Hi Libby - first of all, congratulations on taking on this horse. She is lucky to have found a home that wants to help her. I think your understanding that she is still a baby and not to expect too much initially is correct. She will most likely be unsettled and confused when she first arrives, but once she has settled and made friends with your two boys I would just turn her out with them and allow her to be horse and grow a bit. Daily handling and some basic groundwork is all you need to do until she is old enough to physically handle more. You could teach her to walk nicely in a headcollar, get used to having her feet picked up, plus some desensitising work. All of this can be found in the various lessons here on the uni and if done regularly and at a pace that she is comfortable with, by the time she comes to be started under saddle she should not find it too stressful. Just take it slowly and gradually at her pace - brumbies are known for being highly intelligent and if she is correctly started (I prefer using 'started' to 'broken') there is no reason why she should not make a good riding horse. Good luck and do keep us posted on your progress! I am sorry you have had some negative responses here on the forum in the past, most people seem to be genuinely helpful so if you have any questions you should not hesitate to place a query, somebody is bound to be able to assist in one way or another.

I'll come back and respond later when I have access to an actual keyboard, Libby :-)
But totally agree with what Emlaw has said.

If it were me, when she arrives, and for some time after, I would just go out in the pen ands sit with her to get her used to me without actually doing anything. Let her come to you, she will. When she does, just sit and do nothing, let her sniff you and touch you. When she is comfortable with that, then you can SLOWLY start touching her. I have had several wild mustangs and it always works.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks so much for your replies. That's all really helpful!

Bella arrived yesterday & I currently have her in the round yard. She was very nervous & unsettled yesterday and I just spent some time lying down in the round yard and she eventually came over for a big sniff of me, and then walked of, came back, again & again!

Today, she actually walked straight to me and let me stroke her face & neck gently. I did this and then stepped right out of her bubble as a reward. It was such a great feeling!

Everyone keeps asking me 'when you guna get that halter on her' but my answer is simple, when she shows me she's ready. I'm in no rush to halter her but it obviously would be good as then I would be able to do leading work with her & also move her from the round yard when that needs to be used.

I'm really worried to put her out in the paddock (it's approx 5 acres) with my boys, the reason I am worried is that I don't know if i'll ever be able to get near here - it's such a massive area and I once had two ponies out there and could never catch them, had to 'round them up' basically shifting them into the smaller yard but it would take hours.

I was wondering if trying to join up with her in the round yard over the next few weeks would be a good idea? Is it too soon to do join up? Do you think she'll be okay in the round yard for a while? There is plenty of grass in there and i'm chucking out lucerne hay every day to keep her going - its a 20m diameter steel panneled round yard.

Another thing that someone suggested to me was putting one of my friendly boys in with her and stroking him all over, pick up his feet, brush him down, etc etc - to show her it's okay - someone said that might help. I thought I could put Toby (My V friendly and gentle TB) in there with her for 20 mins or so and just let them chat & get to know each other & then daily take him in there and see if she's interested in what we're doing? I've noticed she is always watching me, today after I left the round yard and walked through the paddock to do some work in another paddock, i looked back and her eyes were glued to me, she stayed like that for the 40 minutes I was up there & then when i came back and walked towards the house she followed me around and called out..I wonder if she already is begining to trust me?

Thanks again so much for your advice guys, I really appreciate it. It is very hard to find people who understand Monty's way - i always seem to get laughed at or told 'that'll never work'! drives me crazy :)

