The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association Inc.

 We hope that the following paragraphs give the general public a greater awareness of why we thought it was nessessary for the GFHHA to be formed and how it came to be- 

The aerial cull of wild horses in the Guy Fawkes River National Park, NSW, in October 2000 left over 600 horses dead and created a public outcry. Many people, local to the area and otherwise wanted answers and preassured the Government to 'Please explain'!

In 2002 the Heritage Working Party was commisioned to investigate and establish the heritage value and background of the Guy Fawkes horses. The final report by the Heritage Working Party for the Minister for Environment found that these wild horses had significant historical and cultural value. They are direct descendents of Australia's wartime cavalry horses, known as Walers.The Heritage Working Party concluded that these horses-

• are important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of an item of significant national cultural heritage, namely the brumby.              

 As a result of theses findings, in 2003 the Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association was formed.

The NSW Heritage Office's publication, 'The NSW Heritage Manual', sets down that the NSW Heritage Management System  comprises three steps:  

 1. investigate significance

2. assess significance

3. manage significance

The first two steps were completed in 2002 and the GFHHA continues to manage the significance of these Heritage Horses of the Guy Fawkes.

To this end, The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association Inc. (GFHHA)  maintain specific objectives of managing the Guy Fawkes River National Park  horses once they are removed from the park, maintain the genetic blood lines of these horses for  the future and to relocate the horses by way of private ownership of the horses.The Constitutional Objectives of the GFHHA 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.

A formal register and Stud Book has been established for these purposes and horses are being captured and removed from the GFNP in accordance with the current Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC) ruling.

This program of passive capture and removal was many months in the planning and an eight month trial has been completed- Our success so far has been very rewarding. As of June 2008, 381 horses have been passivly removed from the GFNP. The GFHHA works in conjunction with the National Parks & Wildlife Services. We manage the horses to maintain their inherent characteristics and to preserve the unique genetics of these wild horses.

We are very proud to offer horses from the GFNP for sale to people interested in preserving and promoting these superior horses. Our horses can be viewed at our Open Days or can be see at other times by appointment. Please refer to our 'For Sale' page for information about purchasing a horse from us. 

Many of our horses have been placed in caring homes, We do, However, still struggle to obtain the funds needed for ongoing management. WE RECIEVE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING, the NPWS does not contribute any monies to the GFHHA Inc, we are totally self funded. As any horse owner can appreciate, our horses, like any other horse, cost a lot to care for. The Association has a number of different products available for sale inc caps, stickers and shirts, all donations are tax deductable. To make a donation please conatct the Association.

Membership of the GFHHA is a positive way in which the public can help and involve themselves. Members receive regular meeting notices, program and brumby updates and details of new horses offered for sale. For more information about becomming a member, please see our 'Membership and Registration' page. 

It has taken several years to progress this far with wild horse 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.