Classic wild horse of the Snowies looks certain to lose his freedom

Mitchell wrote in her book about silver brumbies: “hunted by man, since these pale-coloured horses were so strange looking in the wild herds”. Now, in the real world, a Paleface is being hunted.

A new concerted trapping effort in the northern part of Kosciuszko National Park, may see the creamy Paleface, although not specifically targetted,  caught and rehomed on a farm, ending his reign as a dominant horse of the plains in the northern alpine landscape.

Photographer Michelle Brown has spotted Paleface many times. “About four years ago I saw Paleface, the iconic white Brumby for the first time and the experience is one I will never forget,” she said.

“I had been reading numerous blogs and stories about him for a few years and I said to myself that I was time to finally meet the one and only Paleface.

“Paleface is a 10-year-old white stallion who roams the Mount Selwyn, Kiandra and Three Mile Dam area with a small mob that consists of three lead mares one of which is no longer with him after she passed away 18 months ago. Each year I have noticed that he graces us with one to two new foals and the closeness he has with his mares is a bond I have never witnessed before in my life around horses.”

But with metal fence traps containing saltblocks placed all round him, it seems Paleface’s days in the wild are numbered.  

Four new wild horse traps have been set up in the Kiandra area, one close to the Selwyn ski fields, one on the Goldseekers track near Three Mile Dam, one at Rules Point, and one at the bottom of Tantangara Dam (at the head of the proposed Snowy 2.0 scheme).

Brumby watchers believe his capture will be a blow to their cause to preserve brumbies in the park, due to his cult status.

The new Kosciuszko Wild Horse Management Plan is in the last stages of being finalised, as a battle in the NSW Coalition continues between Nationals leader John Barilaro, who supports heritage listing of brumbies,  and Liberal Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton, whose office believes brumbies need to be culled to preserve Kosciusko’s world listed environment.

The ministers are battling over the make-up and number of people on management committees, how herding might operate and whether brumbies should be classified as “animals” or “feral animals” in the National Parks and Wildlife Services Act (1974). Letters have been flying between the two Ministers’ offices over the final details of the contentious plan.

The current wild horse trapping near Kiandra was foreshadowed in the 2016 Wild Horse Management plan to “minimise impacts in the northern and southern regions by reducing the horse population in these areas, including in the Yarrangobilly and Cooleman Plain karst management units”, with an overall aim to reduce the  wild horse population in Kosciuszko from 6000 to less than 3000 horses in five to 10 years, and to approximately 600 horses within 20 years. Victoria is currently planning an intense brumby cull in its high country.

Former NSW Nationals MP Peter Cochran, who runs Cochran Horse Treks from Yaouk through northern Kosciuszko, is trying to broker a settlement between  Mr Barilaro and Mrs Upton. He confirmed the trapping, saying “it looks like they are going for a major cull”. Mr Cochran has long disputed the 6000 figure for the number of Kosciuszko brumbies, saying it is more like 3000. Mr Cochran has attacked plans to have a large committee overseeing wild horse management as unworkable, pushing for a five-person committee.

Observers believe there has been an increased effort to remove brumbies due to the major works to be conducted for the Snowy Hydro 2.0 scheme, with the hub of the plan including a major tunnel entrance, electricity lines and an underground generation chamber to be built just north of Kiandra.

Ms Brown says there is no need for NPWS to take brumbies from this area.

Related: Decision on brumby cull soon

“The size of the mobs that call that area home collectively do not amount to more  than 15 horses which is sustainable number given the size of the area,” she said.

She believes  the Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the increased related traffic along the Link Rd (Three Mile Dam area) has definitely played a major role in the decisions made to remove horses from the area. “We may just see the biggest removal of horses to date,” she said.

“The trapping should be ceased immediately and a new count taken with all members,  stakeholders advocate groups and the general public invited to take part in creating a humane and sustainable way to control and manage the populations of wild horses. The dismissal of having the brumbies heritage listed is shameful and somewhat insulting to say the least  as the brumbies should be protected for their cultural heritage values.”

A spokesman for the Office of Environment and Heritage said the Wild Horse Management Plan was being finalised. Further comment was being sought.