17/10/2025
An amazing young man from the wild who's taken everything in his stride over a few months. Super proud of this team to make it to equifest
Caitlyn Steven and Olympus
āWhat an epic five and a half months it has been since the April muster!
Olympus has come so far from the wild, wide-eyed pony I first saw peeking anxiously at me through the yard rails at Kelly Wilsonās. When I took on a wild Kaimanawa, I had no idea what to expect ā but this journey has been more rewarding than I ever imagined it could be. The trust, love, and respect weāve built together are beyond words. Olympus, or Olly as I call him, is the sweetest, goofiest soul, and I absolutely adore him.
Time and time again, Olly places his trust in me ā whether weāre tackling new obstacles or working through horsemanship maneuvers, he always gives his best and he consistently demonstrates his ability to learn and adapt. Heās now been out to a range of places, including demos at a KLF camp and our local pony club, where he performed confidently in front of small groups in new environments.
Next up is Equifest, a bigger challenge with a much larger audience and a busier environment. I donāt know if anyone ever truly feels fully prepared leading into something like this but based on how far he has come, I am confident he will do well. I am so proud of him and what he has achieved..
Since coming home with me, Olympus has completely come out of his shell. He zooms around the paddock, naps in the sun, and always greets me at the gate, making me smile every single day.
Things touching him have always been his biggest challenge and used to worry him terribly. He now handles a wide range of obstacles with ease and confidence, including flappy flags touching him and tight squeezes between pool noodles. Heās also mastered the required movements for the horsemanship pattern and continues to grow in confidence with each session.
Itās been a steep learning curve for me too, especially since I only got my first horse last December. Iām proud of how far weāve both come ā and I canāt wait to show everyone just how incredible Olympus is.
It blows my mind to think that just a few months ago, he was wild and had never interacted with a human. To have come this far, to trust so deeply, and to shine so brightly ā Olympus truly is something special. Heās the most amazing pony, and Iām so proud to be part of his journey. He truly is a phenomenal little guy. ā
