Brumbies in Need
VBA RUBY AND FOAL
VBA Ruby is an older mare who was passively trapped from the Bogong High Plains in Victoria on the 17th of May, 2011 with her whole family group, including her older foal, VBA Rose. When Ruby arrived here with us, it was plain to see that she was an older lady (gravity affects us all eventually!) and also that she was in foal once again. As Ruby is an older mare, we made the decision to keep her here until she had had her foal and the foal was old enough to be weaned. Of course, this is a long process and we (and Ruby) could really do with your help.
Ruby hasn’t been physically handled at all at this stage, but has been taught to respect and live within fences and comes up for hay etc. When we turn out wild horses, we make a point of never hassling them in the paddock or forcing our company on them. This way, in time, they begin to seek us out.
On the 24th of October, Ruby had a new filly, who was born in the trees of our bush paddock, where Ruby lives with two other mares and a ‘gelding’ (who thinks he is a stallion!), Curious George. They are a beautiful herd to watch – all three mares have now foaled and when they appear out of the trees for their hay, it is a little magical to see!
We are looking for a sponsor who could sponsor Ruby until her foal is weaned. Sponsorship is generally a regular monthly payment of $30, but any contribution to Rubys upkeep during this time would be welcomed. We can offer Rubys sponsor the chance to name Rubys filly foal and if they are a suitable home, also the opportunity to have the first option to purchase Rubys foal once she is old enough to be weaned. Rubys sponsor would be welcome to visit her and her foal during their sponsorship period – currently, that would be the opportunity to just observe them and feed them in the paddock with us, but as Ruby comes in for training, they could be more ‘hands on’ with the foal and Ruby if appropriate. If you think that you could help Ruby, please contact Kristin on secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org
VBA TAFFY AND FOAL
VBA Taffy is an older mare, who was passively trapped from the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales on the 4th of August, 2011. Taffy was in holding yards with around 60 Brumbies when I first saw her. I had gone up to choose 22 Brumbies, which was all that we had space for in our program. I knew that the remainder of the Brumbies were going to the knackery the day after we chose our Brumbies, so it was a heartbreaking day. I was trying to concentrate on saving the youngsters, and it was obvious that Taffy was an older mare who had had many foals and was again pregnant. I knew that it would be harder to rehome her, but simply couldn’t leave her there, so our 22 became 23 and home to Brumbys Run she came!
As Taffy was so heavily pregnant, we decided to turn her out to foal rather than risk her unborn babe. Taffy lives in our bush paddock with a lovely little family group of other mares and foals, all supervised by Curious George and on the 24th of October, she had her beautiful foal. We don’t know what sex baby is yet as it is our policy to accept any contact that the wild ones initiate, but not force ourselves on them. Taffy brings her baby down each day for hay and is a gentle, gracious and beautifully coloured mare.
We are looking for a sponsor who could sponsor Taffy until her foal is weaned. Sponsorship is generally a regular monthly payment of $30, but any contribution to Taffys upkeep during this time would be welcomed. We can offer Taffys sponsor the chance to name her foal and if they are a suitable home, also the opportunity to have the first option to purchase Taffys foal once she is old enough to be weaned. Taffys sponsor would be welcome to visit her and her foal during their sponsorship period – currently, that would be the opportunity to just observe them and feed them in the paddock with us, but as Taffy comes in for training, they could be more ‘hands on’ with the foal and Taffy if appropriate. If you think that you could help Taffy, please contact Kristin on secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org
VBA PANDORA AND VBA BOOTS
VBA Pandora was passively trapped on the 4th of August form the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Pandora was amongst the 60 Brumbies I went to see too bring home only 22. Pandora stood out for a few reasons; she was clearly quite young and also clearly heavily pregnant. She is also one of the smallest Brumbies I have ever seen, so little Dora became our 24th Brumby to come home that day to Brumbys Run. Whilst we initially turned Dora out with a small group of Brumbies, she developed the habit of putting herself in the yards when we were around to beg for hay, so I spent a quiet Sunday afternoon with Dora, working to halter her without stressing her or her unborn foal. The result was that two days later, Dora was out in the front paddock, living with my domestic Brumbies and coming up to anyone with food.
On the 16th of October, Dora had a beautiful and big colt foal who we named Boots. Boots is a stunning fellow and looks like he will grow to a more regular Brumby size than his little Mum. Boots has learned from his Mum that people are great, so he comes fearlessly up for pats and scratches.
