The Silver Brumby series is a collection of children's books by Australian author Elyne Mitchell. They recount the life and adventures of Thowra, a magnificent pale palomino brumby stallion, and his descendants, and are set in the Snowy Mountains region of Australia.
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Thowra
Thowra is the main character of the books. He is a beautiful isabella palomino stallion, son of the chestnut stallion Yarraman and creamy mare Bel Bel. Being born in storm, his dam named him the Aboriginal word for 'Wind' not only for the gale outside when he was born, but because she was worried he would have to be as fast as the wind to remain free. The majority of brumbies in the southern areas of Australia being black, bay, grey and chestnut, the appearance of a cream horse causes quite a stir among wild herds and humans alike. Thowra is met with open hostility from other horses, stallions in particular, while the men of the mountains quickly become obsessed with trying to capture him. In order to survive, Thowra is forced to have to become stronger than both horse and man.During this battle to become stronger, he is gived much advice from his mother,Bel Bel who is also a creamy coated horse. Due to the poetic license of the word ‘silver’ used to describe Thowra and his offspring it has mislead some fans into believing that they are a pale grey, despite the fact they are described as ‘cream‘ just as often. The author Elyne Mitchell herself and the leading fan site have stated that this is not so. If Thowra were indeed grey, Cloud and his grey mares would have the same significance, as would Boon Boon. Thowra has also been represented in both the movie and cartoon series as light palomino, not grey or white. The most likely explanation would be that the reference refers to the silver dapple gene in horses which turns the mane and tail white and would account for the majority of silver references being used to describe that area. A line in the second novel that describes Thowra’s ‘blue-brown’ eyes would also seem to lead to the fact he may have a partial wall eye gene.
Ilinga
Another horse who's coat colour is under debate is Ilinga, the main character of the novel Moon Filly. Although for the most part believed to be a bay, those with a better knowledge of horse genetics argue that she is much more likely a chocolate silver dapple because she is described with 'the colour of moonlight running across her back'. This would certainly tie in better to explain the connection with the moon because of the colour contrast, and throughout the novels the colour of the character has been significant. Bay seems much too ordinary.
Silver Brumby books in order of publication
- The Silver Brumby (1958) (ISBN 0006754708, paperback reprint)
- Silver Brumby's Daughter (1960)
- Silver Brumbies of the South (1965)
- Silver Brumby Kingdom (1966)
- Moon Filly (1968)
- Silver Brumby Whirlwind (1973)
- Son of the Whirlwind (1979)
- Snowy River Brumby (1980)
- Brumby Racer (1981)
- Silver Brumby, Silver Dingo (1993)
- Dancing Brumby (1995)
- Brumby Stories (1995) (compilation)
- Brumbies of the Night (1996)
- Dancing Brumby's Rainbow (1998)
- The Thousandth Brumby (1999)
- Wild Echoes Ringing (2003)
