BUDDING horse trainer, 16-year-old Wepar resident Holley Pickin, is putting her skills to the test as she participates in the 2018 Australian Brumby Challenge.
The young animal lover submitted a successful application into the junior category against six other trainers from around Australia, where she then received a year-old wild brumby from NSW, which she must train ready for the challenge held in Melbourne from November 15-18.
Pickin’s horse “Bago” was rescued from the Bago State Forest and at the conclusion of next month’s event, will be auctioned off to a new home.
The Brumby Challenge is an initiative of the Victorian Brumby Association, which aims to rescue and re-home the wild horses from the High Country.
Trainers are given 20 weeks to tame the brumbies and prepare them for the various activities of the challenge, as well as get them comfortable with handling and new people.
Pickin is in her 14th week with Bago and is pleased with his progress so far, after the initial weeks required baby steps to build trust.
“First I spent ages just sitting in the yard with him so he could get used to seeing me,” she said.
“Obviously he was not used to people at all.
“Then I got a long pole and sat that on his back, so he could get used to people making contact, even though I was not directly touching him.
“I slowly moved closer and closer until he could get used to me standing right next to him.
“Then I gave him a rub and moved forward from there.”
She said it was not until about the sixth or seventh week before she could halter Bago and begin to properly handle him.
“A lot of the other horses did progress quicker, but he’s just quite shy,” Pickin said.
Pickin has worked with young horses before, but this is her first experience with a wild one.
“All the domestic horses are so used to people, even if they are young,” she said.
“They are used to being handled by people and touched.
“Whereas for Bago, just being able to sniff my hand was a big deal.
“It took him a week or two to be able to do that.”
Pickin said her dream will become a horse trainer and her passion for the animal is quite clear, as she completes her school research project on brumbies.
The Brumby Challenge is a good pathway to her goal and she is soaking up the experience, while also doing her part to help a worthy cause.
“Obviously the brumbies are being culled and I saw a lot about that on social media,” Pickin said.
“This (program) really promotes the breed and how good they are as domestic horses.”
Pickin has only been riding horses for about six years, but her passion is plain to see and there is no denying the bond she has built with Bago in their short time together.
Due to school, work and TAFE commitments, she is limited in the time she can spend with her horse, which is another credit to the progress she has already made.
“They have got to really trust you,” Pickin said.
“That is the first step, before you can ask them to do anything.
“I only get to spend about four afternoons a week with him.
“But in a way it is good he sort of gets those three days a week off, because it gives him some time to just be a horse and relax.”
The Brumby Challenge itself involves several phases, including basic handling, obstacles and a freestyle session, which allows trainers to demonstrate their horse’s particular talents.
“There is a winner at the end of the competition,” Pickin said.
“When the brumbies are auctioned off, half of whatever is over their reserve price, (the trainers) get.
“Then all the reserve prices go straight back into the Victorian Brumby Association so they can rescue and re-home more horses.”
The progress of Pickin’s journey can be tracked on the Australian Brumby Challenge website, along with further information about the cause.
