Episode 1: Mountain Brumbies
The history of the brumby is explored, looking at the significant role they have played in shaping Australia’s culture, society and environment. Then it’s onto the Australian Alps, where they roam free in the high country, alternately surviving the vagaries of summer bushfires and winter blizzards. We follow horsemen on a mission to remove brumbies from prized cattle grounds and learn of the government’s proposal to cull them through a mix of shooting, trapping and fertility control, rather than re-homing. In a touching end to the episode we watch as disadvantaged kids are given the opportunity to break in a brumby of their own.
Episode 2: Outback Brumbies
The life of an outback brumby differs greatly from those in the mountains; they spend much of their day grazing and can walk 50km to find water. In this episode we explore how they cope with the vagaries of their environment and how it affects the structures of their social groups. We also visit the Ntaria School in Central Australia, renowned for training rodeo roughriders and outstation stockmen. We witness students catching and gently breaking in a brumby – a process that is all about mutual trust and understanding - heartened to know that these particular majestic creatures will live to run another day.