Waler Horse Breed Facts

Infamous cavalry horse breed from Australia

Waler horses, also called New South Walers, originally meant any bred in New South Wales, Australia. By World War 1 (1914 to 1918), any horse or pony bred in Australia was called a “Waler”, according to the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Walers came to fame during World War I, where they excelled as cavalry horses. Pedigrees and organized breeding programs for Walers did not begin in Australia until 1971.  Walers became the basis for the Australian stock horse breed.

Breed Origins

Horses were not native to the Australian continent. Two stallions and four mares arrived with European colonists in 1788. By 1846, the Waler emerged in the State of New South Wales. Many breeds went into making the Waler, including the Timoor pony, the Basuto pony, the Welsh pony, the Barb, the Arabian, the thoroughbred and the Welsh cob. Draft horse breeds such as the Clydesdale, the shire, the Percheron and the Suffolk punch also contributed to the mix, according to International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.)

Functions and Uses

Walers were the all-purpose horse, used for riding, agriculture work and herding stock. But the biggest demand was for cavalry remounts for the British Army. It was the British Army in India that began calling the horses “Walers” and the name stuck. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds estimates that about 121,000 Walers served in World War I. Today, they are used for riding, working stock and for meat.

Misconceptions about Walers

The policy of the British Army after World War I was to shoot any surviving horses. Because of this policy, many Australians assumed that all Walers were wiped out. But some were sold (despite the orders to shoot them) and breeding stock still existed in Australia. Still other horses managed to escape their owners and join the herds of brumbies, the name given to the feral horses of Australia.

Controversy: What is a Real Waler?

Since 1971, three Waler-loving groups have tried to find horses that fit the Walers described in historical documents and use these horses to create a Waler breed registry. All three groups fought each other over what kind of horse should be allowed. The Waler Horse Society ofAustralia claims there are four types from ponies to drafters. In contrast, the Waler Horse Owners and Breeders Association Australia state that there is only one type. There is no universal breed standard for what a Waler should look like.

Fun Fact

The most famous Waler was a World War I gelding named Bill the Bastard, so named because he always bucked when a rider mounted him during the Battle of Romany. The only time he didn’t was when five wounded soldiers mounted him. Three riders were on his back, one balanced on the right stirrup and another one the left stirrup. Despite soft sand and being pursued by Turks, Bill managed to get the soldiers to safety.

Additional Resources

International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Bonnie Hendricks. University of Oklahoma Press; 1995.The Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Tasmin Pickeral. Paragon Publishing; 1999
AnimalInfo.com "Today's Australian Walers."
University of Oklahoma Breeds of Livestock: Australian Stock Horse