Week 18

This last three weeks Cloud has been making good steady progress. I've been riding her each day around the farm finding all sorts of natural obstacles. She's still quite nervous and frightened of different things around her so I've been exposing her too as many different situations as possible. It's taken a long time to build trust with her and we are getting there slowly some horses just take longer than others. I'm so glad I've got this opportunity I have learnt so much with cloud so far.

Week 14 & 15 of VBA Cloud 

This last two weeks Cloud has been settling in nicely at the farm enjoying having plenty of

room to move freely in. I’ve been working them all together getting Antari and Brandy used

to having a new horse in the team. I believe it’s very important they respect each other while

working. The first couple of sessions with Cloud i worked on catching her it was a little bit

tricky but we worked through it. Also been doing basic ground control and short little riding

sessions just keeping it short and sweet and spending quality time with her to build a great

friendship.

This week I’ve been organising to take Cloud down to the farm as i feel she is ready to join

my team of horses. I’m so excited for her to meet Brandy, Antari and Sheba, Brandy’s the

2018 winner of the Brumby Challenge, Antari my Quarter horse trick horse, and little Sheba

my 3 yr old Waler. Cloud will have 45 acres to roam free.

This week Cloud’s been enjoying having her freedom back in an open paddock rolling eating fresh grass and playing with her paddock friend. She's been really easy to catch so far in fact as soon I walk up to her she comes trotting to me. This next week i’m just going to let her settle into her new surrounds.

This week I've been taking her for plenty of walks all around the Nuggetty Ranges finding all sorts of natural obstacles to play with. I've been able to ride her outside of the round pen.

Taking it slowly step by step as I'm very aware of her anxiety and sensitivity feeling at any moment she could explode.

This week I have seen a massive amount of progress with Cloud. I've been able to put her

under saddle and give her the first couple of rides. I've been using a wintec saddle it's nice

and light on her back. I'll use this on her for the first couple of weeks. As her back isn't strong

enough to support a halfbreed saddle. I've started to teach her to lower her head while I'm

lunging her and introduce trotting poles this will enable her to use her body properly and

strengthen her back.

This week cloud has taken huge steps in her progress which has enabled me to take her to the next step of her training program. 

I’ve been able to take her down to the round pen and begin our preparation work for under saddle. 

She has been happy to accept the tarp, dig ball, stock whip, flag, drag bag, roller and I’ve been finishing off each lesson by sitting on her. 

What I really love about the Brumbies is when they trust you everything is taken as a matter of course and with such little fuss.

This week I’ve been focusing on taking her for short 10 minute walks around her stable yards. Gradually introducing her to all the different things like cars horse floats and all the farm animals she’s gradually getting more confident by the day. 

lt’s so important to take her at her own pace to allow her anxiety levels to come down and only then I’ll be able to take

care her to the next step.

Continuing on from last week being able to halter Cloud I’ve been able to lead her up and down her stall yielding her hindquarters from both sides and gradually she’s gaining more

confidence by the day. 

I have been working on the gentle use of the rope looping it over her bum and rubbing down her hind legs and generally all over her body. 

With all this preparation and working at her own pace is preparing her to tackle the outside world

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.