Hi Libby, sorry i didnt respond earlier as i said i would, but when hubby is working from home, im stuck with the ipad and typing on it isnt fun and thus i never say everything i want to (or get my grammar and puncuation right, or spelling for that matter lol), so bear with me :-)
I'm going to say straight up, that some people would totally freak out about lying down in a round pen with a wild horse and most would not recommend it, but clearly you felt safe doing it and it worked for you today.
That is so exciting that she let you touch her!
And i think you will know when Bella is ready for the halter. Do you have a dually? It helped me a lot with my two wild little horses.
Re: your 5 acreaddock, are you able to temporarily fence off a smaller area with electric tape or similar, where the three if them can be together or at least closer, if they are not ready to be in the same paddock? I would be worried too that id never catch her again in a space that big! But I would also be concerned that separating her from the others could create anxiety and you may end up with a horse that squeals and performs when ever she is left alone? I dont know as i am not sure how or why some horses react that way to separation and others dont.
i like the idea of handling your other horses where she can see.
Just from my own limited experience with wild horses, we have two minis one appaloosa and one pintaloosa horses that where raised in unhandled herds. The run on approximately 1.5 acres at our place and are currently impossible to catch. So we have a night yard where they get fed and spend the night (approx 3x3metres). This enables us to handle them morning and night without the big chase.
I tried join up within a week of having them. It didnt work that well lol! One reason was i didnt have the body language completely right and (thanks to the awesome advise on here) i found after doing some gentling/handling, putting the halter on etc helped. I also practiced join up without a horse and visually in my head, read more and watched heaps of videos before i tried again. I've done join up 3 times now with one of them, but the other.....needs a new thread all of his own lol!
But saying that, if you watch the "catching your horse in a large pasture" video, its great to adopt the body language when just being around Bella.
I know there are others on here with heaps more exoerience and ideas than me, who will be able to help.
Im an aussie too by the way :-) i live in Sydney on the Northern Beaches.
Can i ask which rescue group you got her from? I would like to adopt a brumby too in the future :-)
Stay safe :-)

Hi Libby
I would say that you seem to be doing things right and taking things at her pace - don't be rushed into stuff by other people, use your own gut instinct. If there is plenty of room in the round pen there is no reason why she cannot stay in there for a while - I think your idea of putting one of the friendly boys in there is a good idea too. There is no hurry - all this time spent now just getting to know her and allowing her to make up her mind that you are to be trusted is the most important thing and will form a good solid base for the future. You are doing great.

Thanks Rahni & Emlaw! :) ... Rahni, I know lying down with a wild horse is probably not the best idea i've ever had, lol! I did think that as she was coming over but by then, i didn't want to jump up suddenly and scare her of... I just neal down now so i'm not towering over her and she accepts that well.
This morning, I went out there to feed my two, they are trained to wait outside their stables and come in once I place the buckets down... they neigh their heads off at breakfast time and Bella joined in... I went in with her breakfast & she walked straight on over to me and started eating happily... I just sat with her for a while talking to her to get her used to my voice & to leave on a good night i gave her head a good rub and also her neck and then left her be.
She seems to be fine in the round yard and doesn't mind much about the boys being out in the paddock, they regularly come over to see her and spend time talking over the fence and she's happy with that. I want to get to a point where I can walk straight up to her in the round yard and put the halter on without any hesitation. Yesterday afternoon I actually had her taking steps towards me for the first time! I went over and patted her head then stepped back, and she came right towards me which was great progress!
I'm really confused how to approach the halter training, there are so many different ways that I have seen on the internet and i'm trying to work out what I think is best - i'm not a fan of putting a rope around their neck and pratically forcing them to take the halter, I am sort of assuming that when it's right, it's right. At the moment, I can get the halter over her nose and then she backs up a bit so i take it off and step out of her bubble. Has anyone ever had any experience with this?
A lot of people have said once you get the halter on, keep it on so you can always catch her but I think this defeats the purpose of halter training, I'm planning on putting it on, leading her around gently for a while and then taking it off and on again a few times to get her used to it & when i'm not working with her, she won't have a halter on.

I don't have a dually halter & can't find anywhere in Aus to get one, Rhani - do you know of anywhere? I live in the South West out near Liverpool, my local horseland in Narallen don't stock them. I know i can order one online but i'd like to get one pretty pronto so I can start as I mean to go on.

Re the brumby rescue, she came from a place in Razorback, the man works for the National Parks & takes as many as he can - he has an 80 acre property. He actually has a few available, if you're interested perhaps add me on facebook or something and we can chat about it. They're the best little horses ever!

Thanks again everyone :)

Hi Libby - the key to getting the halter on is to just do it incrementally, a little bit further up her nose each time until you can eventually get it over her head. Also, try just walking around the pen with it over your shoulder, or leave it hanging somewhere she can sniff it at her own pace. I would never turn out a horse with a headcollar on unless it is a safety release one - I have seen terrible injuries caused to a foal that caught a headcollar on something in the paddock, ened up with a fractured face bone and a huge gash across his head, it's just not worth it. Have you watched Monty's lessons on catching your horse in the paddock? Good advice given in it about body language and other things, but I think you are already on the right track with the plan you have outlined above about just leading her around and so on.

