I suspect a lot of people will have chosen the same TV show as I did. Can you tell which show it is from this picture? (Ignore the advertisement for a different TV show in the corner. Although that's a really good show too.)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday Stills: TV Shows or Movies
Okay, first of all, I wanted to say that the quality of these photos is on the low side, but I have a handicap this week. I have an eye patch over one eye, and only have about 50% of my vision in my other eye thanks to a viral infection I picked up in a doctor's office waiting area, and the boys had the good flat screen TV all weekend, so I got stuck with the old fashioned, bulky thing.
I suspect a lot of people will have chosen the same TV show as I did. Can you tell which show it is from this picture? (Ignore the advertisement for a different TV show in the corner. Although that's a really good show too.)
No? How about this one?
If you know the show at all, this next picture is a dead giveaway.
Happy hunting for more pics on Sunday Stills.
I suspect a lot of people will have chosen the same TV show as I did. Can you tell which show it is from this picture? (Ignore the advertisement for a different TV show in the corner. Although that's a really good show too.)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Frozen Gloves
I'll announce the winner of my 1000th Post Contest on Monday.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Stuck in a Blizzard
Keep on adding your comments to the 1000th Post Contest. The contest ends at midnight tonight.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Things Are Working Out
Though we have more snowstorms on the way and continue to have below freezing temperatures, I did see a sign of spring yesterday. I looked out the window to see one Magpie sitting on Bombay's back and another one sitting on Lostine's back. I find it amazing how the horses don't mind letting these big black and white birds ride them.
My arms felt well enough for me to walk some Pit Bulls at the animal shelter, but I regretted it afterward. One guy pulled so hard on the leash that he brought all the pain back in my right wrist and elbow. The other gal brought me a lot joy by playing fetch with me in the snow. I'd throw a ball with my better arm, she'd chase it, and then dig through the snow to retrieve it. I didn't want to stick my hand in between those powerful jaws, so I taught her to drop the ball before I would take it and throw it again. I love making little strides in training these dogs who have been in the shelter for months or years that no one wants to adopt. And you know what? Even though Pit Bulls have very short hair, they love being brushed.
While feeding the horses last night, I struggled to pull the flakes of hay out from underneath the tarp. I heard a truck engine and looked up to see a man sitting in his truck in the street, stopped at the end of my driving watching me. I thought, "Oh no, here we go again. Someone is going to pull into my driveway and ask for directions."
Sure enough, he pulled into my driveway. I walked over to see what he wanted and was surprised to find my hay farmer stepping out of that truck. He came by to investigate my property to assess whether he might be able to get a truckload of hay down my drive without snow tires. He decided he could, and he's bringing a block for me today. The really good news is that I should be able to afford it, because my husband did taxes, and we are actually getting a return this year.
My arms felt well enough for me to walk some Pit Bulls at the animal shelter, but I regretted it afterward. One guy pulled so hard on the leash that he brought all the pain back in my right wrist and elbow. The other gal brought me a lot joy by playing fetch with me in the snow. I'd throw a ball with my better arm, she'd chase it, and then dig through the snow to retrieve it. I didn't want to stick my hand in between those powerful jaws, so I taught her to drop the ball before I would take it and throw it again. I love making little strides in training these dogs who have been in the shelter for months or years that no one wants to adopt. And you know what? Even though Pit Bulls have very short hair, they love being brushed.
While feeding the horses last night, I struggled to pull the flakes of hay out from underneath the tarp. I heard a truck engine and looked up to see a man sitting in his truck in the street, stopped at the end of my driving watching me. I thought, "Oh no, here we go again. Someone is going to pull into my driveway and ask for directions."
Sure enough, he pulled into my driveway. I walked over to see what he wanted and was surprised to find my hay farmer stepping out of that truck. He came by to investigate my property to assess whether he might be able to get a truckload of hay down my drive without snow tires. He decided he could, and he's bringing a block for me today. The really good news is that I should be able to afford it, because my husband did taxes, and we are actually getting a return this year.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Fighting the Blues
So much for optimism. I figured we'd return to sunshine once we got through the last load of storms, but now we are inundated with ice and have another string of storms on the way. I spent two days digging what little hay I have left out from under two-feet of snow.
All that snow shoveling along with a ton of manure shoveling... (The horses have been crapping three times more than usual. Thanks a lot guys and gals.) ...and ice breaking has led to me losing the use of my arms again. For some reason, the nerve that runs up my arms gets pinched at the elbow when I use my arms too much, and then it hurts just to lift a glass of water, turn a doorknob, or open a jar. Years ago I was in physical therapy to regain the use of one arm after the pain got so intense that I couldn't do anything but dangle it at my side.
My neurologist found chronic nerve damage in my neck, but that turned out to not be related to the arm pain. The arm pain is more like tennis elbow, which sounds minor, but is actually quite debilitating. I wish I had a job so that I could pay someone else to shovel for a while, because my family members have health problems of their own and can't help.
