FEATURE STORY
Light Horse reflected soon after, ‘Every man was practically wedded to his horse… I had a deep affection for my old mare Molly who was sired by Light Artillery, a son of Carbine, on Innaminka Station; and it was my desire when we parted company that she should never end her days in the shafts of an Egyptian cab.’ Captain Malcolm was glad that Molly was deemed old. A similar clearance was made among Australian horses in France. Officials declared it was neither humane nor practical to bring the Walers home. Some went on to further useful lives, but only one was sent back to Australia, for sentimental reasons – Sandy, the mount used by Major- General Sir William Bridges, leader of the AIF. Bridges was killed at Gallipoli in 1915. The Waler is now respected as a specialist breed. Sir Henry Gullett pointed out that horses of the light horse regiments were not uniform. ‘They included every kind of animal; large sturdy ponies, cross breds from large Clydesdale mares, three-quarter thoroughbreds, and many qualified for the racing stud-books… ‘But one quality they all possessed which made them superior to the horses from other lands: they were all, or nearly all, got by thoroughbred sires. This quality, reflected throughout in their spirit and their stamina, was their distinguishing characteristic. During sustained operations, on very short rations of pure grain and no water over periods which extended up to seventy hours … the Waler, though famished and wasted, continued alert and brave and dependable. The vital spark of the thoroughbred never failed to respond.’
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