Hi Libby - this is a fantastic thread and you sound as if you are doing all the right things with your new little charge - how exciting for you and congratulations on your great progress. Certainly agree with Emlaw - keep her in the round yard while she settles in - it could take weeks but don't be in a hurry to move her out. It is great that she can get to know your two boys through the fence. I think that is enough at present - I wouldn't take one of the others in with you until she has really settled in and knows them well. Great idea to do this prior to eventually letting her out with them as otherwise she could get kicked if she tries to be too familiar in the paddock/field. You can buy dually halters over the phone from Edward's Saddleworld, Toowoomba phone 07 4633 1111. Given she is only 6 months old you would need the red dually at present and then later you may need the black one. They are quite expensive approx. $69.00 but much cheaper here than buying them from Monty's Store as the postage is much better. Given the expense you may prefer to waite a little while before purchasing one. As she is a baby I would just start with a rope halter as these are lighter than traditional head stalls. Not as intimidating for a young horse and you do get better control with them than a traditional headstall. As Emlaw says just walk around with it for a few days and then start putting it up to her neck when you are rubbing her then taking it away, then try holding it up in front of her face and taking it away, then start rubbing her neck and face with it in your hand - take your hand right up behind her ears with it - you may even be able to move it over her ears and down her face once she is happy with it. If she accepts this I would rub her down her shoulders with it too and maybe along her back. When she is very happy to accept you with the halter - may take a couple of sessions - then I would put her muzzle into the nose band and take it away again - do this a few times until finally you feel she is ready for you to reach over her neck and do it up then take it off again - end of lesson for that day. I would just put the head stall on and take it off for a few days. Leave it on her for awhile while you are with her so she can walk around and get used to it. Again like Emlaw I would not leave the headstall on a horse when loose and not attended as they can get caught on things. Before you attempt to attach the lead rope familiarise her with the rope just as you did for the headstall. Once you believe she is ready for the lead rope then attach it. Very gently ask her to respond. She may get confused and scared when she feels the pressure so have a long lead rope and wear gloves so that you can hold her. Enjoy this exciting adventure - you sound as if you have all under control. You have the right instincts so stay with them and don't allow non-monty type 'experts' to confuse you. We look forward to hearing of your progress.

Just re-read this - there is an addition needed at the point of putting the lead rope on the halter which you have no doubt picked up with your experience. Sounds as if I am suggesting you hold her rigidly with the lead rope - bad error as this would be a real NO, NO. When you finally attach the rope stand with her quietly for awhile - you may even take the rope off again then put it back on. Gradually place some pressure on the lead rope and ask her to follow you. She may even be able to follow you without pressure initially which would be great. IF she does get scared and confused and flies backwards then move with her allowing the long lead rope to do its thing until she settles, stay calm and talk to her gently the whole time. I am sure you would have realised this - it is so easy to leave out important steps when responding on forum and as my responses tend to be too long most of the time I do skip over things. Apologies everyone for this.

Thank you so much - after an evening being told 'I must get a halter on that horse' 'hurry up and get it done' in glad to come and read your comments and have support in the method I have chosen. Jeez it can be very hard to explain why I do the Monty way to people that don't get it!!

I'll write back properly tomorrow when i have the laptop but just wanted to say thank you all, your support and words of encouragement are very much appreciated!!

"Hurry up" has no place when training any horse. Slow and easy works much better, and doesnt take as long, actually. And even if it does, whats the hurry? Take your time and both of you will enjoy the process a lot more. "Hurry up" was how the old cowboys used to do it, and they rode half wild horses that they could never trust, and who never liked or trusted them. Sounds like you are doing fine, just keep on with what you are doing and dont pay attention to anyone who tells you to hurry up. You will win in he end. My last husband was the kind that wanted results yesterday, but when my son and I started his filly for him, he found out she was the sweetest, gentlest horse he had ever ridden, and the easiest to handle. She was a mustang, born of a wild mare I adopted a month after I got her. When she was a year old, I told my son to go and get her used to having things on her back, I sort of meant things like saddle blankets, but when I checked on what he was doing, he had weeds and a cat on her back, and nobody minded a bit. Wasnt really what I had in mind, but he said the weeds needed pulling and the cat was there, so... Anyway, both filly and cat seemed to be enjoying the whole thing. So for her second year, she carried things like weeds, cats, any lightweight thing my goofy son could think of, and when she was old enough for her first human rider, she was ready. Didnt bother her a bit.