Even though he shouldn't have, my husband got outside with a sledge hammer and broke up a bunch of stalactites and stalagmites that were growing on our patio. The ice broke a bunch of branches on those two potted trees I bought last fall to allow me some privacy and coverage over my bathroom window, because I was having a problem with a Peeping Tom each morning when I got in and out of the shower. I hope the trees survive, because I don't want to have to put up with another three seasons of peeping. This man moves in next door only for the warm seasons, and then as soon as it starts snowing, he moves out.
Everyone told me to just close the window or pull the blinds closed, but like I explained and predicted, black mold started building up on the window, blinds, ceiling and walls from no ventilation, and I ended up having respiratory problems. I spent days killing the mold with bleach a couple of weeks ago. I have to keep that window open rain or shine or Peeping Tom. The consequences of closed off ventilation just aren't worth the risks in this house.
Last week before the storms started, I found two farms that advertised that they still had hay. One was $8 a bale and one was $10 a bale. I had planned to go pick up whatever they had once the snow melted, but now the snow isn't melting and the farmers have taken down their signs, which means they are out of hay. I can't believe how unlucky I am. Now I have to order from the guy who charges $16 a bale. With my arms not working, I'll have to order delivery of an entire block, assuming he has some left. If not, I'll have to pay $18 a bale at the feed store.
Right now spring feels so far away that I think it is just an illusion.
All that snow shoveling along with a ton of manure shoveling... (The horses have been crapping three times more than usual. Thanks a lot guys and gals.) ...and ice breaking has led to me losing the use of my arms again. For some reason, the nerve that runs up my arms gets pinched at the elbow when I use my arms too much, and then it hurts just to lift a glass of water, turn a doorknob, or open a jar. Years ago I was in physical therapy to regain the use of one arm after the pain got so intense that I couldn't do anything but dangle it at my side.
My neurologist found chronic nerve damage in my neck, but that turned out to not be related to the arm pain. The arm pain is more like tennis elbow, which sounds minor, but is actually quite debilitating. I wish I had a job so that I could pay someone else to shovel for a while, because my family members have health problems of their own and can't help.
Even though he shouldn't have, my husband got outside with a sledge hammer and broke up a bunch of stalactites and stalagmites that were growing on our patio. The ice broke a bunch of branches on those two potted trees I bought last fall to allow me some privacy and coverage over my bathroom window, because I was having a problem with a Peeping Tom each morning when I got in and out of the shower. I hope the trees survive, because I don't want to have to put up with another three seasons of peeping. This man moves in next door only for the warm seasons, and then as soon as it starts snowing, he moves out.
Everyone told me to just close the window or pull the blinds closed, but like I explained and predicted, black mold started building up on the window, blinds, ceiling and walls from no ventilation, and I ended up having respiratory problems. I spent days killing the mold with bleach a couple of weeks ago. I have to keep that window open rain or shine or Peeping Tom. The consequences of closed off ventilation just aren't worth the risks in this house.
Last week before the storms started, I found two farms that advertised that they still had hay. One was $8 a bale and one was $10 a bale. I had planned to go pick up whatever they had once the snow melted, but now the snow isn't melting and the farmers have taken down their signs, which means they are out of hay. I can't believe how unlucky I am. Now I have to order from the guy who charges $16 a bale. With my arms not working, I'll have to order delivery of an entire block, assuming he has some left. If not, I'll have to pay $18 a bale at the feed store.
Right now spring feels so far away that I think it is just an illusion.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Snow Play Videos
I filmed the horses playing in the snow. It was warm enough that I could remove their blankets and let them romp around together. They keep sleeping on their manure to stay warm at night, so they've got some ugly stains on their fur, but otherwise, this is a beautiful sight to see. Bombay kept teasing the girls and showing off.
When they throw their heads in the air and make a half circle with their noses, that's the same thing we as humans do when we make a big sweeping motion with one arm to say, "Come on! Follow me! Let's play!"
Bombay is so strong and athletic, and his movement is completely different from the way the mares move. Gabbrielle has a very curvy, beautiful and fluid movement because she arches her neck and flags her tail. She was definitely bred for halter. Lostine doesn't run around a whole lot, but you do get to see her roll. Be patient with the first video. It's starts out boring, but the action picks up halfway through.
When they throw their heads in the air and make a half circle with their noses, that's the same thing we as humans do when we make a big sweeping motion with one arm to say, "Come on! Follow me! Let's play!"
Bombay is so strong and athletic, and his movement is completely different from the way the mares move. Gabbrielle has a very curvy, beautiful and fluid movement because she arches her neck and flags her tail. She was definitely bred for halter. Lostine doesn't run around a whole lot, but you do get to see her roll. Be patient with the first video. It's starts out boring, but the action picks up halfway through.
Most Snow Since...
We are thinking this is the most snow we've had since we've lived in this house, which is about 17 years. There was a bigger storm when we lived in our old house and no one could get out of their driveways. I remember being about 8 months pregnant and helping another woman push her car out of a snowdrift. Last night I fell asleep on the couch with the TV on. I was startled awake by the sound of the TV, lights, computers, and clocks shutting off, the beeping of UPSs, and opened my eyes just in time to see a big flash of light coming from the direction of our satellite and electrical wires.
