The Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Association Inc.

There are a lot of stories out there about wild horses- Please read the following frequently asked questions and get the facts, not the myths!

There are several Associations and Societies that register wild horses- what makes yours different? 

There is a significant difference between our Heritage Horses and Brumbies found elsewhere in Australia.

THE HORSES OF THE GFRNP ARE THE ONLY WILD AUSTRALIAN HORSE TO HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY TESTED AND HAVE PROVEN HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE.

The GFHHA only recognises and registers Heritage Horses that are removed from the Guy Fawkes River National Park. The GFHHA does not register horses removed from other areas of Australia. We believe that by only registering these horses (and their progeny-purebred and partbred) we are able to maintain and preserve the qualities these horses are famous for.

Are wild horses Poorly conformed?

 It is commonly thought that wild horses are poorly conformed, weak animals- this is far from the truth. The reason that wild horses have flourished in our harsh Australian conditions is due to natural selection. Nature has determined that the  the strong survive and the weak do not, allowing the continued improvement of stock.

The rough terrain these horses must negotiate, require sound limbs and strong hooves. The ability to retreat from danger requires good wind and stamina. Heritage Horses are solid, sound and well conformed animals.

A wonderful example of just how well conformed these horses are is GF Clyde, who, at his first show, unwashed, un-clipped and with just a quick go-over with a curry comb was a real contender for the Supreme Led Horse Exibit at Bellingen show in 2006, one of the judges later told us that he only narrowly missed out on the sash.

Are wild horses infected with parasites?

Wild horses instinctively know what they need in terms of roughage, minerals, salts, etc and will forage for it. To enable them to find such a range of nutritional requirements, wild horses travel a great deal. For this reason, wild horses have a lower worm burden than a lot of domestic horses- They're eating habits are not confined to one area as domestic horses are, and they are not forced to graze in parasite infected areas.

Are wild horses Inbred?

Horses from Guy Fawkes are D.N.A tested and results prove that there is  less inbreeding in wild horse groups than is found in the Thoroughbred or Arabian horse industries (less than 5%). We have not encountered one case of inbreeding in any horse that has been removed from the Guy Fawkes National Park. Wild horses do not breed with their own offspring, this is why, when young horses reach breeding age, the herd 'boots them out' and young horses will often make small groups of their own. 

How big are wild horses and what colours are they?

The average height of a Heritage Horse is between 13 and 15 hands high. Some have reached up to 16hh but this is uncommon for horses from the Guy Fawkes. 

Bays, browns and chestnuts are the most common, this being the strongest genetic phenotype, however palominos and buckskins are common in the Guy Fawkes, we also obtain a few paint/pintos.

What disciplines are Heritage Horses suitable for?

As with any other breed of horse, Heritage Horses can excel at all equestrian disciplines given the correct training. It is becoming more common to see Australian Heritage Horses competing in all horse sports, attending Pony Club and hacking up the trails.

Heritage Horses make competitive endurance horses. Due to their natural hardiness, weight carrying ability and stamina, a GFHH is an obvious choice for this sport and Australian Heritage Horses have even been exported to the United Arab Emirates to compete in the desert.

I would to come and see the horses, can I visit?

Of course! Visitors are always welcome but please phone to make an appointment to ensure a pleasurable visit. Our Open Days are also a great way to see our horses, contact us for details and dates or see our Open Days page on this website.

Where do you get the money to fund you project?

  WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT

All  monies raised by the GFHHA are obtained through donations, sales of horses and Fundraising efforts. All of the people that work with our horses are volunteers, they are much appreciated.

As any horse owner will know, horses come with costs. Re-habiliation, education and health care cost our association BIG TIME! We appreciate any donations (all tax de-ductable) and we have a number of different items available for purchase. (Prices and pictures coming soon!)