Week 6

This Wednesday was a very special day I was able to put a headstall on Cloud it couldn't

have gone any better she was so calm and relaxed. I was able to rub her and find the places

that she enjoys getting scratched and then l took her halter off to let her process for an hour.

l returned and spent some time relaxing her getting her used to my presence and proceeded

to move in slowly scratching and rubbing her with my halter and then slipping it on. To my

surprise she seemed to thoroughly enjoy getting brushed so I felt she was calm enough to

cut her dreadlocks out so I ended the day with this happy note and let her enjoy the rest of

the afternoon in peace. Thursday morning l was once again able to slip the halter on going

through all the same steps as previously then l was able to finish the lesson off by picking up

her two front feet. It is so important to move at their own pace no matter how long it takes.

VBA Cloud 🤍 

I couldn't be more proud of this special Brumby she has just come so far this week. 

I've been able to touch her withers  neck and she's even been eating out of my hand. 

She's is still unsure and frightened but each day her trust gets stronger and stronger. 

I usually start the day off by making her a feed which has valerian chamomile combined with speedy beat and lucern chaff which has helped her a lot with her relaxation. 

I'm looking forwards to getting my care package from McDowells next week. 

First lesson of the day I assess where she's at so I know what to work on. She's been facing up to me and taking steps towards me. 

Each time she faces up or take steps towards me I click and treat her with a handful of lucern and I step back and let her process her thoughts.

 I have come to accept that to gain Clouds trust, this is going to be a slow process with her. 

To begin this process I am going to have to put the time frame aside to really focus on Cloud, and if that takes me the whole of the challenge, that is o.k. because gaining her trust is all that matters. 

This week we've started offering her hard feed with chamomile to aid her mental health and her digestion. 

We have discovered she enjoys carrots and apples, and she has been investigating the mineral lick in her stall. 

You can also follow this process with Cloud on my Instagram. 

Week 2 VBA Cloud 🤍

This first stage of training it's going to take some time. Just continuing on from last week as she is not ready to take on the next step of her training. I'm focusing on developing her curiosity so she is making the choice to connect with me.  You can also follow me on Instagram i'll be keeping you all updated on her progress.

First week of VBA cloud 🤍 

Wow this brings back so many memories of competing in the McDowells Australian Brumby Challenge with VBA Brandy back in 2018. 

I'm very excited to showcase VBA Cloud in the 2020 Brumby Challenge to show what our wild brumbies can really do. 

Cloud is an 8 year old mare from Bogong High Plains in Victoria, approximate height 14.2hh. and boy she is a wild one she's definitely going to test my skills this year. 

This first week I've had to be very careful to move slowly to accustom her to my presence. I've been spending a few minutes many times throughout the day slowly gaining access to her stall without her panicking and snorting. 

This last couple of days i've been introducing her to the pole and been able to scratch her withers and rump she is beginning to start to relax lick and chew and as soon as she looks towards me I release my pressure. 

She's going to need a lot of time to build trust with me. You can also follow me on Instagram i'll be keeping you all updated on her progress.