Libby - I've lost time of the number of times I've tried to explain to people about the Monty methods only to be met with blank stares or looks that say "You're nuts". These days I just shrug my shoulders and let the comments pass over my head, otherwise it WOULD drive me nuts! Phantommustang is right about taking it slow and easy, no reason at all to rush anything. I love the story about the cats and the weeds Phantommustang, your son obviously has natural common sense (and a sense of humour). Can I also recommend books by Mark Rashid - I have read two of them (Horses Never Lie and A Good Horse Is Never A Bad Colour) and if you like Monty's methods you will find them very interesting as a lot of his principles are similar and he has a very entertaining way of writing. They aren't really horse training instruction books, more a series of anecdotes and stories about how Mark learnt to understand horses from his mentor The Old Man. In one of the books he talks about getting foals used to being handled - laying coats and jackets over their backs and suchlike, so that their eventual introduction to a saddle and rider is very stress free.

Hi emlaw, thanks for your reply. I am trying to let it brush over my head but it can be so difficult. Someone said to me that I should get her to accept the halter soon as what if I need to have her stand for a vet urgently or if there was a fire or something, at the moment I wouldn't be able to get her so that did get me worrying a bit!!! How long do you think a good training session is? I try to keep them to a maximum of 15 minutes twice a day - does this sound enough? Can anyone let me know how many days, weeks, months it might take to get the halter on her? I'm just really worried that i'm not progressing as well as I should be but i think it's just due to all the negative feedback. I run an agistment place here so i have a lot of people coming & going all the time and they all have their own ways of training (most send them off to a trainer and pay $$$$ to have their horse trained & then try and tell me how to do things.???)... so frustrating! Must go as middle of the day here and i'm meant to be working but just keep popping out to see my little girl, I can't help myself :)

15 minutes twice a day is just fine, she is still a baby and short sessions are best. I wouldn't set a time limit on how long it takes to get the headcollar on, otherwise you will just stress yourself out. I don't think it will take too long at all though, they are fast learners. I found a really good website for the Victorian Brumby Association.
http://www.victorianbrumbyassociation.org/
They have a useful fact sheet on caring for your brumby which has some good basic information - most of which you probably already know, just thought you might find it of some assistance. It is at the bottom of the Brumbies For Sale page.
It is hard to ignore other people sometimes, especially if they are very persistant. Best to let them have their say and then thank them for their advice and leave it at that, then they can walk off feeling that they've been helpful.

You are doing just fine Libby so hang in there. 15 minutes twice a day is perfect for a baby. Just stay calm and unstressed and I am sure you will get that halter on her in about a week or so. The most important thing is that she trusts you and her trust will grow each time you are with her. Keeping her in the round yard is really good as she is totally reliant on you for company, food and water and all these will help her accept you and trust you. Pity you have so many people giving you poor advice. As Emlaw says just ignore them unless the advice makes sense to you. That person who suggested you must have her haltered in case of fire or injury is just scare moungering. Ignore those fears and focus on what you are doing. We will join your excitement when you finally get that halter on and I am sure it want take long. I know Monty doesn't beleive in food rewards and I will probably get reprimanded by his other students for suggesting this but I have always found a little bit of carrot given correctly and at appropriate times as a reward for correct responses and when gaining a horses trust has amazing results. I think you will find that this hastens the halter putting on process considerably. If you do think of trying this make sure you always give the carrot on your terms - your horse must not look for it and if she does gently move her muzzle away from you and no carrot. I carry chopped up carrot in a bum bag and only give it out occasionally.

psst Maggie ;) we actually used food to get our boys to feel comfortable and familiar around us and to associate us with a positive experience. They come like giant puppies when called now hehe.
You have had so much great advise Libby, again I have nothing to add! You are doing great :)
I only mentioned the lying down bit as I was holding my breath waiting for an onslaught of disapproval and wanted to kinda soften the blow, but you didnt get one :)
Razorback, I did a quick google maps, is that sort of near Bathurst? I dont have room currently for another horse, but will be looking in to it as soon as we do. Im happy to FB :)
I just wanted to add, I am really enjoying this thread and wish I had felt the freedom to share my story on here too 6 or so months ago. The mood of this forum has changed, which is nice :)

Thanks Rahni! You made me giggle. If it feels right for us and it works then it can be our secret Shhh!

