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Dusty ochre plains and sparse scrubland frame a timeless scene of Australian cattle droving. A stockman mounted on a rich chestnut horse surveys a herd of Brahman and crossbred cattle drinking from a muddy waterhole, their varied tan and white coats creating a living patchwork against the parched landscape. Wearing a classic light blue workshirt, wide-brimmed akubra, and well-worn blue denim, the drover sits relaxed but alert, embodying generations of pastoral skill and resilience. The cattle bunch tightly around the water's edge, some standing, others kneeling to drink, their muscled bodies testament to survival in harsh inland conditions. Soft midday light casts subtle shadows, highlighting the textured landscape and the symbiotic relationship between rider, horse, and livestock that has defined Australian agricultural heritage. This image captures the raw essence of stock route droving - a quintessential practice of moving cattle across vast unfenced territories, connecting coastal markets with inland stations through generations of hard-won experience.