Wildhorses of Western Australia

Some months ago, Fred and Rachel Watkins came to visit us. They live up at Bakers Hill and as well as being OHHAWA members, Fred is a very talented young horse trainer. He came to help Kevin, also a trainer, with River.

River is a small bay brumby mare who was rescued from a station north of Broome in WA. She was actually a fairly healthy lead mare but was caught in the net, so to speak, with a number of seriously at risk horses. It was a private rescue and we ended up offering to take two of the brumbies to help out. These turned out to be River and her daughter, a pregnant young buckskin mare.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tried every single horsemanship technique – natural and otherwise - we knew to tame River. Nothing worked – she would not let us near her, let alone touch her. She was never aggressive, she just ran away. Over the months we established that she had probably been buckjumped on the station, and was desperately fearful – either that or not quite right in the head. (Hard to tell at first!)

While safer in captivity, she was not happier. We managed her via a series of raceways, to allow her to go out into smaller paddocks to graze. At first she accepted no other domestic horses near her (not even her own daughter when she was tamed), because they smelt of humans. She wanted nothing to do with anyone or anything. After six months we finally found an old pinto mare that she bonded with. We were thrilled and River was definitely more at ease. That was a start.

Months later, with still no success taming her, we asked Fred to come and try. Fred uses roping and other techniques to help quiet traumatised horses. He is one of the most patient, steady trainers we have ever had the priviledge to witness and his techniques work partly because it’s him who’s using them, I’m sure. He just has a gift – and he won’t give up on a horse.

Anyhow, after two days of nervous sweat (humans not horses!), some rain, mud, hard work, a raceway and endless patience, Fred not only got a halter and lead rope on River, but he managed to calm her down enough to start halter training her in our round yard. River looked shocked the first time Fred laid a hand on her. It was like she went, holy cr*p, I’m being touched and I’m still alive. She just stood there staring. There were tears in a few eyes, let me tell you.

That was the beginning of a whole change in attitude on River’s part.

Kevin took it from there, and now we can manage this lovely mare – we can both catch her (in a smaller area), stroke her, brush her mane and walk her about a little. It’s a long road but she’s getting there. She is learning to trust humans. She may never be a fully calm domestic broodmare – when Sheila finally managed to age her, thanks to Fred getting a halter on her, River was discovered to be over fifteen years of age. (Yes, another Ruth!) So long wild and so long free, and so many times scared, it’s not surprising she’s as timid as she is.

Anyhow we manage her now and she is in foal to our Waler/Percheron Sporthorse stallion. She has amazing movement and her first foal will be a gift to Fred and Rachel, for their efforts. She lives with a couple of other horses and is just about a different brumby. Thanks Fred!!

Here’s a few photos of past times and, at bottom, River in her now calmer and happier state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fearful River, just after Fred first got a halter on her. A wild horse who has never been traumatised accepts the taming process much easier.

Below is Fred attempting to stroke River, which she did not initially accept…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning – Fred with a lead rope on, teaching River to face up instead of running.

 River still trying to back away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River finally standing still, after much work (small steps so she doesn’t sweat up too much or stress too much), as Fred attempts to move in again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River thinking about running as Fred tries again…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River, totally stunned that being touched doesn’t actually hurt or kill her. The expression on her face was amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later, River with Kevin, already a calmer mare. And…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few weeks later, standing quietly during another training session in the round yard, mane and body brushed.  (Still working on the tail!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River’s amazing floating trot.

Katherine General Wild Horse Info