Guy Fawkes Heritage Association
THE GUY FAWKES HERITAGE HORSE- AUSTRALIA'S NATURAL RESOURCE
PART OF OUR PAST- PART OF OUR FUTURE
WHAT IS A GUY FAWKES HERITAGE HORSE?
Australia’s wild horses are legendary; the world over, thanks to bush poets such as Banjo Patterson, they evoke feelings of romance and freedom. They are synonymous with the Australian bush and are an emblem of our heritage and military history. In 2000, the same year that the horse played a significant role in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics, over 600 horses were the victims of an aerial cull in the Guy Fawkes River National Park, near Ebor in New South Wales. Media coverage of the cull reached every corner of the world and sparked an international uproar, triggering an inquiry into the heritage significance of the horses found in the park. In February 2002, after rigorous DNA testing and comprehensive research, the findings of the inquiry indicated that the horses roaming in the Guy Fawkes River National Park have significant historical, military and cultural value and share direct links with the horses drafted for use by the Australian Light Horse Brigade in World War 1 who carried our Australian troops to victory at the great charge of Beersheba; these links have secured the unique heritage value of the horses in this park and their safety- The horses in the Guy Fawkes River National Park are the only group of wild horses in Australia to have undergone this testing.
THE GUY FAWKES HERITAGE HORSE ASSOCIATION-
In 2003, as a result of the above findings, the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association was developed. The main objectives of the GFHHA is to take possession of horses passively captured and removed from the Guy Fawkes River National Park and manage and maintain their Heritage value, enhance the value of the horses and offer them for sale to the public. Suitable selected family mobs will be retained or offered to approved members to create an off park gene pool. The GFHHA also manages the horses through their Studbook to preserve their unique bloodlines and maintain their inherent characteristics. The GFHHA also actively promotes the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse and its versatility by offering sponsorship for Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse classes held at Agricultural shows and other events, giving talks and demonstrations at different horse events and encouraging Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse owners to participate in all disciplines.
Love Thy Horse Magazine 54