Some snow must have fallen off the roof and hit our power box.
This is our bench press and other exercise equipment on the patio.
The Igloo dog house is literally an igloo now.
The branches were holding their own on the healthy trees, but I lost some smaller saplings that got crushed by the snow.
Our cars are partially buried.
No grain in those buckets.
Me in my pajama bottoms sinking up past the top of my snow boots. I've decided that I don't give a damn if my neighbors see me in my pajamas anymore. The horses are hungry before I'm ready to shower and put on clothes.
Horse trailer and truck. That's a pitchfork sticking out of the back of the truck. The horse trailer window is still broken, so the inside got its share of snow. I'm hoping the rubber mats will protect the wood floorboards to some extent.
My husband having problems walking through the mess.
He started knocking the snow off the barn roof with a pole, because he didn't have confidence that the roof would hold all that weight.
The horses were a little nervous at this point, but they could see what he was doing, so they knew where the sound was coming from.
Gabbrielle excited and watching the snow fall.
However, once my husband started knocking the snow off the back of the barn roof, the horses went nuts. Here you can see they have worried expressions and their ears are tilted back listening to the noise. Bombay began kicking the stall walls like he did when the neighbor's grandson drove an electric toy car behind the barn. Lostine arched her neck and snorted, which she rarely does anymore in her old age. Gabbrielle kept throwing herself at her window, which you can see is lower than the windows on the other stalls, only coming up to mid-chest, so she almost made it through. Only when my husband came back around to the front did they settle down.
The sun is out now, so hopefully most of this well melt, but not too fast, because we don't need another flood like we had in 1997. The bad news is that I'm almost out of hay. I didn't expect a storm this big, so I didn't plan ahead. Somehow I've got to get all that snow off the haystack, move the truck and horse trailer out of the way, and navigate these icy roads to a farm to pick up another load. Either that, or I'll have to open up the gates for another outrageously expensive harrow delivery. With this unpredictable weather, I really don't want to invest in several tons of hay because it will probably get ruined since I don't have a hay barn.
All I can say is that the hay farmers better not be bitching about the drought this year. We've been more than blessed with moisture, and the water tables should be significantly higher.
The sun is out now, so hopefully most of this well melt, but not too fast, because we don't need another flood like we had in 1997. The bad news is that I'm almost out of hay. I didn't expect a storm this big, so I didn't plan ahead. Somehow I've got to get all that snow off the haystack, move the truck and horse trailer out of the way, and navigate these icy roads to a farm to pick up another load. Either that, or I'll have to open up the gates for another outrageously expensive harrow delivery. With this unpredictable weather, I really don't want to invest in several tons of hay because it will probably get ruined since I don't have a hay barn.
All I can say is that the hay farmers better not be bitching about the drought this year. We've been more than blessed with moisture, and the water tables should be significantly higher.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Reading for Mrs. Martyr
Mrs. Martyr's Question: Will I ever connect with a horse such that I have one of those "heart horse" relationships?
Since this is a question that requires a yes or no answer, and these cards don't provide that, I changed the question slightly to this: What do I need to do to connect with a horse such that I have one of those "heart horse" relationships?
Card Pulled: Dharma's Reflection (Relationship as Mirror, Projection or Transference?, The Futility of Shame, Blame, and Hero Worship)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Looking honestly at how we respond in relationship provides a deeper glimpse of who we are than any mirror hanging on the wall. If we avoid shaming ourselves and blaming others, if we simply become curious about how we react in certain situations, and why, we quite naturally begin to change those patterns."
"THE CHALLENGE: Many people are afraid of their own shadow. Picking a family member or co-worker to act as scapegoat is a common, though destructive, coping strategy for those who refuse to look at the darkness within."
"THE JOURNEY: "...projection is the act of attributing your inner feelings, perceived weaknesses, and even unrecognized strengths to others because you're simply unable, or stubbornly unwilling, to see these qualities in yourself. Transference is a more specific type of projections that occurs when your thoughts and feelings toward someone are strongly influenced by attitudes originally developed in a significant past relationship. ...Transference quite simply keeps us from seeing others for who they really are."
Linda gives examples from her experiences in which a horse mistook her for someone who abused him when she wore a hat, and a rider who disliked a horse because it reminded her of her father. So, the trick is to recognize what is blocking you from being able to obtain that "heart horse" relationship, whether it be something coming from the horse or coming from you.
*********************************
This was fun. It truly astounded me how so many of the cards I pulled during these readings seemed to be so appropriate for the question. I studied Buddhism and Taoism for many years and was deeply affected by it. I'm sure this is why my husband gave this Way of the Horse divination kit to me as a gift. I think I'll close shop here, so I'm sorry if anyone else had questions and missed out on a reading. Thank you to those brave souls who stepped forward and shared questions that were on your minds. I hope you were able to get something out it.
Since this is a question that requires a yes or no answer, and these cards don't provide that, I changed the question slightly to this: What do I need to do to connect with a horse such that I have one of those "heart horse" relationships?
