He is the namesake of one of the city's favorite mascots, Brumby Jack, and narrowly survived the devastating bushfires in 2003.

Almost a decade on from his close call, Jack braved the flames again - though in a far safer position - when Karami Hearn took a ride past the reduction burn at the Canberra Equestrian Centre in Chapman on Saturday.

Ms Hearn said the thoroughbred - which belongs to her daughter Sarah - was on the property when it was badly hit by the fires, only escaping the flames because of the quick thinking of a family friend.

''The paddock was completely burnt, so Jack came back and lived in our garden in Griffith,'' she said.

''We live opposite the Brumbies and we used to put Jack out in the park across from their training field.

''We had probably a dozen horses living in and around the garden at that stage.''

It wasn't long before the horses had finished off most of the vegetation in the small park, prompting a visit from the rugby union team with the offer for the animals to graze on their training field.

''That was also the year they had the competition for the naming of the mascot,'' Ms Hearn said.

''My daughter suggested Brumby Jack and she won.''