The humans behind the flock

It starts with a clink of mugs before the sun’s even up. Someone tightens a saddle; another calls out to the dogs and a whistle cuts through the morning air. The Autumn Muster is underway. And for the people who take part, it’s one of the best times of the year. 

The muster brings together a big team of people spread across huge distances, each responsible for their own flocks but working as one. Over days of riding, walking and watching, they bring sheep down from the high country before winter sets in. It’s a massive task and it only works because everyone communicates, trusts and supports each other. 

On the hills, that trust is everything. You can’t see every sheep from where you stand, and you can’t be everywhere at once. You rely on the whistle of a shepherd half a ridge away, the movement of their dogs or the wave of a hand to know when to press on or hold back. Decisions happen in moments, guided by years of experience passed down through generations. 

Of course, it’s not all grit and focus. The muster is also a time for downright fun. Long days in the saddle are broken up with shared jokes, good-natured ribbing, and the happy satisfaction of knowing you’re part of something bigger than yourself. By nightfall, everyone gathers in the hut. It’s boots off, fire on, mugs of tea in hand.  

Mustering team enjoying dinner

It’s this connection – to each other, to the animals, to the land – that carries through the rest of the year. The teamwork you see on the muster flows through everything ZQ stands for – from the high country to the people who bring our wool to life. Because behind the world’s most sought-after Merino wool, there’s always a team who puts care first.