Story
Can a mission to save a mob of doomed brumbies in an inaccessible wilderness bring fiercely independent horseman and feral control National Parks Ranger to see the world through each other's eyes?
As the budgetary clock ticks, we investigate wilderness management, heritage and the call of the wild in a funny, intense and haunting film you may never forget.
Luke Carlon grew up taking tourists on horse trips along the Cox's river, a place his family has ridden since the 1820's. Everyone came to ride along this pristine valley for up to a week including the rich and famous. All that ended nearly 20 years ago when the river was declared a wilderness area, the business closed and Luke's father died.
After a long history of difficult relations between the National Parks and the Carlons, a thoughtful National Parks Ranger Chris Banffy has a problem he thinks Luke might be able to solve. A wiley mob of brumbies (wild horses) inhabit the Burragorang valley, a water catchment area sealed off to the general public for over fifty years. Classed as feral pests, National Parks head office needs Chris to remove the animals from Sydney's water supply without any of the outcry that has marred some previous control operations using shooters in helicopters. Unlike any other horse relocation program in Australia the only access to the trap-yards is either by helicopter or horseback.
If Luke takes the job he will have to find the horses, get them in the trap then he'll have to break them in enough to lead them a bone crunching 5 km up to another set of yards with truck access.
Can Luke prove himself to the ghosts of his past and lead the horses to safety and a new home with out injuring them or his crew of dedicated stockmen? Can Ranger Chris make Luke stick to the rules? Can Luke and Chris learn to work together and see the world through the each others eyes?
As the budgetary clock ticks, we investigate wilderness management, heritage and the call of the wild in a funny, intense and haunting film you may never forget.
Luke Carlon grew up taking tourists on horse trips along the Cox's river, a place his family has ridden since the 1820's. Everyone came to ride along this pristine valley for up to a week including the rich and famous. All that ended nearly 20 years ago when the river was declared a wilderness area, the business closed and Luke's father died.
After a long history of difficult relations between the National Parks and the Carlons, a thoughtful National Parks Ranger Chris Banffy has a problem he thinks Luke might be able to solve. A wiley mob of brumbies (wild horses) inhabit the Burragorang valley, a water catchment area sealed off to the general public for over fifty years. Classed as feral pests, National Parks head office needs Chris to remove the animals from Sydney's water supply without any of the outcry that has marred some previous control operations using shooters in helicopters. Unlike any other horse relocation program in Australia the only access to the trap-yards is either by helicopter or horseback.
If Luke takes the job he will have to find the horses, get them in the trap then he'll have to break them in enough to lead them a bone crunching 5 km up to another set of yards with truck access.
Can Luke prove himself to the ghosts of his past and lead the horses to safety and a new home with out injuring them or his crew of dedicated stockmen? Can Ranger Chris make Luke stick to the rules? Can Luke and Chris learn to work together and see the world through the each others eyes?
