Known for their hardiness and endurance, Walers were used by the Australian Army as warhorses during the First World War. They endured bullets, bombs and suffered battlefield injuries, but they never failed. Due to mechanisation and an increase of recreational and competition horse breeds, the Walers became viewed as having very little value and were discarded to fend for themselves in the Australian outback, eventually being classified as a pest to be shot.
Now roaming lost in the Australian outback, the Waler isn’t dissimilar to our combat veterans. The Waler Project focusses on catching wild Walers in the remote regions of Western Australia and then connecting this legendary and once purposeful war horse with combat veterans, allowing them both to rediscover renewed purpose and strength. It’s a project that finds strength in our ANZAC heritage, legacy and values.