Card Pulled: Dharma's Reflection (Relationship as Mirror, Projection or Transference?, The Futility of Shame, Blame, and Hero Worship)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Looking honestly at how we respond in relationship provides a deeper glimpse of who we are than any mirror hanging on the wall. If we avoid shaming ourselves and blaming others, if we simply become curious about how we react in certain situations, and why, we quite naturally begin to change those patterns."
"THE CHALLENGE: Many people are afraid of their own shadow. Picking a family member or co-worker to act as scapegoat is a common, though destructive, coping strategy for those who refuse to look at the darkness within."
"THE JOURNEY: "...projection is the act of attributing your inner feelings, perceived weaknesses, and even unrecognized strengths to others because you're simply unable, or stubbornly unwilling, to see these qualities in yourself. Transference is a more specific type of projections that occurs when your thoughts and feelings toward someone are strongly influenced by attitudes originally developed in a significant past relationship. ...Transference quite simply keeps us from seeing others for who they really are."
Linda gives examples from her experiences in which a horse mistook her for someone who abused him when she wore a hat, and a rider who disliked a horse because it reminded her of her father. So, the trick is to recognize what is blocking you from being able to obtain that "heart horse" relationship, whether it be something coming from the horse or coming from you.
*********************************
This was fun. It truly astounded me how so many of the cards I pulled during these readings seemed to be so appropriate for the question. I studied Buddhism and Taoism for many years and was deeply affected by it. I'm sure this is why my husband gave this Way of the Horse divination kit to me as a gift. I think I'll close shop here, so I'm sorry if anyone else had questions and missed out on a reading. Thank you to those brave souls who stepped forward and shared questions that were on your minds. I hope you were able to get something out it.
Reading for QHHaflingerGal
QHHaflingerGal's Question: Which path should follow - work or retirement?
I don't think the cards can answer this one, so I'm changing the question slightly to this: What do I need to consider when making the choice between work or retirement?
Card Pulled: Black Horse Wisdom (Knowledge That Defies Logic, Exploring What Society Suppresses or Ignores, Treasure Hidden in Darkness)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: What appears to your conscious mind as darkness is simply the unknown, a fruitful yet formidable realm of untapped possibility. Dancing with uncertainty raises your confidence -- and artistry -- in collaborating with the greater mysteries of life."
"THE CHALLENGE: Learning to ride the energy of what can't be explained involves courage, creativity, and well-honed instincts. Losing your balance now and then, even wandering off course, is part of the skill, and the thrill, of moving beyond what civilization has already mapped through reason, language, and social protocol."
"THE JOURNEY: (Zorro) was acting on behalf of repressed populations, reclaiming freedom and dignity from a corrupt, narcissistic regime."
This chapter goes into the history of the black horse within various cultures throughout history. It is quite fascinating. I haven't been following tends in horse breeding recently, but I know that a few years ago there was a bit of a boom in breeding homozygous black Arabian horses, because black Arabians were one of the rarest colors. What I didn't know then, but know now thanks to reading Way of the Horse is that the Bedouins were inclined to slaughter black foals because they were considered to be bad luck. So, the lack of black Arabian horses had more to do with the mind and hand of man than natural selection.
But back to QHHaflingerGal's question about retirement, this chapter does mention a dream that Carl Jung studied in which a black mare lead a king's magician to the lost keys of paradise. It discusses having a more balanced existence. Perhaps you don't have to choose work or retirement, but can do both by working part-time? At the same time the book says, "...the black horse will lead us to those rich and nourishing grasslands on the other side." It talks about the first half of life being devoted to gaining skills, raising a family and being disciplined, and the second half of life being devoted to restoring wholeness. That sounds like retirement to me.
I don't think the cards can answer this one, so I'm changing the question slightly to this: What do I need to consider when making the choice between work or retirement?
Card Pulled: Black Horse Wisdom (Knowledge That Defies Logic, Exploring What Society Suppresses or Ignores, Treasure Hidden in Darkness)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: What appears to your conscious mind as darkness is simply the unknown, a fruitful yet formidable realm of untapped possibility. Dancing with uncertainty raises your confidence -- and artistry -- in collaborating with the greater mysteries of life."
"THE CHALLENGE: Learning to ride the energy of what can't be explained involves courage, creativity, and well-honed instincts. Losing your balance now and then, even wandering off course, is part of the skill, and the thrill, of moving beyond what civilization has already mapped through reason, language, and social protocol."
"THE JOURNEY: (Zorro) was acting on behalf of repressed populations, reclaiming freedom and dignity from a corrupt, narcissistic regime."
This chapter goes into the history of the black horse within various cultures throughout history. It is quite fascinating. I haven't been following tends in horse breeding recently, but I know that a few years ago there was a bit of a boom in breeding homozygous black Arabian horses, because black Arabians were one of the rarest colors. What I didn't know then, but know now thanks to reading Way of the Horse is that the Bedouins were inclined to slaughter black foals because they were considered to be bad luck. So, the lack of black Arabian horses had more to do with the mind and hand of man than natural selection.
