Barmah Muster ready for celebration of horsemanship

What started as a cattle muster in the Barmah Forest has now grown into a weekend-long celebration of horsemanship.

Celebrating Australian horsemanship and bush culture, this weekend’s Barmah Muster will see riders from across the state gather to flex their riding and campdrafting skills.

Among them will be horsewoman Elle Moro, with her horse Saltwater Sonic, participating in a number of cattle competitions.

Elle has spent a lifetime working with and riding horses, and currently operates her own equine business, Hilltop Horsemanship.

The muster originated from a roundup of cattle from the Barmah Forest, and is now a three-day-long event with trail rides, horse training demonstrations, team penning, and more.

Elle Moro with her Australian stock horses named Saltwater Sonic and Mobile Boomerang. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

The Barmah Muster, held near the NSW-Victoria border, is a unique event, Elle says, uniting horse riders from all walks of life while supporting a small community.

“It’s one of the rare events where you get to have a go at all the horse sports over a weekend. I’m lucky enough to be going with a group of about 20 riders, who are travelling around Victoria and heading to Barmah together,” Elle said.

“I’ve always been around horses, I’m also involved in harness racing, I instruct with pony clubs, and do cattle sports. But I ride for the enjoyment.”

The Barmah Muster kicks off on Friday, April 28.