Traditionally, lower pastures were used for winter grazing and stock were taken to higher country for summer grazing on what became known as the snow leases. The lease season was from 1 December to 31 May and it was a race to get stock up there to claim the best pastures. The lives of these stockmen, their horses and horsemanship has become one of Australia's most significant legends. Transhumance was an important practice for the pastoralists of the Snowy Mountains.