But back to QHHaflingerGal's question about retirement, this chapter does mention a dream that Carl Jung studied in which a black mare lead a king's magician to the lost keys of paradise. It discusses having a more balanced existence. Perhaps you don't have to choose work or retirement, but can do both by working part-time? At the same time the book says, "...the black horse will lead us to those rich and nourishing grasslands on the other side." It talks about the first half of life being devoted to gaining skills, raising a family and being disciplined, and the second half of life being devoted to restoring wholeness. That sounds like retirement to me.
Snow Day
My son and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out where all the cords go between the DirecTV box, the VCR, the PlayStation3 box, and the flat screen.
With all this snow, I'm back to working on my novel synopsis, my Storm at Sea quilt, and reading all the books I abandoned mid-sentence to run outside and enjoy the sun while it was here for a few weeks. This weather brings out the true meaning of Lisa's window decals...
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Reading for Cheryl Ann
Cheryl Ann's Question: What do I need to do to ride again?
Card Pulled: Rasa Dance (Authenticity in Action, Cocreation, The Music of Connection)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Here's where you put all the pieces together, where new concepts and conventional methods fuse and expand, creating unexpected possibilities. Authenticity in action draws on responsiveness, assertiveness, discernment, physical collection, mental and emotional agility, fluidity of consciousness, imagination, nonverbal communication, subtle-body awareness, intuition, consensual leadership, and the paradox between boundaries and oneness."
"THE CHALLENGE: When two beings move in synchrony, a greater consciousness arises, and with it a feeling of ecstasy. Can you stay present and focused during these moments of intense joy? Can you accept the gift of expanded awareness without becoming addicted to it? If the next moment offers frustration, indecision, conflict, performance anxiety, or miscommunication, can you dance with that, too?"
"THE JOURNEY: ...people (who attended a weekend workshop) weren't just motivated to sample the benefits of "not doing", they suddenly found themselves stuck there, incapable of asking their mounts to do anything. Getting the dance started is not about dominance, it's about energy, motivation, and focus. It's also about timing."
Basically, the rest of the text just says to get out there and learn the dance.
Card Pulled: Rasa Dance (Authenticity in Action, Cocreation, The Music of Connection)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Here's where you put all the pieces together, where new concepts and conventional methods fuse and expand, creating unexpected possibilities. Authenticity in action draws on responsiveness, assertiveness, discernment, physical collection, mental and emotional agility, fluidity of consciousness, imagination, nonverbal communication, subtle-body awareness, intuition, consensual leadership, and the paradox between boundaries and oneness."
"THE CHALLENGE: When two beings move in synchrony, a greater consciousness arises, and with it a feeling of ecstasy. Can you stay present and focused during these moments of intense joy? Can you accept the gift of expanded awareness without becoming addicted to it? If the next moment offers frustration, indecision, conflict, performance anxiety, or miscommunication, can you dance with that, too?"
"THE JOURNEY: ...people (who attended a weekend workshop) weren't just motivated to sample the benefits of "not doing", they suddenly found themselves stuck there, incapable of asking their mounts to do anything. Getting the dance started is not about dominance, it's about energy, motivation, and focus. It's also about timing."
Basically, the rest of the text just says to get out there and learn the dance.
Reading for Laughing Orca Ranch
Lisa of Laughing Orca Ranch's Question #1: What is the message behind all of my horse-related injuries that have happened to me?
Card Pulled: Transformation (Rebirth, Power Reclaimed, True Freedom)
I just have to mention that this card showed a picture of a brown and white mare that looks like Apache with a butterfly in the background.
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: The roller-coaster ride of life reveals a timeless source of peace."
"THE CHALLENGE: True freedom demands relinquishing limiting patterns and beliefs. A part of you must die to be reborn."
"THE JOURNEY: Like a caterpillar relinquishes its form, literally dissolving in the cocoon, transformation begins with sacrifice. And yet the nourishment gleaned from crawling along the ground is not lost. All that effort, methodically climbing up tree trunks and inching along brand by branch to each tasty leaf, fortifies the creation of a new being, one who views life from a more exalted perspective. The butterfly emerges into the same world she left behind, but she most certainly doesn't see it the same way..."
I think that speaks for itself. I swear I took the first card that resisted going back into the deck and didn't search out the most appropriate one. I don't even know what each of these cards means yet, because I haven't read the whole book.
*********************************************
Question #2: What can I do differently so that I can still enjoy my equine related interests, but without getting hurt?
Card Pulled: The Horse Ancestors (Species Wisdom, Collective Memory, Ancestral Patterns Affecting Current Events)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: When you engage with the collective memory of another species or your own, you access a wealth of information beyond personal experience."
"THE CHALLENGE: Intense surges of sadness, anger, and anxiety are sometimes evidence of ancestral pain. Distinguishing between emotions and behaviors related to the present situation, your own history, and unresolved issues from the distant past can be confusing yet ultimately healing."
"THE JOURNEY: Working, playing, and hanging out with horses, I've observed all kinds of interactions that challenge our assumptions about consciousness."
Linda goes on to discuss how horses influence one another, even from a distance. Yearlings can be sold, then reacquired ten years later, and the dam will remember her offspring. Interestingly, she also brings up that violent stallion named Merlin who showed up in Val's reading, and Val's horses live right next door to Apache. Mostly, this chapter discusses a collective unconscious or collective memories that influence both us as humans and horses, so I guess the trick is to be aware of what memories influence both you and your horse.
