. We invite you to visit our Photo Gallery to see the quality of our wild horses.  Our brumbies can be viewed on our Open Days.

Digby Foster, a natural horseman and much valued Committee member, can provide basic handling of your chosen horse through to a complete starting program under saddle. New owners are welcome to make their own arrangements with Digby.

MEMBERSHIP of the GFHHA is a positive way in which the public can help. Members receive regular meeting notices, program and brumby updates and details of horses as they become available. 

It has taken several years to progress this far with brumby management.  We have encountered many setbacks however we are finally making a difference and we are confident that our methods will set the standards for the future control of wild horses in Australia. 
 

This website was last updated on: 23rd June, 2008.