This painting is a poignant image that represents the relationship that developed between many of the Australian Light Horsemen and their faithful horses.
The loyalty, respect and affection between many a trooper and his assigned horse became legendary, and man and horse became equally reliant on each other for their continued wellbeing and survival. These strong and hardy horses known as Walers, had been bred in Australia and like the men that rode them they had developed the strong constitution that served them so well in the desert regions of Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine and Syria. They also developed a reputation for their willingness and heart – the will to keep going and not give up when conditions became extremely difficult, and even terrifyingly dangerous!
Water was a rare and precious commodity in the desert, and each man’s day’s rations were very often contained in his 1 quart water-bottle. In the searing temperatures and baking sun of the desert, it was scant supply indeed. A patrol in the desert, required the trooper to take all his food rations and water supply with him, however he could only take meagre food rations but no water for the horse that carried him. A horse could go 2-3 days before requiring water, but without that water both man and horse would die of dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Many a light horseman would on occasion share his scant water supply with his horse – it could only be a token amount at best, a symbol of his compassion for his horse; for the horse would have required a great deal more and the trooper needed every precious drop himself. Prolonged insufficient water under these conditions was the cause of kidney failure in many a man and horse.