Card Pulled: Transformation (Rebirth, Power Reclaimed, True Freedom)
I just have to mention that this card showed a picture of a brown and white mare that looks like Apache with a butterfly in the background.
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: The roller-coaster ride of life reveals a timeless source of peace."
"THE CHALLENGE: True freedom demands relinquishing limiting patterns and beliefs. A part of you must die to be reborn."
"THE JOURNEY: Like a caterpillar relinquishes its form, literally dissolving in the cocoon, transformation begins with sacrifice. And yet the nourishment gleaned from crawling along the ground is not lost. All that effort, methodically climbing up tree trunks and inching along brand by branch to each tasty leaf, fortifies the creation of a new being, one who views life from a more exalted perspective. The butterfly emerges into the same world she left behind, but she most certainly doesn't see it the same way..."
I think that speaks for itself. I swear I took the first card that resisted going back into the deck and didn't search out the most appropriate one. I don't even know what each of these cards means yet, because I haven't read the whole book.
*********************************************
Question #2: What can I do differently so that I can still enjoy my equine related interests, but without getting hurt?
Card Pulled: The Horse Ancestors (Species Wisdom, Collective Memory, Ancestral Patterns Affecting Current Events)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: When you engage with the collective memory of another species or your own, you access a wealth of information beyond personal experience."
"THE CHALLENGE: Intense surges of sadness, anger, and anxiety are sometimes evidence of ancestral pain. Distinguishing between emotions and behaviors related to the present situation, your own history, and unresolved issues from the distant past can be confusing yet ultimately healing."
"THE JOURNEY: Working, playing, and hanging out with horses, I've observed all kinds of interactions that challenge our assumptions about consciousness."
Linda goes on to discuss how horses influence one another, even from a distance. Yearlings can be sold, then reacquired ten years later, and the dam will remember her offspring. Interestingly, she also brings up that violent stallion named Merlin who showed up in Val's reading, and Val's horses live right next door to Apache. Mostly, this chapter discusses a collective unconscious or collective memories that influence both us as humans and horses, so I guess the trick is to be aware of what memories influence both you and your horse.
Reading for Fantastyk Voyager
Fantastyk Voyager's Question: Which horse of mine provides me with what I need most?
I was a little worried about this question being too specific. It's more successful if you pick a horse and ask what you can learn from it. Obviously, the cards can't provide you with the name of one of your horses, but I wanted to try it anyway.
The way I posed this question was to be able to pull the card the represents the personality of the horse that provides Val with what she needs most: Nadia, Annie, Scout or Yalla! The card I pulled is rather interesting when you consider that three of Val's horses are mares and one is a gelding, while the card shows one black Arabian stallion and one black Arabian colt representing father and son. I suspect this reading result has more to do with the humans who have been in Val's life than the horses.
Card Pulled: Merlin's Spirit (Redemption of the Masculine, Mutual Transformation, The New Hero's Journey)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Power and gentleness find a new way to coexist, balance, and finally heal the immense injustices perpetrated by -- and on -- the masculine body, mind, and spirit."
"THE CHALLENGE: True masculinity has been twisted, tortured, and betrayed by a culture of conquest and consumption. It's hard to fathom what a peaceful, healthy form of virility might look like. To have any hope of changing the world, men and women must reevaluate and resocialize the active, masculine principle within their own families -- and their own psyches -- a task requiring significant soul-searching and imagination."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Stallions like Merlin quite simply suffer under our current system of domestication. Mares and geldings commonly live in herds, or at least touch noses over adjoining corrals. Most colts, however, sacrifice any hope of a social life the moment some human deems them worthy of breeding. To remain intact is to be sentenced to a stall, hence the word stallion."
The rest the chapter tells the story of Merlin, a dangerous stallion who had to be resocialized. It's about how we as humans isolate the male spirit when it comes to stallions. This chapter feels more literal than some of the others, so I'm not sure if Val will be able to make any connections that apply to her, but I have to take whatever card is given during a reading and trust that it has the correct message.
I was a little worried about this question being too specific. It's more successful if you pick a horse and ask what you can learn from it. Obviously, the cards can't provide you with the name of one of your horses, but I wanted to try it anyway.
The way I posed this question was to be able to pull the card the represents the personality of the horse that provides Val with what she needs most: Nadia, Annie, Scout or Yalla! The card I pulled is rather interesting when you consider that three of Val's horses are mares and one is a gelding, while the card shows one black Arabian stallion and one black Arabian colt representing father and son. I suspect this reading result has more to do with the humans who have been in Val's life than the horses.
Card Pulled: Merlin's Spirit (Redemption of the Masculine, Mutual Transformation, The New Hero's Journey)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Power and gentleness find a new way to coexist, balance, and finally heal the immense injustices perpetrated by -- and on -- the masculine body, mind, and spirit."
