A CANOWINDRA horse lover is encouraging residents of Cabonne to make their voices heard at an upcoming rally calling for an end to the aerial shooting of brumbies.
Bec Brown, who has loved and owned horses for decades and was previously involved with the Canowindra Pony Club, said her love of horses had made the issue particularly close to her heart.
While she is not an organiser of the upcoming Central West NSW Community Rally, she said she felt compelled to speak out about the treatment of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park.
The rally is scheduled to be held at the Bathurst War Memorial at 11am on 1 August.
Ms Brown said she had visited the Snowy Mountains with her family and had witnessed the brumbies in the landscape.
“It’s wonderful seeing the brumbies running around up there,” she said.
For Ms Brown, the debate is not simply about whether wild horse numbers should be managed, but about how that management is carried out.
“Even if they need to be controlled, they don’t need to shoot them from the air,” she said. “It’s disgusting.”
Ms Brown said she believed there were alternatives to lethal control, including the potential for horses to be captured and rehomed.
“People want them. People would take them. There are sanctuaries and re-homers taking in as many horses as they can, they just need more help from the National Parks and Wildlife Services, and all of us,” she said.
She also questioned whether the scale of environmental damage attributed to brumbies was being accurately represented.
“I don’t think they’re doing the damage they’re saying they’re doing,” she said.
“They’re not doing the damage that the pigs are doing, for starters, and the deer.”
The New South Wales Government, however, said wild horses pose a threat to threatened native species and fragile ecosystems in Kosciuszko National Park and has authorised aerial shooting alongside other control methods.
The Government’s management plan sets a target of 3000 wild horses in 32 per cent of the park by mid-2027.
Ms Brown said she believed the number of horses that would ultimately remain in the park could be lower than the current target, and said she feared for the future of brumbies in the region.
“I think it’ll be a very sad day if we ever go to the Snowies or anywhere and don’t see them,” she said.
She also argued that the animals’ presence contributed to the region’s appeal to visitors.
“I think that’s half the draw with the tourists,” she said. “It’s very exciting to see horses in the wild”
Having spent much of her life around horses, Ms Brown said the emotional connection people have with horses is an important part of the debate.
“They’re so intelligent,” she said. “And they’re caring. They are part of your family.”
Ms Brown said she struggled to understand why people would accept seeing animals killed in this fashion and left to rot.
“I just can’t understand that anyone would want to see an animal, any animal, shot like that and just left,” she said.
“If they need to control them, there are measures.”
She said she had been surprised by how many people seemed reluctant to publicly speak out.
Ms Brown acknowledged that her views may not be universally popular but said that was not a reason to remain silent.
“This is outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “But I feel so passionately about it that I think, how can we just turn away and let it happen?”
She said she understood that her position would not be universally supported but believed that should not prevent people from having a conversation about the issue.
“I do worry. I know that it’s an unpopular stance,” she said.
“A lot of people either don’t care, or they’ve really been sold the idea that the brumbies are causing more damage than they actually are.”
She is now encouraging others who share her concerns to get involved, even if they can only contribute in a small way.
Ms Brown said she hoped more people would take the time to learn about the issue and consider making their voices heard.
She said previous efforts by supporters had included contacting politicians, signing petitions and raising awareness online, but believed there was still more that could be done.
“I think we have to not give up,” she said.
“I think the worst thing is people think they can’t make a difference, and if everyone thinks that, then nothing will ever change,” she said.
“So, everyone just has to do their little bit.”
The rally will be held at the Bathurst War Memorial at 11am on August 1, with supporters encouraged to bring their banners and show their support for the campaign.