Editing Waler (section)

==Origins and characteristics==
The Waler combined a variety of [[list of horse breeds|breeds]]; particularly the [[Thoroughbred]], [[Arabian horse|Arab]], the [[Cape horse]] (from the [[Cape of Good Hope]]), [[Timor Pony]] and perhaps a little [[Clydesdale (breed)|Clydesdale]] or [[Percheron]]. It was originally considered only a "type" of horse and not a distinct breed. However, as a [[landrace]] bred under the extreme climate and challenging working conditions of Australia, the Waler developed into a hardy horse with great endurance even when under extreme stress from lack of food and water.  It was used as a [[Stockman (Australia)|stockman]]'s horse and prized as a military [[remount]].<ref>[[Henry Gullett|Gullett, H. S.]], [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27497433 "The Waler at War: Our Horses in Palestine: Triumph of the Thoroughbred", ''The West Australian'', (Friday, 29 November 1918), p.8.]</ref> Walers were also used by [[bushranger]]s, troopers and exploration expeditions that traversed inland Australia.<ref name="Mather">Mather, Jill, ''Forgotten Heroes – The Australian Waler Horse'', Bookbound Publishing, Ourimbah, NSW, {{ISBN|978-0-9803527-0-2}}</ref>

The preferred Walers for [[cavalry|mounted infantry as distinct from cavalry]] duties and were 15 to 16 [[hand (length)|hands]] high ({{convert|60|to|64|in|cm|0}}). Those over 16 hands were rejected for use in the [[South Australian Citizen Bushmen|South Australian Bushmen Corps]]. Unbroken horses, as well as those with [[gray (horse)|grey]] and broken (spotted)<!--?Hope that's what you meant?--> coat colours were also rejected. The selected horses had to be of a good type that could carry sixteen or seventeen [[Stone (Imperial mass)|stone]] (102 to 108&nbsp;kg (224 to 238&nbsp;lbs)) day after day.

The Walers carried the rider, saddle, saddle cloth, bridle, head collar, lead rope, a horseshoe case with one front and one hind shoe, nails, rations for the horse and rider, a bedroll, change of clothing, a rifle and about 90 rounds of .303 rifle ammunition.<ref name="Mather"/>

The [[horse gait|gaits]] of the Waler were considered ideal for a mounted infantry as they were a comfortable riding horse; it could maintain a fast walk and could progress directly to a steady, level [[canter]] without resorting to a [[trot (horse gait)|trot]] which was noisy, liable to dislodge gear and resulted in soreness in the horse's back.<ref name="Barrie"/> The waler horse required docility, courage, speed and athletic ability, as it carried the rider to battle it was not selected to ride into battle ie cavalry but were famously was used in a cavalry style attack sat Bersheba. The infantryman's horse was used as a means of transport from one point to another, for example, from camp to a battle ground, where the horses were kept back from the fighting.<ref name="Mather"/> Heavier animals were selected and used for [[draft horse|draught]] and [[packhorse]] duties.<ref name="Barrie">Barrie, Douglas M., ''The Australian Bloodhorse'', Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956</ref>

Most of the early Walers carried a fair percentage of Thoroughbred blood, with some recorded as race winners and a few being registered in the [[Australian Stud Book]]. While in warfare service in North Africa, some Walers proved successful in races against local Egyptian horses and assorted Thoroughbreds. In 1919, horses from the [[ANZAC Mounted Division]] won five of the six events at Heliopolis, near [[Cairo]].<ref name="Barrie"/>

===Memorial statue===
[[File:Waler.JPG|thumb|Memorial to the Australian Light Horse, Tamworth, NSW]]
[[File:Waler (2).JPG|thumb|A plaque on the Waler horse memorial, Tamworth, NSW.]]
A memorial statue to the Waler Light Horse<!--this is a military designation, hence a title--> was erected at [[Tamworth, New South Wales]] as a tribute to the men of the ANZAC Corps who served in the Boer, Sudan and First World Wars. This memorial was constructed at a cost of $150,000, funded by grants from Federal and State Governments, the [[Tamworth Regional Council]], Joblink Plus and donations from business houses, property owners, RSL Members and the community. It was designed and created by sculptor Tanya Bartlett from [[Newcastle, New South Wales]]. The military equipment is identical to that used in the First World War. Forty-seven light horse re-enactment riders and the [[12th/16th Hunter River Lancers]] took part in the unveiling by Major General [[William James (Australian general)|William B. "Digger" James]] AC MBE MC (Retd) on 29 October 2005.<ref>The Waler Light Horse Statue, Tourism, Tamworth</ref>