Week 1
Can’t believe a week has already passed from arriving at the VBA for induction and Brumby allocation for the 2024 CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge!
I was floored to be chosen as one of only 14 trainers to take part in this challenge, and although initially maybe a little overwhelmed, it was great to chat to the other trainers with a similar mindset and ethos regarding training horses.
I was very happy to be allocated BBPG Benson, a striking bay gelding from Barmah National Park.
I’m estimating his height to be around 14.1-2hh, and his age between 3-5yrs from what I’ve gathered so far.
Observing him in the yards at the VBA, he seemed somewhat quiet and curious, although I suspected maybe internalizing a bit.
Sunday morning was load up day, and he loaded up into the stock crate as nicely as I could hope, and travelled the 5 hrs home exceptionally well.
He also unloaded smoothly into the round yard, and quickly checked in through the rails, with two of my horses present who welcomed him to his new home, and continued to keep him company through the week.
I gave him a full 24 hours to settle in before asking anything of him, only quietly tending to his feed and water, before introducing some simple drawing in techniques on day one of training, to encourage him to come in towards me,
My aim is to keep the horses curiosity and spirit intact in my interactions, and build a connection based on trust, and avoid triggering fear based responses.
At the end of this week the notable moments for me were, confidently drawing in and following, simple changes of direction through body guidance, taking food from the hand, reaching out to touch me with his nose, and crossing obstacles at liberty.
It might be interesting to some that at this stage, all sessions have been at liberty. With no ropes, halters, or restraints used.
My priority here is building trust, confidence, and a strong partnership with Benson using my own body language and energy, prior to adding any form of tether or lead which will be another totally foreign concept to him.
I’m stoked to have such a beautiful fella here to work with, who has a really sweet outlook and has so much willingness to connect and “try” about him. 🤗
Week 3
Update number 2, and 19 days into the 2024 CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge with the sweet BBPG Benson.
In the past two weeks we've spent our time together building a partnership built on trust and safety. And in turn, helping Benson grow in his curiosity and confidence in his training, his surroundings, and myself.
I’ve also had a few quiet days since last Friday, as I went into surgery to get all four of my wisdom teeth removed….so had to take it pretty easy and make sure my recovery went smoothly.🤕
I actually think the timing wasn’t too bad to be honest, as having a few extra days to move slower and quieter around horses doesn’t hurt at all.😉
The foundation I choose to build with Benson at liberty from the start, ensures that when I'm asking a question of him, he doesn’t feel trapped, and has the opportunity to step away if the pressure gets overwhelming, in which case he has always returned back to me for another try.
If a horse feels trapped or restricted with no choice in the matter, it may submit, but its spirit and want to try will likely dim. To me, the spirit of the horse is its heart, soul and beauty, and why they are so admired and revered for the amazing creatures that they are.
Although looking in from the outside, I may move at a lesser pace than others, I really believe that “Taking the time it takes” keeps the integrity of the horse intact, and spirit willing.
On Monday, he wore a halter for the first time, and this was achieved at liberty in the yard, without roping, restraining, or chasing him in order to get it on……and by today, added a long lead line, and began to ask him to follow a soft feel.
I was super happy with how quickly he picked up on this request, and although at one point he got a fright and took flight for a few laps, he was relatively quickly able to check himself, and return in to me as a place of comfort and safety, which shows exactly why I choose to lay down that trust in the relationship as number one priority.
Although Benson has high sensitivity and flight drive of an authentically wild horse, I'm super proud of how hard this boy works to please, and will approach the gate ears pricked every time I head out to interact with him. 🤗
I quite like working with the more sensitive types as they have so much to teach us and really make sure you fine tune your skills to successfully build a partnership with them, and set us up as better teachers and partners of all the other horses we cross paths with. 😊
Week 5
We are now a month into the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge, and at this point really starting to feel a nice connection between us.
Not to be mistaken for obedience, throughout this time the number one priority is to gain his trust and confidence in me, and be interested and willing to try some activities I've suggested to him.
To achieve this, I’ve diligently watched for every reaction and response to my energy, approach, body motion, and actions. The more self aware you are, the more awareness you have of your surroundings and other beings. Horses are extremely aware, and notice self awareness and congruence.
“Horses know when you know, and they know when you don’t know.”
