Maree Young, 2024 Australian Brumby Challenge

Maree Young, 2024 Australian Brumby Challenge Page created to follow along on my journey in the 2024 Coprice Australian Brumby Challenge.

From Wild to Wonderful in 150 days, with the finals being held at Equitana Melbourne in November.

Last Sunday I was invited by Mirboo North Pony Club Public to chat to the kids about the CopRice Australian Brumby Chall...
18/09/2024

Last Sunday I was invited by Mirboo North Pony Club Public to chat to the kids about the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge and my journey in it with Benson!
Having previously given the club a liberty and bridleless demonstration, and lessons earlier in the year......I was more than happy to go back for another catch up, to tell them about the challenge, our experience so far, and our continued training in the lead up to the final showcase at in November.
As I'd also been doing a few little trips here and there with Benson, I thought it was also a good opportunity to take him out for the kids to meet, and give him some new exposure ๐Ÿค—
The kids were awesome, had some great questions to ask about Benson and the Brumby Challenge, and Benson was even brave enough to be hand fed by each of the kids which was really lovely. ๐Ÿค—๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’– Also love to thank Rope n Ride for your support and top quality products ๐Ÿคฉ and for sending out some merch to hand out to the kiddos ๐Ÿงข๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘

*BENSON VETERINARY/EYE EXAM UPDATE*Last week I took Benson into  to do a more thorough eye examination, and dental check...
09/09/2024

*BENSON VETERINARY/EYE EXAM UPDATE*
Last week I took Benson into to do a more thorough eye examination, and dental checkup at the same time whilst under sedation.
The diagnosis was that he "has evidence of a large coliform cataract in the posterior nucleus of his lens, as well as equatorial cataracts in the same lens."
In short, he has congenital cataracts which has caused vision impairment in his left eye.
It was actually a bit of relief to confirm my earlier concerns about his eyesight, and will continue to work with Benson with a few adaptations here and there to ensure our line of communication is as clear and easy as possible for him.
The official diagnosis has also explained a few interesting behaviours along the way, such as a very high flight and self preservation response, and continued insistence on me being on his right side.
Dr Jess also removed some fairly sharp caps off a couple of his molars, which I'm sure helped him feel a lot more comfortable afterwards! .n.ride

I'd just like to thank everyone who has messaged or given their thoughts and well wishes for Benson. ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’žWe are booked in ...
01/09/2024

I'd just like to thank everyone who has messaged or given their thoughts and well wishes for Benson. ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’ž
We are booked in for a full eye examination in at the clinic this week, and hope to have a little more information on his condition after that.
In the meantime, we've been continuing training while poking along at a quiet pace...(Which we do anyway, lol ๐Ÿ˜‚)..... and just made a few extra allowances for his lack of vision on his left.
I'm super proud of this little man and his exceptional efforts so far, especially prior to discovering his blindness! ๐Ÿซฃ CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge

One of Benson's favourite things to do is play in the dam. He often has water and clay halfway up his sides by the end o...
31/08/2024

One of Benson's favourite things to do is play in the dam. He often has water and clay halfway up his sides by the end of the day, lol. ๐Ÿคฃ Proper little water baby ๐Ÿค—๐ŸŽ๐ŸŒŠ

So in the last week we've had some interesting developments unfold with dear Benson......... confirming a few suspicions...
25/08/2024

So in the last week we've had some interesting developments unfold with dear Benson......... confirming a few suspicions I've had recently.
Long story short, he has little to no vision in his left eye.
From the beginning, I noticed he nearly always preferred me more on his right side, and would constantly position himself to keep me there more often than not. I didn't worry too much about it at the time as horses quite often have a "favoured side".
However when we began working in closer proximity, on occasion when I was on his left, he had bumped into me with his head which I thought wasn't quite right. I did my own "menace" test and wasn't getting a response on his left, so decided at that point I'd get a vet out to confirm or deny my findings. ๐Ÿซฃ
Approach from strangers is still a big ask for him, but Jess from was extremely patient, and got close enough for an Initial examination and confirm a problem with vision, or lack of.....in his left eye.
I'd noticed he has a little scar on his lower eyelid, and Jess pointed out his pupil was smaller on that side, but otherwise not much visually obvious that there may have been an issue. ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธ
Once I feel he is ready for float travel, we will go into the clinic for a full examination under sedation in a darkened room and try to determine the condition and cause of.......but seems unlikely at this stage that he has a treatable condition.
Moving forward......at least I know now I wasn't imagining things......and will be able to take this into consideration when working with him.
I'll update with any further news if and when it happens.
Maree & Benson ๐ŸŽ ๐Ÿ’–

10/8/24....Good work Benny boy ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘Œ
25/08/2024

