Awesome memories of my best girl Bandy (Moonshine Bandit) 🥹🥰🤗
Not only safely carrying us through our first level 1 comp back in the day......But taking out the championship as well! 😮🏆🐎💖
Bandit the Super pony, such a ripper little mare..👌🤗🥰
And had my super groom @wildcowgirlxx with us too 😉🙌
#Bandit #MoonshineBandit #painthorse #superpony #showjumping #maresrulegeldingsdrool #barefootshowjumping #horsewoman #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship
14/8/24.....First "saddling" with the bareback pad, at liberty.
Made this update a post rather than a reel, so as to leave the video minimally cropped and view closest to "real time" of the actual process.
As with a lot of my previous work with Benson (or Benji as I've nicknamed him 😘), I've chosen to introduce this task at liberty so there is zero physical restraint, or even the feeling that he is unable to move away if he feels the need.
Initially, at around 16sec in.....he does show that he has concerns with the pad coming in towards his shoulder, by the head turn away, and the step back. I respond by stopping any further ask or pressure, wait for him, then as soon as he begins to turn back towards me, I immediately step back to give him space, and time for another look before we reapproach the question.🙂
At approx 57 seconds in, he requests another moment of "wait", before continuing on with the pad.
Once we have the blanket and pad on, I'm in no rush to girth up straight away.....but make sure he is comfortable, and offer plenty of scratches to add to the experience. 🤗
After nicely girthing up and making sure it's secure....I bring awareness to his whole body via touch over his back, front, and sides.
At about 4min in I reward him, and encourage some forward steps, circling, and crossing obstacles,
At 5:15 we demonstrate a "slow unsaddling", which again allows him full awareness of the gear being taken off, and any sensations or feelings he may feel from that.
To finish up we have a really good scratch and rub down (I rub or brush down all areas where gear has made contact with the body), and let him know how much of a good boy he is ...🤗
Haltered or not, wild or domestic.....this is how uneventful or "boring" a first saddling should be. 😉
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge @vba2007_
#WildtoWonderful #BBPGBenson #barmahbrumby #BrumbyGentling #brumbytraining #libertybrumby #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship @steelblueboots
10/8/24..... Another little milestone from 10th August. Benson loading himself on the float!
Having him walk right in was actually not my intention 😅..... we'd just been for a walk, and was just going to ask him to step up onto the ramp before I left him with some lucerne for the arvo. But he decided he might come right in with me, lol. Looks like all that liberty training over obstacles paid off and built up some lovely confidence in him. ☺️ @copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge #bbpgbenson #barmahbrumby #wildtowonderful #brumbytraining #brumbygentling #libertybrumby #mindfulhorsemanship #listentohorses
6/8/24...... Introducing Benson to the big red ball ⚽.
Big, colourful, moving objects can be quite scary.....so I introduce the ball in a big open area, with him completely free to approach or leave as he feels comfortable. As per our training from the start.....I encourage the curiosity to approach and inspect these these himself, rather than holding him still and forcing it upon him....which creates fear and distrust. He has a few little unsure spooks, but is confident to re approach, without fear of me "flooding" him with the object.
I reward his attempts to touch the ball, and intermittently roll it away and encourage him to follow with curiosity. 🙂
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge #bbpgbenson #wildtowonderful #brumbygentling #brumbytraining #horseplay #barmahbrumby #mindfulhorsemanship #listentohorses
30/7/24.... Following on from his preparation for tying the day before, I attached my home made "blocker ring"....aka spare snaffle bit 🤣, to our chosen tree, and looped the lead line through in a way that holds gentle tension in the line, but will slide through in the event of a pull. I then stood back to let him feel and assess, then quietly walked behind him, and from one side to the other, to encourage him to move his feet a little, feel the line, and observe his response. Smart little fella worked it out pretty darn quick. 😉👌 Benson also looking super sharp in his custom locally made halter from @rope.n.ride quality rope products 🥰🐎
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge @rope.n.ride @equitanaaustralia #bbpgbenson #barmahbrumby #wildtowonderful #brumbygentling #brumbytraining #horsewoman #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship #listentohorses
29/7/24.....First "Tie up" lesson 🐴
A short clip demonstrating Benson's first introduction to tying up.
Prior to this, we had established a good understanding of "feel" through the lead rope, giving to pressure, and a confident understanding of leading.
From there we progress to learning to tie up, and give to pressure to a point which generally won't be at the same point I am.
I begin with simply looping the line around a smooth branch, and after standing quietly for a minute or so, gently start taking up the slack until he feels and understands the lead pressure, look for him to relieve the line, and recognize and reward the try. 🥰
I couldn't be prouder of this smart lil man, and watching the cogs turn as his ears flicker in response to the lead pressure, then give a questioning look across at me......and step forward in the direction of the lead. 🤗🐎💞
What is extremely important to avoid, is "teaching" the horse to hard tie straight up, where he has no opportunity to learn in a fair and safe manner, and sends them into a fight/flight response from a lack of give or release from pressure. Not only does this cause enough issues mentally......as an Equine Bodyworker I've seen first hand the damage caused to horses by fighting and pulling back against a fixed point.
