Week 1
This week being our first together has absolutely blown me away. The willingness from these horses is second to none.
This week I started off (on arrival) by inviting Domino to connect with me using hay and a pressure and release system. It was evident that he was very, very curious of me and was wanting to make friends.
Our second session consisted of touch – starting with the flag and working up to my hand whilst Domino had a nibble on some hay in a hay net. I got a halter on Domino this session and had lots of positive interactions with him. We begun our halter training which Domino took to like a pig in mud, even having the courage to step outside his yard and follow me onto the arena for a hand walk.
Third session consisted of pretty much repeating session two, as well as worming Domino which he took like a champ despite the funny taste.
Fourth session was our first session without food. We worked on haltering, leading and some desensitising with the tarp followed by our first session of being tied up.
Fifth session consisted of some hand walking around the property, meeting our goat and heading up and around the house to go up and down the steps – working more on trust and helping Domino to find comfort in me in different/all situations and environments, again without food.
During Domino’s sixth session we had a play with the roller on whilst being ponied by another horse in the round yard as well as being rugged for the first time.
This little fella is truly something special!
We had an awesome week this week getting to know each other a little bit, looking forward to the rest of our journey together.
Bring on week #2!
Week 3
Domino and I have had a great past two weeks.
We have spent time getting to know each other more, working on picking up all four feet and even had his first trim and had his teeth done and sheath cleaned. We have made a start on getting Domino used to the hose, working more on the mouthing process – flexing, lateral flexion, long reining as well as more desensitising, a start to lunging, pole work and a start to yielding on the ground. Domino is now confidently self loading onto our float and we had the Geelong Advertiser come out and do a story on us. Domino also headed out of his yard and into his very own paddock, as well as swapping over onto the CopRice feeds – very exciting! We have started introducing Domino to other people and he is coping with this really well, as well as even trying different treats which is massive.
I am enjoying Dominos curious nature and the bond we have created already.
We are enjoying every moment of our journey together and just cannot get enough of this cool dude!
Week 5
Domino and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together these past two weeks. Our bond is growing stronger by the day and we are getting to know each other well.
Domino had his first round of body work from our sponsor – Jill Steptoe, which was absolutely massive as he has had interactions with other people but hasn’t officially been touched all over by someone other than me. He absolutely loved it and was super brave!
We have been working on the beginning of our ridden work lately which is going really well and I couldn’t be more excited to be beginning our next chapter in our journey together.
We do a lot of hand walking regularly and even headed for a walk in the new estate down the road from us. Domino had the courage to follow me home up our road at liberty and even follow me all the way back into his paddock. This bloke is truly so special!
We have been doing a lot of tarp work lately which Domino is super unfazed by!
Very exciting times ahead.
Week 7
Domino and I have been very busy the past two weeks.
We have done a ton more desensitising and have been working with different obstacles as well as working on new tricks which shows me just how intelligent Domino is – super fascinating!
Domino and I have been on two floated outings now, one to Elcho Park Equestrian Centre (our local pony club ground) and one to the beach. Domino absolutely loooooved the beach! He was more than happy to go into the water and repeatedly roll in the sand – he definitely found his happy place here!
We had a little bit of trouble with our float loading after our first float ride – I actually saw a very stubborn side to Domino which I am trying to channel into and put into positive energy. Domino is now loading confidently again which I am super happy about!
I have been doing lots of ponying Domino off another horse in tarps, through our big grazing paddock, around our property, on our arena, etc which is really working wonders on his forward button.
Domino has also had his second round of body work with our sponsor Jill Steptoe which he responded too extremely well with lots of relaxation and releases.
Week 9
Domino and I have been working hard on our ridden work lately as well as obstacles.
We went for our first ride out of the round yard at The You Yangs Ranges where he did an exceptionally great job. We have ridden out and about every day since this – down the road, through our hacking acreage, up on obstacles and just generally working on keeping Dominos mind busy and curious during our rides.
We are planning to start our arena schooling shortly, but for now we are working on trails and enjoying each others company in a calm but distracting environment.
I have also been taking Domino with me when I take other horses places and leaving him tied at the float. He is amazing with this and stands patiently taking in his new surroundings.