10/8/24....Good work Benny boy ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘Œ

BBPG Benson ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’žStunning boy...... ๐Ÿค—๐ŸŒ„
06/08/2024

BBPG Benson ๐ŸŽ๐Ÿ’ž
Stunning boy...... ๐Ÿค—๐ŸŒ„

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! ๐ŸŽ‰ Harriette Smith, Patsy Iva, Maree O'Hara...
30/07/2024

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! ๐ŸŽ‰ Harriette Smith, Patsy Iva, Maree O'Hara, Cathy Farrow, John Dennis, Meg Lunny, Kelli Mitchell-Holt, Valerie Slavin Young ๐Ÿค—

18/07/2024

If any of my friends and followers are interested in following along other trainers in the Australian Brumby Challenge, this is the link to my friend Erin Beattie's page with her cute Kosciusko brumby, Aztec. She also uses a slow, gentle approach in her training and has a beautiful energy around the horses. ๐Ÿ™‚๐Ÿด๐Ÿ’“
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561482238707&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Australian Brumby Challenge Victorian Brumby Association

Share the journey of training an unhandled brumby. Wild to wonderful in 150 days.

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! Facey has informed me the top followers fr...
18/07/2024

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! Facey has informed me the top followers from last week are as follows....๐Ÿ‘‰๐ŸŽ‰ Valerie Slavin Young, John Dennis, Patsy Iva, Mezcal Manners, Louise Treadwell 'Gately', Cathy Farrow, Marina Triandafillou Gardner, Maree O'Hara, Kylie Irvin, Lydia Tisch
Hope you're enjoying following the journey with Benson and myself ๐Ÿค—๐Ÿด๐Ÿ’“

Thankyou to  for supplying feed for Benson for the 2024 ! Collected today from the ever helpful and friendly crew at my ...
18/07/2024

Thankyou to for supplying feed for Benson for the 2024 !
Collected today from the ever helpful and friendly crew at my local Meeniyan store! ๐Ÿ™ Thanks so much for organizing the delivery! Can't wait to see how Benson goes on it ๐Ÿด๐Ÿ’“
Had my ever helpful Goodest Boi's Jack and Toby on board to help .....but wondering why I didn't get them a ute load of dog food instead ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ•

11/07/2024

Monday arvo, day 15 of the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge. Following on from yesterday, bringing the halter in to get him comfortable with it around his face, feeding it across from one side to the other, and beginning to ask him to bring his nose into the halter nose loop.

11/07/2024

Frosty Sunday morning, day 14 of the CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge. (Video intro showing my frozen flag from Kaz's Flags & Tail Bags that I left outside overnight, lol ๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธ.)
Decided not to overlay any music over this one either as I think the morning birds sound gorgeous as the sun rises. ๐Ÿค—๐ŸŒ„
Some good stuff to observe in this one I think..... starting with Benson being ever spirited and keen to engage in the days activity.
I place a lot of importance in making sure my interactions are interesting and pleasant for him.....and start with an easy question following on from a previous session, such as a simple draw in, touch a target, or hand boop. This starts off the session with him comfortable and confident with himself, and in a good place to ask a new, or harder question.
This session was mainly using the tail of the lunge whip to run either side of his face and neck, and draw across from one side to the other, letting the tail slide over and down the other side, which sets him up at a distance to prepare for the sensation of halters, leads, ropes he will wear later.
As in previous sessions, he is not restrained in any way, and has the freedom to move, or leave and reapproach as he feels comfortable.
Something I find invaluable about training my own horses at home in my own time, is I go by what time the horse needs.....not a timeline set by someone else.
One of my favourite sayings from a very well known horseman that regularly runs through my head is...
"Take the time it takes, and it takes less time".
I just think it's so important to get trust, and the most basic things right at this early stage to set the horse up in the best way we can for the rest of its life.....
As he can also sometimes get a little keen to come in close, I also started introducing a little ask for back up at liberty, and was super pleased how he responded. ๐Ÿค—
Another benefit to not "dulling" down the horse is their movement and responses stay so much more sensitive and light. ๐Ÿ‘Œ
We also have a little moment in this video, where he was feeling a bit more pressure and has a bit of a paw as if to say "I'm actually finding this question a bit hard...". So we listen, and slow things right up, have a quiet pat and take a break. I let him know if he starts to feel a bit overwhelmed, I won't just get more loud or pushy or rush him, especially in these early days when my number one priority is building his trust and confidence in me.
To finish off we have him calm and relaxed with the question, which is a perfect place to call it a day and leave him with a good brekky to chew over. ๐Ÿ˜‰
The Horsemen Collective Victorian Brumby Association

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Stony Creek, VIC
3957

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