Pull back injuries can cause untold damage to the both soft tissues and skeletal system such as, the poll/atlas/axis/vertebrae, TMJ, Nuchal ligament etc....and damage to the front end/poll/vertebrae is often linked to issues in the hind end as well! 🫣
So loop the rope around a smooth branch or rail, use a blocker ring or snaffle bit......... whatever it takes to set your horse up to succeed....😉👍
Shout out to @rope.n.ride for always making beautiful quality custom halters and rope products!....➰🐴
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge @equitanaaustralia @rope.n.ride #WildToWonderful #BBPGBenson #barmahbrumby #BrumbyGentling #brumbytraining #listentohorses #horsewoman #mindfu
20/7/24.....First night staying out in the big boy paddock.
Brumbies under a full moon..... Benson from Barmah on the left, Rupert from Kosciuszko in the right.
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge #WildToWonderful #FullMoon #Brumbies #BarmahBrumby #KosciuszcoBrumby #moonlight #BrumbyGentling #brumbytrainer
On the 20/7/24.....after plenty of trust building and helping him regulate his high flight response, I made the call it was safe enough to put him out in the paddock behind "regular" fencing.
He was keen to explore all corners of his new area, but also showed he was just as happy to come back to me in an open paddock, and didn't feel the need to flee or escape from my presence in the bigger space at all. 🤗 Which is exactly why I put in so much time in the basic foundations of trust, connection, and confidence.....and build everything else on from that. 😉🐎💞
Going from the round yard to the open paddock, I can still approach him free and put on his halter out there just the same as in the smaller area. 👍
@copricefeeds @australianbrumbychallenge #WildToWonderful #BBPGBenson #BarmahBrumby #mindfulhorsemanship #horsewoman #BrumbyGentling #brumbytraining #listentohorses
Had to share this short clip from the previous video.....😅
Gave me a chuckle, and shows how sharp his lil mind is. 😉
Was just going for a simple lead around and over some poles on the ground.....and had 2 laying together here with a tarp wrapped around one.......so all I intended for was a casual step over.....but you can see Benson"s mind tick over as we approach them.....and ultimately decides he'll score more points by stepping ON the poles....and steps up and quite self assuredly parks himself there...😅 Lil smarty pants 🤣
@australianbrumbychallenge #bbpgbenson #wildtowonderful #barmahbrumby #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship #brumbygentling #horsewoman
17/7.....When interacting with Benson I try to revisit previous lessons, but also change things up so our sessions stay interesting for him. Our last session was leading, so this one we went back to exploring obstacles at liberty. (Also featuring behind the camera cameo with serial pest Rupert 😅🤦♀️).
The intro to this video shows how much his confidence is growing daily, he is really warming up to touch and a good scratch.
Benson has high self preservation instincts and is pretty cautious about crossing or stepping over random things, so I try to reward any effort from him and encourage him to keep trying. This process was quite slow, lots of stopping and waiting while he had think time.....but find it's important for him to have the confidence to try for himself without being hassled into attempting it. 🤗 Sweet boy he is.....🐎💞
@australianbrumbychallenge @copricefeeds #WildToWonderful #BBPGBenson #BarmahBrumby #horsewoman #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship #brumbygentling #libertyhorse
Day 15, 2024 Australian Brumby Challenge
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.
#bbpgbenson #BarmahBrumby #brumbygentling #WildToWonderful #listentohorses #mindfulhorsemanship
Day 14, 2024 CopRice Australian Brumby Challenge
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 😅💁♀️.)
Decided not to overlay any music over this one either as I think the morning birds sound gorgeous as the sun rises. 🤗🌄
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. 🤗
Another benefit to not "dulling" down the horse is their movement and responses stay so much more sen
Day 7, Day off for Horse Archery clinic! 🐎🏹
Gradually catching up on my updates..... 💁♀️😅
Sunday was a day off brumby training. ☺️
Partly because he's gone from near zero, to daily human interaction. So a quiet day will be a good break from any questions for him.
And secondly..... I'd been out from sunrise to sunset at our local weekend clinic with Riding With Sticks, who made the trip down from Tarago specially for us! 🙏🐎🏹🎯
We had a bit of rough weather to dodge on Saturday, but Sunday was great, with two groups of riders participating.....and a lot of people showing up to fence sit the clinic as well! 🤗
Thankyou very much to all those who booked in, braved the weather, and helped set up and pack up. 🙏
A successful clinic means we have the opportunity to potentially run another in the future. And many thanks to Stony Creek Riding Club and Meeniyan Pony Club for use of the grounds to host the event, and Janine for your support and help over the weekend. 🤗