Hi Libby,
Sounds like you're doing a great job. If you want some further advice, contact Monty's Australian instructor, Lynn Mitchell at http://www.schoolofequus.com.au/ as she fostered 2 wild brumbies from the Victorian brumby association last year. She would be a wealth of information for you. She's probably a bit busy this week though, as she's helping out Monty whilst he's here in Australia!
Regards,
Ruth

Hi Everyone,
Thanks very much for all your support & advice. Emlaw, thank you for the fact sheet from that website, I found that very helpful! phantommustang1 that is so funny re your son putting the cat on your horse... hehe thanks for the laugh :)! Maggie... i know what you mean re a bit of carrott, i have actually tried that with Bella but i think because she is from the wild she's not very interested. A small handful of lucerene chaff does the trick though ;).
Sooo i have made progress, well at least i think i have! Today Bella let me put the halter over her nose hundreds of times with no hesitation, she also let me just hold it there for a few seconds!! Wow I can't believe it. She still flinches if i move to grab the other side but I know it will come in time as in the last 5 days she has gone from running away from me at every chance to walking straight up to me and accepting me with the halter. Now i am SO happy but I do have a question please. A few times this afternoon, I had the halter over her nose and then she'd go to pull her head out and i tried to hold the halter there but in one swift movement she raised her head (wide open eyes, ears not back but kind of pricked to attention) and went backwards really quickly. Now i know this sounds silly but I've learnt it's best to be honest about what's going on so here goes... i got scared! When she raised her head & moved so suddenly, my heart beated faster and I could feel myself get scared. I think i'm scared of her kicking out at me or rearing up at me (she is tiny but still lol)... any tips here?? I feel if I can just push through this and follow her back without fear she will gradually accept it, i'm worried that she is learning all she has to do is pull her head out and then it goes away :/.

Other than this though, I am extremly happy with the progress i have made. I run an agistment centre here and one of my clients has requested to use the round yard in just over a week for her horses. I can hardly say no as she pays me agistment which included use of our round yard. I'm hoping that by this time I will have Bella haltered & leading but i'm starting to feel a bit of pressure. I did ask the girl if she was willing to wait but she has already waited a week and will be waiting another week so i really need to be able to move Bella out of the round yard and into one of my stables while the girl is using it. Any tips here? I guess i will just have to see, i mean i don't want to force it on Bella just because someone's rushing me.

something else on my mind is i'm worrying that once i get it on her once, what do i do then? like when it's done up? Shall i leave it on for a few minutes or take it straight off and put it straight back on?? What if i take it straight off and then can't get it back on or it takes forever? Will this be teaching her it's okay to resist it?

Ruthy - thank you SO much for the link to Lynn's site. This is just amazing! I will certainly get in contact with Lynn next week... how lucky is she working with Monty!! that is my ultimate dream! Looks like she does some amazing work and although I'm based in Sydney we have an annual horse show in Melbourne that I'm going to in November so I may be able to tie it in with a visit to Lynn which would be great.

Guys, thank you all so so much for your comments & for always taking the time to listen & respond to me. The last time I posted on this I swore I would never do it again and i'm so glad i did :). Rahni, i'm glad you're enjoying the thread! Razorback is kind of near bathurst i guess, not that far though. It is 50 mins from Sydney CBD in a car with no traffic so hopefully that helps! Is there a way to private message on this site? I have no idea lol! If not, we'll sort somethign out, you should come and meet Bella if you're ever out this way :)!

Thanks everyone... i'm going to relax tonight knowing i have progressed with little Bella and that i'm following my gut :) hooray!

Libby - I know what you mean about getting scared, I have felt like that as well. To keep calm I do yoga which has helped with my breathing, and if I feel myself getting tense I drop my shoulders and do a few deep yoga breaths right into my belly and it helps a lot. I think you have made great progress. In order to get her used to the headcollar going up and over her head you might want to try just running your hand up and over her ears until she is quite relaxed - I am sure this is in one of Monty's lessons (possibly Georgia's phobias) where he shows how to get a bridle on a remedial horse, I guess the principles are the same with your wee girl. Once you get it on I would leave it on for a short while to give her time to get used to it before taking it off. If you do it slowly and carefully there is no reason why she should be bothered by it.

