The horse in Australia by Fiona Carruthers

This absolutely wonderful, informative book starts when the First Fleet arrived in 1788 with a collection of pony-sized horses and ends with the disastrous impact of Equine Influenza in late 2007. It covers such things as horse racing and turf legends, brumbies, Light Horse Brigade, Pony Clubs, bush polo, campdrafting, the evolution of the iconic Australian Stock Horse and even touches on Buz Luhrmanns film “Australia”.
As a matter of local interest – this brilliant book also mentions Bong Bong Races, Burradoo Polocrosse Club and of course, the legendary Throsby Family.
Every significant horsey name is covered, from John and Elizabeth Macarthur to Violet and William Murrell, the Roycroft family, Marjory and Edward Hirst, Banjo Paterson, General Sir Harry Chauvel, Bart Cummings, Gai Waterhouse, John Singleton, Brian Hancock, RM Williams, Kerry packer – just to name a few.
Every significant favourite horse from Phar Lap, Makybe Diva, Garryowen, Picasso, Our Solo, Peppermint Grove is covered as well.
Whether you have that “addiction” to horses and horse riding, or just have a quiet interest in the history and want to know more, then this book is for you. Included in this comprehensive coverage is trivia, websites, facts and statistics, which makes this a great read or just a beautiful book to have on the coffee table to pick up whenever you want to be transported into another world – that is, the world of “The Horse in Australia”.
Tracie