There were two types of mounted action that horses were used for in World War I; Infantry and Calvary. Infantry horses were used for traveling, and Calvary horses were used in battle. These battles resulted in many Equine Fatalities, with equivalent lost to diseases, starvation or exhaustion. More than 130 000 Walers arrived to be Infantry and Calvary Mounts, and only a tenth (13 000) survived.
Unfortunately those that did survive could not return to Australia, due to the strict quarantine. 11 000 were sold, most with the intentions of being remounts for the British Army in India. 2000 had to be put down due to being in wretched states. There are claims that the Australians shot their own horses to prevent them from falling into the hands of mistreaters; but there is no evidence to support this.
There was ONE horse who managed to return in 1918, and be an exception to the Australian quarrantine. This horse belonged to General Sir William Bridges, and was called Sandy. He managed to live another 5 years before blindness and lack of mobility saw him put to rest in 1923. This remarkable horse is the basis of ‘War Horse’.
Feature Image courtesy of Pinterest.
-Skye Pickering Dip. Horse Business Management