"THE CHALLENGE: True masculinity has been twisted, tortured, and betrayed by a culture of conquest and consumption. It's hard to fathom what a peaceful, healthy form of virility might look like. To have any hope of changing the world, men and women must reevaluate and resocialize the active, masculine principle within their own families -- and their own psyches -- a task requiring significant soul-searching and imagination."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Stallions like Merlin quite simply suffer under our current system of domestication. Mares and geldings commonly live in herds, or at least touch noses over adjoining corrals. Most colts, however, sacrifice any hope of a social life the moment some human deems them worthy of breeding. To remain intact is to be sentenced to a stall, hence the word stallion."
The rest the chapter tells the story of Merlin, a dangerous stallion who had to be resocialized. It's about how we as humans isolate the male spirit when it comes to stallions. This chapter feels more literal than some of the others, so I'm not sure if Val will be able to make any connections that apply to her, but I have to take whatever card is given during a reading and trust that it has the correct message.
Reading for Achieve1dream
Achieve1dream's Question: What should I do about my anxiety?
Card Pulled: Out of Body (Transcendence, Dissociation, Surviving or Thriving?)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: The ability to transcend normal awareness allows you to integrate paradox and to access innovative states of mind."
"THE CHALLENGE: Sometimes dissociating from sensation and emotion is more about surviving than thriving. Habitually 'floating above' uncomfortable situations can lead to disempowerment."
"THE JOURNEY: We all dissociate to a certain extent, like when we're driving across town in heavy traffic and suddenly find ourselves at work with little memory of how we got there..."
The rest of the chapter gives some really interesting insights into how both humans and horses use dissociation to protect themselves. The message is that dissociation from stress can be a gift, but don't take it so far that you lose your self.
Card Pulled: Out of Body (Transcendence, Dissociation, Surviving or Thriving?)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: The ability to transcend normal awareness allows you to integrate paradox and to access innovative states of mind."
"THE CHALLENGE: Sometimes dissociating from sensation and emotion is more about surviving than thriving. Habitually 'floating above' uncomfortable situations can lead to disempowerment."
"THE JOURNEY: We all dissociate to a certain extent, like when we're driving across town in heavy traffic and suddenly find ourselves at work with little memory of how we got there..."
The rest of the chapter gives some really interesting insights into how both humans and horses use dissociation to protect themselves. The message is that dissociation from stress can be a gift, but don't take it so far that you lose your self.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Reading for Stephanie
Stephanie's Question: What was the reasoning behind struggling in recovery from my injury? / What am I to learn from my riding accident?
Card Pulled: Point of View (Discernment, Constructive Comparison, Grounded Ambition)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Discernment is the champion of authenticity and fulfillment."
"THE CHALLENGE: Healthy cynicism questions the self before others. Uncovering your true motivations, false assumptions, and hollow ambitions requires courage and compassion."
"THE JOURNEY: The equitation world often breeds unrealistic expectations... She may believe it's her horse or her body that's betraying her. But it's actually her heart saying no to borrowed ambition."
My interpretations: When I pulled this card and read the words "Grounded Ambition", I paused. This seemed so appropriate for Stephanie's question. Stephanie appears to me, through her blogs, to be a highly ambitious person. She has a job that requires travel, she rides her horse every chance she gets, and she is constantly creating fabric art as gifts for people. Since I have the same interests, I know how much time is involved and I can only imagine how much energy she burns to do as much as she does.
Stephanie is recovering from knee surgeries after a fall while jumping her horse. Despite being on crutches, she still got more done in a day than I can get done in a month without crutches. Anyway, the rest of the text recommends that Stephanie examine whether her ambitions are her own, or whether they belong to someone else. It is telling her to update her goals and strategies. Experiment with different trainers and riding disciplines to understand your options. Learn what it is that YOU want on the purest level.
Card Pulled: Point of View (Discernment, Constructive Comparison, Grounded Ambition)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Discernment is the champion of authenticity and fulfillment."
"THE CHALLENGE: Healthy cynicism questions the self before others. Uncovering your true motivations, false assumptions, and hollow ambitions requires courage and compassion."
"THE JOURNEY: The equitation world often breeds unrealistic expectations... She may believe it's her horse or her body that's betraying her. But it's actually her heart saying no to borrowed ambition."
My interpretations: When I pulled this card and read the words "Grounded Ambition", I paused. This seemed so appropriate for Stephanie's question. Stephanie appears to me, through her blogs, to be a highly ambitious person. She has a job that requires travel, she rides her horse every chance she gets, and she is constantly creating fabric art as gifts for people. Since I have the same interests, I know how much time is involved and I can only imagine how much energy she burns to do as much as she does.
Stephanie is recovering from knee surgeries after a fall while jumping her horse. Despite being on crutches, she still got more done in a day than I can get done in a month without crutches. Anyway, the rest of the text recommends that Stephanie examine whether her ambitions are her own, or whether they belong to someone else. It is telling her to update her goals and strategies. Experiment with different trainers and riding disciplines to understand your options. Learn what it is that YOU want on the purest level.
Reading for Linda
Linda from Beautiful Mustang had the following questions for her Way of the Horse reading:
Question #1: What do I need to do, or what aura or impression is there surrounding my work with Jasmine?
