War Horses

 We wake at dawn to march with our own horses of war.

And with some 20 meetings set to be held across the nation today a small platoon of horses will be prepared to race on a very sobering day for all Australians.

Anzac Day evokes a unique sense of pride that surpasses generations and transcends borders, and although the day of April 25, 1914 began a failed campaign for Australian and New Zealand troops to capture Constantinople and defeat the Turkish Ottoman soldiers, the spirit of Australia's first global defensive had a profound impact that became an important part of the Australian identity.

In the first World War, over 400,000 Australian men enlisted from a population of just under five million; and whilst the war was conflict of rapid technological advancement and weaponry, horses remained the backbone for logistics on both sides, with Australia alone exporting 169,000 horses to aid the war effort.

These horses were known as "walers' as they were primarily bred in New South Wales, and bred from a mixture of arabian, cape horses (from the Cape of Good Hope) and our own thoroughbreds. The waler was considered a type of horse rather than a breed at the time, and selected for their versatility, strength (having to carry at least 100kg) and when being selected for war like any soldier had to conform to strict physical guidelines.

Thus the ideal Australian war horse was created - a plain animal that stood no higher than 16 hands at the shoulder and had the docility and capacity to withstand the pressures of battle. The gait of the horse was equally important, with trotting considered to be too noisy and easy to dislodge whatever the horse was carrying, the horses were taught to walk briskly and be able to break into an even canter or gallop without progressing to a trot.

Clydesdales and percherons, along with a few "heavier" waler types, were asked to pull supplies, ammunition and ambulances, with teams of horses often pulling guns that weighed up to a two tonnes. Donkeys would be used to carry vital supplies from bases to the trenches, with our walers often supporting wounded soldiers across battle lines to return to safety.

From 1914 to 1918, the horses were primarily used for logistics, with just under 30% used for the cavalry. In each 1000-men division, 20 men were dedicated to care for the horses and would spend most of their days cleaning equipment and maintaining the wellbeing of each horse - as well as they could given the dire conditions.

Over 1,300 soldiers were veterinarians, capable of treating the ailments of war. The majority of horses that were injured or killed were not victims of artillery or killed in action, instead succumbing to disease and famine, with no feed and outbreaks of pneumonia easily accounting for any weakened animal.

When the war ended, around 13,000 Australian horses remained, and unable to be transported home many were either given to the British empire forces, like the Egyptian Police, or sold throughout Europe to farmers. One horse however, known affectionately as Sandy, returned to Australia.

Sandy was the faithful companion of General Sir William Bridges, the commander of the 1st division that was first ashore at Gallipoli on this very day back in 1914. The general was fatally shot by a sniper but his dying wish was to have his beloved Sandy return home to Australia. The bay gelding was shipped to Melbourne in late 1918 and was able to retire at the Army Remount Depot in Maribyrnong until his death in 1923.

It wasn't an easy task getting Sandy home, with the gelding used in France for a month before being transferred to England to be absorbed into their domestic workforce. But pressure from the Australian government and a lessening of the quarantine laws allowed Sandy to finally return to Melbourne.

Although only one horse made the long journey home after war, the role of the horse in the Australian armed forces was far from over. Today, horses are used for ceremonial tributes but also as a vital part of rehabilitation for soldiers returning from battle.

Equine-assisted therapy has become a unique way to calm and treat people with types of addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

With horses responding to our emotional cues and physical presence, patients can learn to lower tension and work closely and calmly to successfully interact with each horse. From those who fought in Vietnam to Afghanistan, horses have become companions to men and women who were offered little support or understanding when returning from conflict.

With over one hundred years of service to the Australian forces, it seems horses will always hold a special place in the Anzac tradition.