This skeleton of a horse and rider, affectionately known as the ‘Bone Ranger’, is a symbol of the importance of horses and horsemanship to Australian history. In colonial Australia, horses were indispensable to farming, industry and travel, and are prominent in Australian culture and folklore.
The Bone Ranger’s horse is the skeleton of Sir Hercules, one of Australia’s foundation thoroughbreds. He was bred in 1843 at Clifton Stud on the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney. Although he never raced, he sired 18 big-race winners including The Barb, winner of the Melbourne Cup in 1866, and Yattendon, winner of the first Sydney Cup, also in 1866. His descendants include the top racehorses and stallions Chester, Grand Flaneur and Abercorn.
Sir Hercules died at a stud near Bathurst, in 1865. His remains were later exhumed, and his skeleton was presented to the Australian Museum in 1870. Sir Hercules has had several skeleton riders, with the first joining him in 1983.
