27/10/2026
Well said Umbango I Moreen of Clearview Brumby Rescue support and and stand with you.
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A STATEMENT FROM UMBANGO SOUTH: REHOMING REQUESTS AND TRAPPING
We are deeply shocked by statements reportedly made by the Government’s solicitor in the Land and Environment Court today, asserting that the Government had no legal choice but to continue trapping wild horses because approved rehomers had requests in place.
This is completely at odds with our understanding of the process and our experience of how it operates.
We are also concerned that this is part of an ongoing pattern of incorrect information being presented by National Parks, through its legal representatives, in court proceedings.
Only a few weeks ago, the Government’s solicitor reportedly told the Court that rehomers could choose horses by colour and other characteristics. This is incorrect. As a condition of becoming approved rehomers, we must acknowledge and agree that we cannot select horses by colour, choose particular horses, or nominate specific locations from which horses should be trapped.
WHAT DO OUR REQUESTS ACTUALLY MEAN?
We support the responsible management of wild horse numbers in Kosciuszko National Park. We believe it must be science-based and welfare-informed.
However, our understanding has always been that the Government decides whether and when trapping occurs. Trapping is an ongoing part of its management program, as reinforced by the Minister’s statements in Parliament last week.
NPWS invites approved rehomers to submit request forms indicating how many horses we can accommodate if trapping proceeds. These are expressions of our capacity to provide homes, not requests for horses to be trapped. I have repeatedly raised concerns with National Parks about these forms being described as order forms.
Our position has always been clear: wherever possible, we would prefer horses to remain in the Park. But if the Government decides to remove them, we will take as many as we possibly can to give them a chance of life.
We do not know when trapping will occur, which horses will be caught, or where they will come from. We do not select horses or direct trapping operations.
The distinction is important because NPWS has made it clear that horses trapped without suitable rehomers to take them will be sent to the knackery or otherwise killed. Rehomers submit requests because we are trying to give these horses a chance at life, not because we want them trapped.
THE QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT MUST ANSWER
In the lead-up to the June 2026 culling period, approved rehomers had almost 100 requests in place. Yet trapping ceased for approximately four to six weeks until a few days before the culling period, lethal control operations took place during June, and trapping resumed immediately afterwards.
If outstanding requests legally compel the Government to continue trapping, why did trapping cease while so many requests remained in place?
Umbango South currently has no active requests. We are concentrating on settling recent arrivals and are already operating under significant financial and practical pressures.
We would welcome a pause in trapping during foaling season. But we cannot assume trapping will stop simply because rehomers have no requests in place, particularly when lethal control remains a possibility.
If the Government’s position as of today is that NPWS will not trap without active rehoming requests, we want that commitment made clear. This would be a great relief to all rehomers.
We have written urgently to NPWS seeking clarification. We will share any substantive response with our followers.
We ask the community not to direct its anger at the rehomers and sanctuaries trying to save these horses. We are not making the decisions about when trapping occurs. We are trying to provide a safe destination for horses when the Government decides to remove them.
A request to provide a home for a horse is not a request for the Government to trap that horse.
Finally, thank you to our followers who continue to approach these complex issues rationally, consider the facts and allow us time to seek answers. The statements reportedly made in court are deeply concerning and contradict our experience of how this program operates.
We will share further information when we have it. Thank you for continuing to stand with the horses and those working to give them a future.