Hi Libby - I think you are doing great and it is understandable that you got a bit scared. Are you wearing your helmet and good boots as they are important when working with a young one. Remember your brumby is very young and very wild (perhaps even wilder than I initially thought) so slowly, slowly is the key. If she is coming up to you and accepting you with the halter in your hand that is great. Given she took fright when you had it over her muzzle don't try that again for a little while just keep rubbing her where ever you can with the headstall in your hand. It is really important that she accepts your hand with the halter on her and over her neck prior to trying to attach it. If she will allow you to place your hand and arm over her neck with the halter then keep on doing this until she totally accepts it. You may even be able to just hold it gently around her neck - don't fasten it just lighly hold it then take it away again. It seems that she is going to be frightened as soon as it is on her so it is important that you do not fasten it initially - just take you time. Try put it up on her muzzle again but this time hold some of her chaff in one hand so she can nibble on that after you have it over her muzzle - she will be more scared now as she has had a bit of a fright - try to breathe yourself - talking to her softly and continually will help you both to relax. Once you can put it on and off her muzzle again then go back to putting it over her neck. I would keep the chaff handy and keep rewarding her for correct behaviour with it. You will get it on but it will be a slow process keep your movements really slow with this little girl. Once you can get it on just leave it on her for a little while so that she understands it is there to stay until you take it off. Just a few minutes should do but she could well be scared and not allow you back near her to take it off. Don't be worried just leave her for an hour or so then go back with your handful of chaff and ask her to be friends again. Touch her where the halter is but don't be in a hurry to take it off as she may pull back in fright. Go back an hour later and do the same until she will stand quietly next to you while you touch the halter -put your arm up over her head where you will need it when you finally release the halter. When you finally think she is ready for you to take the halter off do so very slowly and try to hold the ends of the halter so that they don't flap and startle her. Once you have it off I would go back an hour later with my handful of feed and put it back on - repeat the whole process! Next day start with the lead rope. One of my friends purchased a young whaler from the Northern Territory years ago and she was a very scared baby too and needed a lot of very gentle, quiet handling from her experienced owner. Pity the round yard is in demand. Is it possible for you to build another temporary yard for her - any corners or areas that you could fence off quite easily with just a couple of poles and a few rails? It would need to be where you filly could still see and talk to your other two. I wouldn't use electric tape as when they are this timid electric tape rally terrifies them.

Unfortunately there isn't a way to private message on here :( I think it would be nice if there was! There are no personal profiles either, which I find makes it harder to get to know everyone and feel comfortable. I keep hoping admin will change that at some point (hint, hint ;))

My facebook is my name I use here + my last name, there shouldnt be too many of me in sydney lol! And my profile pic is of myself and my daughter on my old anglo.

Rahni have you checked out the forum topic Introductions? That is quite good in getting to know other forum students and you could add yours to.

Im with you on that, Rhani. Heres adding more hints. And I keep trying to add a picture, but although it should work, it doesnt.

Well i haven't been on here much of late, but coming back on i find a thread from a fellow brumby owner!! Libby I think wwe may have connected on facebook?? There can't be too many people called libby who have just adopted a 6 month old brumby from razorback!! I am so pleased to read that all is going well with Bella!! Monty offers such a commonsense, complete approach to training so little Bella is in good hands!! Don't worry i have lots of peole scoff at me when i say i use Monty's methods!! Although i can't use my Dually halter with Buster as it is not a good fit, but we have done Join Up a few times and in the early stages of my getting to know Buster the knowledge of the language of Equus was invaluable!...well it still is and always will be lol!!

When i have more time i will go back over this thread and read it more thouroughly but for now i think you are doing great and i will def be back on here to see your progress!!

Janelle Baldini (owner of VBA Buster)

Since this thread started I have been spending (probably too much) time messing about on the internet learning more about brumbies and I came across the VBA website so I also joined the VBA Facebook group. I think they are doing amazing work with these wonderful little horses. I am moving to Melbourne soon from NZ and I would love to go and see them, I understand they have volunteer days where you can go and help out, maybe that is something I will check out when we move there!