Dora has a partial sponsor already, who will be purchasing her after Boots is weaned, so we are looking for a sponsor for Boots until he is weaned. Sponsorship is generally a regular monthly payment of $30, but any contribution to Boots upkeep during this time would be welcomed. Boots sponsors would be welcomed to visit Boots and be involved with his upbringing here at Brumbys run (he loves to be visited) and if they are an appropriate home we can offer them the opportunity to have the first option to purchase Boots once he is old enough to be weaned. If you think that you could help Boots, please contact Kristin on secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org
VBA DOLLY AND VBA NELLIE MELBA
VBA Dolly was passively trapped from the Bogong High Plains in the Alpine National Park in Victoria on the 4th of April, 2011 with her whole family unit, including her 18 month old son and her weanling age foal. As Dolly was obviously pregnant once again, we made the decision to keep her until she foaled and her new foal was weaned.
We commenced Dollys training which she took to really well – including ageing her at eight years old, teaching her to lead, be caught and generally socialising her. On the 10th of November, Dolly had a stunning big filly foal who we named VBA Nellie Melba, Nellie for short. Nellie is a brave, happy filly who is taking her Mums lead and finds people a fascinating part of her herd.
We are looking for a sponsor for Dolly and Nellie until young Nellie Melba is weaned. Sponsorship is generally a regular monthly payment of $30, but any contribution to Dolly and Nellies upkeep during this time would be welcomed. Dolly and Nellies sponsor would be welcomed to visit them and be involved with their training and Nellies upbringing here at Brumbys run (they love to be visited) and if they are an appropriate home we can offer them the opportunity to have the first option to purchase either or both of them either prior to or after Nellie is weaned. If you think that you could help Dolly and Nellie, please contact Kristin on secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org
VBA MOLLY
VBA Molly was passively trapped from the Bogong High Plains in the Alpine National Park in Victoria on the 5th of June, 2010 with her whole family unit, including her weanling age foal. As Molly was obviously an older mare and heavily pregnant as well as quite thin, we made the decision to keep her until she foaled and her new foal was weaned. Poor Molly lost her new foal at birth and has recovered slowly. She is now thriving however and is shiny, fat and happy here at Brumbys Run.
At this stage, we expect Molly to stay here for the foreseeable future – there are not many homes out there for elderly Brumby mares, so we are putting Molly into our sponsorship program to help cover her costs.
Sponsorship is generally a regular monthly payment of $30, but any contribution to Mollys upkeep would be welcomed. Mollys sponsor would be welcomed to visit her and be involved with her training and life here at Brumbys run and if they are an appropriate home we can offer them the opportunity to have the first option to purchase Molly should they wish to do so. If you think that you could help Molly, please contact Kristin on secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org
STB DIGGER
STB Digger is a seven year old Buckskin Brumby from the Guy Fawkes National
Park in Northern NSW. Digger was caught from the wild as a three year old colt and gentled and rehomed by Save the Brumbies in NSW. Unfortunately one of the things that you have no control over when you're rehoming any animalis peoples circumstances changing.
Digger entered our lives in January 2010 when a lady who had bought him only eight months previously called us. She desperately wanted to do the right thing by Digger but by the time he had made his way to her, he was an older, traumatised Brumby with some pretty big fear issues.
When we went to pick Digger up, the first thing I noticed was his kind eye. The second was his very deep fear. We managed to free load him onto the float as he couldn't cope with being touched at all. Digger travelled really well home and we unloaded him into a yard where we could handle him further.
The next few days were a real eye opener for me. I have never handled a horse quite like poor Digger. When Digger couldn’t flee, he weaved and rocked in the saddest way, but never ever tried to hurt me. Digger also turned on himself, biting his own chest in panic. After a week, Digger learnt that I would walk away as soon as he stopped weaving. He even turned his head to look at me, which was a real breakthrough.
After his first week here, I turned Digger out in the paddock to relax and learn about life here at Brumby's Run. He is living in our main paddock, babysitting a mob of Brumby yearlings and walks happily up to me, but never close enough to be touched.
Update 15/12/2011
Digger has settled really well into life here at Brumbys Run. He now comes up to us in the paddock and will eat out of our hands, we can also handle him to do all his necessary health work such as feet, worming and teeth. Unfortunately at this point in time it appears unlikely that Digger will never be suitable for a home away from here due to his deep trauma issues – he knows our routines here well now and copes wonderfully. We really need a sponsor who can help us to care for Digger and his ongoing costs. Sponsors can come up and meet their sponsored Brumbies. In Diggers case, we can’t promise anything – sometimes he will approach strangers in his paddock and other times he wont, but he WILL appreciate your support to assist with his future life here!
If you think you can help, please contact our secretary secretary@victorianbrumbyassociation.org.