Domino got his hooves trimmed today by our farrier – I had given him a trim in the earlier days, but I wanted a qualified farrier to look over his hooves.
All in all we are having a great time getting to know each other better and we are enjoying our ridden work.
Domino is sensitive fella that loves to check in with me constantly.
Week 11
We have limited information to pass on for our past two weeks as we had put Domino out for a little spell. Domino has worked so, so hard so far mentally and physically and we felt like he really deserved a two week break to soak everything in.
Domino had his fortnightly body work session with our wonderful sponsor Jill Steptoe which he absolutely loves!!!! Jill is being able to get more and more done each time as Domino is more comfortable with her touch through every session.
I have popped a friend out into Domino’s paddock with him and they seem to be forming a lovely relationship.
I have been getting other people to help with Dominos catching, rugging and unrugging to get him more used to others. He is standoffish and definitely has picked me as his person, but is cooperative and polite, just unsure which is totally fine at this stage.
Today Domino headed out for an outing to Elcho Park Equestrian Centre today as the start to him coming back into work, he was patient, calm and truly so easy to have around as always!
We are looking forward to getting back to the ridden stuff this coming week with a beach ride planned!
Week 13
We have started to bring Domino back in from his much deserved spell and he is going kindly – we have been doing more ground work as a pose to ridden work the past two weeks and just enjoying each others company.
Domino had his fortnightly body work session with our wonderful sponsor Jill Steptoe which he absolutely thrives off. Jill is being able to get so much more done each time and they are building quite a nice little friendship together now.
Domino and I headed for a ridden outing to the beach for a photo shoot which was such a nice time together! He really loves water and LOVES rolling in the sand. Domino is such a character!!!
I have still been getting other people to help with Domino’s rugging and unrugging to get him more used to others which is going great. Domino can now officially be rugged without a halter by people other than me!
Domino has been busy learning some new tricks, he absolutely loves learning and absorbing anything you have to teach/share with him.
We are starting to think about our freestyle component for Equitana now, time is creeping up!
Week 15
Domino and I have been working hard together the past fortnight. I have been working on starting to put our freestyle slowly together and then implementing that into sections for practice. We still have a long way to go for it to be perfect and for us to get everything down pat but we have something to work towards now which is super exciting.
Domino again had his fortnightly routine massage with our sponsor and body worker Jill Steptoe which he loved as always. He has had a couple of days after that and will come back in tomorrow.
Domino had his first full shampoo bath at our local pony club grounds – Elcho Park Equestrian Centre and got put in some fresh rugs – cotton, hood and a heavy rug.
We are really really enjoying bareback trail rides down the road after our sessions together.
Domino is such a little character that just keeps giving. Super intelligent and interesting. Fair to say I’m hooked on brumbies! Such a special breed.
Week 17
Domino and I have been up to a lot of ridden work lately, mainly working on getting Domino more comfortable with leg on and not being so reactive under pressure.
We headed out to the Royal Geelong Show where we really saw Domino’s anxiety around other horses. He is incredibly horse shy.
We entered both the led and the ridden class. I asked my partner to take Domino through the led class as I was incredibly nervous, he was great – impatient and anxious but polite. I took Domino through the ridden class. He was incredibly anxious before hand with all the horses in his personal space. We know what we have to work on in the lead up to Equitana!
We have been doing a lot of road riding and obstacles to keep Dominos mind busy and happy. He seems to really love going for a plod down the road.
I am truly just enjoying the journey. I look forward to Dominos neighs every time he sees me.
We are still practicing components of our freestyle and changing things up.
Bring on the next two weeks!
Week 19
Exciting times ahead with Equitana and our finals just around the corner!
Domino and I are working hard to try and prepare for the finals, what can prepare a horse for Equitana though right?!
We have been doing a lot of ridden work and outings to work together and try to prepare for the environment of Equitana as best we can.
We are super super excited to see everyone and how their ponies have developed into beautiful little domesticated horses.
Domino has mastered his lay down trick and he absolutely loves showing it off anywhere and everywhere!
Domino had his fortnightly body work session which he absolutely loves!
I just love this little bloke so bloody much!!!