Conclusion
So, back to the question posed at the beginning – a wise innovation or a silly mistake? It seems to me that the inclusion of sumpter horses to carry the provisions and equipment was a carefully planned one made in conjunction with the strategy of tracking along the ridge and that their presence was also important in demonstrating the practicality of moving livestock along the route the expedition travelled. The horses certainly experienced difficulties but they did cope and, despite all the problems, all four returned safely, proving the quality of locally bred horses and their ability to survive in inhospitable terrain.
As suggested by Favenc, this was the horse's first real test in inland exploration and did in a sense begin what he termed "a new phase of exploration" (Favenc 1888, Ch. 2). George Evans, sent out by Governor Macquarie to confirm and survey the newly discovered route later that year, saw no reason not to follow Blaxland's example and also included horses in his party. After the road was built, Bathurst established and exploration extended further inland, horses became a common component of exploratory expeditions. John Oxley in his exploration of the Lachlan River in 1817 took 13 horses, while explorers like Parr, Howe and Gregory Blaxland's nephew John who later (1817-1824) explored the Northern Blue Mountains also made use of horses. (Macqueen 2004) When Melbourne folk were confronted with the extraordinary sight of Burke & Wills leaving that city in 1860 with 28 horses and 24 camels, horses (and other baggage animals) were well and truly taking "their share of sacrificing their lives in the cause" (Favenc 1888, Ch. 2).
© John Low