Brumby Rumble

The shortage of water and grass has led the wild brumby mobs to come down out of the National Park and into the privately owned properties. There are 3 small groups around, each with up to four mares with one stallion and each group has at least one foal. This group had spent the day just below where I am working. The stallion is the one in front guarding the mares. It is generally difficult to get a good view of the foal as the adults surround him - here he decided to have a stretch. 
They are beautiful to look at but, not being native, are very destructive ecologically. Their heavy  hooves cause erosion; around the house they knock over the dry stone walls and they eat large quantities of precious grass. They are also dangerous as, like the notoriously unpredictable wallabies,  they have no road sense, although the council has put up large temporary illuminated signs to alert drivers. 
Last night there was a knock on the door after dark. A man was there reporting that he had nearly crashed into some horses wandering on the road. He casually added he had taken out 3 roos in the last 10 km. Sadly, many Australians still think it is acceptable to use the roo bumper on the car to plough through any that hop into the road. 
Residents have an array of opinions as to what to do about the brumbies' increasing numbers. Some feel that they should be left alone, some that they should be sedated and re-located, others that they should be humanly destroyed, others that they should be culled by local huntsmen. Feelings run high. Get on your high horse too loudly and you could find yourself ostracised from half your neighbours.