Emlaw, it is great you are interested in brumbies and moving to Oz!! I did buy my brumby from VBA but i would not deal with them again. I won't say why as i don't want to get myself in any trouble but i would be very wary of geting too involved with them. There are a few other oranisations to look at aswell. All Things Brumby on facebook is a new one but a good one :-)

Janelle - thanks for the advice, maybe I will get in contact with you when we get over to Melbourne, I have seen various other organisations online as well that are involved with brumbies and it would be good to check them out. I have decided that for my next horse I would like a youngster that I can start myself or have started for me, I have always had older horses before and it is sometimes difficult to deal with other people's mistakes. Who knows, maybe I will end up with a brumby?

Emlaw - Brumbies seem to be wonderful, easy to train first starting horses, my main problem has been with paperwork regarding my brumby through VBA, or lack of it! Also their brumbies do not have as much handling as they state in their advert, maybe thingsa are different now but when i got Buster he was not handled as much as i was led to believe. I will help you in any way i can to find a brumby rescue centre that meetsyour wishes as much as i can!! My boy Buster is a beautiful boy with a very intelligent, trainable attitude, and if you have patience and a good sense of their language then i say go for it!! I look forward to touching base with you in the future!!
Janelle

Janelle - thank you so much for your response. I am planning on doing some courses when I get to Melbourne, hopefully with Lynn Mitchell and there are a few other trainers I like the sound of. I want to get as much knowledge and practical experience as possible. Here in the South Island of NZ it is very hard to get to courses and very few people using Join Up, so that's my plan - then eventually once we have settled in I will look at getting a youngster - will definitely keep in touch.

Hi Janelle! Yes that's me running that group on facebook! If anyone on here wants to join it's called 'NSW Brumby Society' - just request to join group and i'll add you!

Sooo guys i have big news.. the halter is on :) and off, and on and off :) yay! Bella is also leading around very nicely for such a young girl and is picking it up so quickly! I am so so happy and want to thank you all for your support and well wishes!

Emlaw, that's great you're heading over here, i hope you getting a little brumby, I think they are so wonderful!

That's awesome Libby!! Once they have your trust brumbies are such willing horses :-) You two will share such an amazing bond, you will find it is different with a brumby...closer. How exciting that i have a fellow monty enthusiast on FB too!!
Janelle

Emlaw, How exciting that you are thinking of taking a course with Lynn Mitchell!! She is lovely and has given me some advice in the past. I would love to do one of her courses too but as i live in Tasmania it is a bit too costly to get there for it. She has experience with brumbies too ;-) haha you will have one before you know it lol!!

Libby - that's great news, glad to hear it's going well. Sounds like such a small thing getting a halter on, but really it's a big step for Bella as it is a sign of trust.

Hi Maggie, yes i did find the "introductions" thread and posted in it a while back :)
Welcome back Nelliebell:)
I joined the vba group on fb, they do have good info and sound like they are well organised, so good to know to be careful. Sadly thats not the first time ive heard bad feedback about a horse rescue group,. It seems there is little regulation as to whom and how these things are operated here in aus.....?
Thats exciting news Libby! Its such a sence of achievement with little wild ones, well done!

Hi Rahni - nice to be back....i have missed it :-) Unfortunately you are right that many rescue places sound great on paper and have fancy websites etc but sometimes that is as far as the organistion skills go! I was meant to receive an authenticity certificate with Buster so he can be registered but nearly 12 months on and i am still waiting.....it is 3 lines on a sheet of paper!! If you would like to connect with some great brumby people then i CAN recommend a few....

Hoofs2010 inc brumby rescue, on facebook and internet site

All Things Brumby, on facebook

NSW Brumby society, on facebook

HVBA hunter valley brumby association, on facebook and internet site.

Hope this opens a few more doors of information for you!

Emlaw, this is for you too :-)

Janelle

Thanks Janelle - I joined the NSW Facebook group and will definitely check out the others, it's good to hear things 'from the horses mouth' as it were.

Thanks Nelliebell, I will check them out. I found the HVBA a while back and joined there and NSW Brumby Society yesterday :)

Libby - congratulations!! I knew you could do it within the week. Great work - I am so excited for you. All the best now!