Brumby spamming everyone today :-) Back in Canberra tomorrow then home for a day before flying overseas for a holiday.
The brumby boys are getting fatter and fatter and more floofy every day. Deep frosts most nights now and winter is in the air.
A mini training session with Storm. He has been with us for a week now and has settled beautifully.
I play this game with all of my brumbies, given time, space and lack of urgency to get them out of the Park and in to adopted homes.
It teaches them to trust me and follow me, literally anywhere. Through yards, through runs, eventually into paddocks, between paddocks, across roads....well you get the idea :-)
I do this as I won't halter them until they repeatedly come to me for first touch and are close to just putting their own head into the headstall.
Not everyone's cup of tea but I like it XOXOXO
Busy busy day today, but they always are!!
An early start (earlier than expected as the barefoot trimmer arrived at 9.00 - not the planned 10.30...). I did have the big horses all down at the yards and ready - I'm a good girl scout and like to be prepared. Didn't get my morning coffee or breakie until after 11.00 though so that was harsh!!
All trimmed, checked over, mane dreadlocks removed. Hugged, kissed and moved into a new paddock where they will stay for the winter. So lucky to have heaps of grass so minimal hard feeding. They just get carrots so that they know they are loved :-)
The brumby boys I am trimming myself tomorrow, as I have my nice shiny new trimming skills ready to go. They will then go into a winter paddock where the grass is nice and long and I can keep the fatties away from the short sugary stuff. Again, no hard feeding, just carrots and a check in each day. I am working with them each weekend to keep their handling and interaction skills nice and honed.
And little man Storm is getting lots of love, fresh picks of grass, nose rubs and generally realising that his mum, and me, are nice to be around. He will be out into the small paddock soon and then in with Phin to take part in the next level of handling.
I am SO SLOW with my training - partly through work constraints but mainly as that is my preference. Build a trusted partnership as your baseline, and you, and your horse, will never ever look back.
The brumbies are super special. As rehomers, we are their first human touch. If you do that well, the bond needs to be seen to be believed đ„°
Never ever give up people, we stay in the fight until the last brumby standing XOXOXO
Little Storm in for some growing, handling and training. He was the older colt in the group of 6 who came in.
He is owned by a local lady who will be spending time with him every day. He is a little nervy right now but will settle nicely XOXOXO
Home. To a fabulous welcoming committee XOXOXO
Iâve been away for a week, which is a much longer than usually. They have had the snots and refused to go to Kyle even for carrots!
I definitely owe them some time and love over the weekend. I even got a little nip from Darcy which is an indication that they are not happy with me. Just gentle but clear comms lol
Some time with the 'big' horses before I head off to Canberra on Friday XOXOXO
Final night before the Brumby Bunch head off to their new home.
So pleased with how they have bonded together and sorted their differences. It just needed time, space and a safe haven.
I'll see if I can get some footage tomorrow but it can be a challenge with final feeds, cleaning and working out best and safest loading protocols.
So if you don't see them on my page again, I guarantee you can track their onward journey via The Brumby Bunch page.
And to Sue, Kelly and team - thank you! I wouldn't have been able to save this group of 10 if you hadn't put your hands up to take them.
And a big thank you to the local ladies who helped me save another group of 6, including the boys XOXOXO. I'm looking forward to the colt coming over to learn and grow with my own brumby boys for a while :-)
Cold, wet and drizzly breakfast for The Brumby Bunch this morning!
Adaminaby has missed the worst of the rain, and the horses get some good shelter from the massive aged pine trees in and next to their yards.
Plenty of hay to share and all is okay in their world.
With hosting the Brumby Matters Clinic here in March and attending the KNP Closure Protest on Sunday, I have had the chance to catch up with the wonderful Donna Pratt a couple of times.
Donna has orphans Aussie, from Lyn at Hoofs, and Summer, who I picked up and provided initial care and milk for.
They are both together with Donna - the best ever place they could be - and Donna has promised that next time she visits she will bring them both over to say hello XOXOXO
Thought I would share when we first helped her out of the fence and to our car for a safe trip home. From the first bottle she was an easy keeper - just a bit sleep depriving with hourly and then two hourly feeds needed :-)
Promise there will be LOTS of video footage shared from that visit đ„°
Happy Easter everyone đ„° A quick vid update on one of the little foals adopted with her rescue herd 2 weeks ago. Having her feet handled and picked up already too â€ïž Edit to say this isnât me handling her, this is her new mum đ
My morning hang out session with the brumbs.
An interesting group - a very strong stallion and lead mare leading to some anxiety with the others and chasing around over haynet hierarchy.
All said and done they aren't coming along too badly with being here just over a week.
The new little girls arrived on Thursday and I got first touch from the little chestnut girl XOXOXO It is the most incredible feeling!
And our lovely little group of 6, including Chance their herd stallion, are taking to family life and hand feeding like they have done it all of their lives.
He even lets his mum pluck stray bits of hay out of his forelock XOXOXO
The new herd have settled well. Calm but aware as I walk around with feed and the poo bucket (the yello-smello.....). Took to hay nets very quickly yesterday and buckets with chaff, triple mix and worming pellets added to fresh hay this morning.
Happy and heartbroken at the same time.......
Happy that brumbies are safe and heading to us tomorrow. Sad that they will no longer be living wild and free. But they will be safe and loved.
Let the prep work begin!!!
A memory snippet of Captain and Paddington. Rescued in the same group and Mr P went off to join Melâs happy brumby family a little while after đ
More on my 'brumby adoption' sharing. For the full context, go to my earlier post explaining why I am doing this. This video is on having/building an emergency medical room.
More on my 'brumby adoption' sharing. For the full context, go to my earlier post explaining why I am doing this. This video is on the all important feeding, worming and supplements. The $$ intensive bits :-)
More on my 'brumby adoption' sharing. For the full context, go to my earlier post explaining why I am doing this. This video is on small paddocks - I use them especially while handing stallions prior to gelding.