I’m only human, and certainly not made the perfect moves or communicate my requests as clear as they should be every time, but I thank Benson and his beautiful, sensitive and authentic wild self, to remind me when I do so, and continue to teach me to be a better horsewoman, as each horse who crosses my path teaches me.
In the last fortnight, I've been putting the halter on and off whenever I have had five minutes, and doing the odd lead around, but not every day, and do the rest of our training sessions at liberty. This may generally include haltering while free, getting more used to (and enjoying) body contact/touch on more areas of the body and front legs, attempting obstacles, walking over poles or tarps, and following changes in direction.
I also felt it was a safe time to open up the yard and release him into the bigger paddock outside, and feel my timing was pretty good as he cautiously stepped out, and went for a little trot around to inspect his new area, before dropping his head for a pick of grass. 🐴💗
All our previous preparation and trust building was also shown to have paid off the following day, as I was able to approach him free in the paddock, and halter him with no need of wanting to leave my presence or run off.
Out in this bigger area, we also had more fun exploring play at liberty, running around trees and over poles.......me slipping over in the mud and Benson looking at me on the ground like I got my legs yesterday. Lol 😂
Another exciting milestone this week has been picking up his front legs, which was also done at liberty, free in the paddock......and actually at an unplanned moment, as I was just doing a few leg touches from shoulder to hoof before leaving him with his dinner for the night, but he was so calm about it, I added a gentle squeeze to the lower leg, and got a lovely soft little lift. 👐
To summarise, some of our main milestones in the last month have been ......
*Draw and follow at liberty
*First touches from Benson to myself, and vice versa
*Crossing obstacles at liberty
*Haltering at liberty
*Learning feel of, and leading from a line
*Introduction to gentle brushing
*Picking up front feet at liberty
I'm really falling in love with this special little fella and everything he's offered so far. With horses, I think it can be very easy (and all to common to be honest) to get greedy and ask too much too soon.
I'm quite happy with where we are at this point in time, and sharing a dialogue with Benson, in that he feels safe to express himself, and also has a strong foundation of trust, and willing to make an effort to “try” when a more difficult question may be asked.
A little bit more patience early on shows up in the horses physical, mental and emotional state tenfold in the future.
Week 7
The last 2 weeks seem to have passed in the blink of an eye! We are having quite the dry, mild winter here in South Gippsland so the ground has even started to dry out a bit, normally my place would be ankle deep mud this time of year!
Benson’s confidence and condition is improving day by day, and I’m able to move about quite a bit more relaxed around him, as he is getting less spooky and reactive about activities and movement around him.
He’s in his own paddock of a night, so he can eat his yummy CopRice dinner and brekky in peace without being bothered by the other horses…..but runs in the big paddock with a herd of 3 others during the day. Benson also discovered the dam and appears he likes the water, as he wandered over to me with a water line halfway up his sides and looking pretty happy with himself, lol.
A very exciting milestone for us the past couple of weeks has been trimming all four hooves! 🙌 As a professional hoof care provider and equine bodyworker I’ve been itching to do his feet since day 1, but wasn’t going to do it until he had complete trust in me to pick up and hold his legs with balance and relaxation in his body.
After doing plenty of work on the ground learning the feel of the rope, and giving to a little pressure, he also picked up learning to tie (usually either a looped line or blocker ring) very quickly, and without any fuss or panic, which is exactly how we want it. I’ve seen a lot of damage done to horses from pull back injuries, so do everything we can in preparation to keep it as calm and experience as possible, and avoid a violent reaction or fight in learning to tie.
On the fun side of things, his foundation of trust and connection, and working with him at liberty from our first interactions…….. he’ll keenly follow me around the open paddock where I’ve set up a mini obstacle course and do it all at liberty. He particularly likes to show off on his little platform, and will go over and stand on it randomly to show anyone watching “look how good I am at this….deserves a treat yeah?” 😅
It's lovely to be able to scratch and groom him all over now with him in a relaxed state, and muscles soft under my hands. And in the last few days have started to introduce him slowly to a saddle pad, letting him first touch and sniff if himself, then folding it up and beginning to bring it to, and onto his body in small step by step increments.
He continues to impress me day by day with his willingness to try new questions, and his sharp mind working out the answers so quickly. It’s a lovely journey to be on with him. 🤗🐎💞