Card Pulled: Lionheart (Protecting without Sacrificing Sensitivity, Assertiveness without Aggression, The Courage to Feel and the Willingness to Act)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Human beings carry the wisdom of both predator and prey. True empowerment depends on finding a balance between the two."
"THE CHALLENGE: Cultivating the strength of your "inner lion," without letting it run amok, is tricky. If you don't have enough lion, people will walk all over you, and you'll lack the conviction and focus to follow your dreams. If you have too much lion, you'll lose the sensitivity that nurtures relationship and creativity."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Horses have much to teach us about the middle ground between submission and aggression... Horses model the strengths of nonpredatory behavior: relationship over territory, process over goal, responsiveness over strategy, cooperation over competition, emotion and intuition over reason."
The more I read from the book, the more I feel that it has more to offer than most horse training manuals.
*******************************************
Question #2: What do I need to do, or what aura or impression is there surrounding my work with Beautiful?
Card Pulled: Back to Grazing (Emotional Agility, Trust in the Universe, Letting the Story Go)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: When you move through emotions like horses do, when you get the message behind a troubling feeling and change something in response, you experience greater periods of authentic peace and fulfillment."
"THE CHALLENGE: To truly enjoy life, to see yourself and others in fresh ways, you must be willing to let go of the stories that keep you tied to the past."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Whether the tone is peaceful or playful, angry or fearful, horses are effusive yet efficient creatures. When trouble arises in the herd, they deal with it and move on..."
My interpretations: Don't ruminate over the past. Be like a horse. Live for the moment. Don't hang on to useless emotions if they have nothing to do with the present situation.
Let me know if any of this fits for you, Linda.
Question #1: What do I need to do, or what aura or impression is there surrounding my work with Jasmine?
Card Pulled: Lionheart (Protecting without Sacrificing Sensitivity, Assertiveness without Aggression, The Courage to Feel and the Willingness to Act)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: Human beings carry the wisdom of both predator and prey. True empowerment depends on finding a balance between the two."
"THE CHALLENGE: Cultivating the strength of your "inner lion," without letting it run amok, is tricky. If you don't have enough lion, people will walk all over you, and you'll lack the conviction and focus to follow your dreams. If you have too much lion, you'll lose the sensitivity that nurtures relationship and creativity."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Horses have much to teach us about the middle ground between submission and aggression... Horses model the strengths of nonpredatory behavior: relationship over territory, process over goal, responsiveness over strategy, cooperation over competition, emotion and intuition over reason."
The more I read from the book, the more I feel that it has more to offer than most horse training manuals.
*******************************************
Question #2: What do I need to do, or what aura or impression is there surrounding my work with Beautiful?
Card Pulled: Back to Grazing (Emotional Agility, Trust in the Universe, Letting the Story Go)
From Linda Kohanov's Way of the Horse:
"THE GIFT: When you move through emotions like horses do, when you get the message behind a troubling feeling and change something in response, you experience greater periods of authentic peace and fulfillment."
"THE CHALLENGE: To truly enjoy life, to see yourself and others in fresh ways, you must be willing to let go of the stories that keep you tied to the past."
"THE JOURNEY: ...Whether the tone is peaceful or playful, angry or fearful, horses are effusive yet efficient creatures. When trouble arises in the herd, they deal with it and move on..."
My interpretations: Don't ruminate over the past. Be like a horse. Live for the moment. Don't hang on to useless emotions if they have nothing to do with the present situation.
Let me know if any of this fits for you, Linda.
Reading for Promise
Here is the first of a series of Way of the Horse divination card readings I promised to do. I'm doing them in order who who left comments. Promise was the first to offer a question. I'm probably going to put a lot of posts out over a short period of time, but don't panic and feel like you must read them all. I just happened to have the time to do a lot of readings today.
The way that I do a reading is to concentrate on the person and the question while shuffling the cards. If a card falls out or resists going back into the deck, that's the card with the answer. If a card does not fall out, I cut the deck and take the card on top.
Promise's Question: What do I need to do to make this relationship work?
Card Pulled: Lightning Horse (Flash of Inspiration, Glimpse of the Next Level, Unmanifested Possibility)
Linda Kohanov breaks up the text for each card into the following categories: The Gift, The Challenge, and The Journey. Here are a few excerpts from her writing:
"THE GIFT: Inspiration surges like an electric current through your body, flashing hints of clarity to come."
"THE CHALLENGE: When the imagination stirs, new ideas burst into consciousness, carrying tremendous energy. Yet these brief glimpses of potential can be hard to hang onto, taking significant effort and dedication to manifest."
"THE JOURNEY: Flashes of inspiration are a lot like wild horses. You must travel through untamed territory to find them. And whether you seek them out, or come upon them unexpectedly, the first sighting takes your breath away."
Linda's text goes on for many pages, and though her writing and interpretation are much better than mine, I can't reproduce it, so I will summarize: You must think like the one you are trying to tame. Increase your sensory awareness and pay attention to nonverbal communication. Logic, language and will get in the way. Do not separate thought and memory from feeling and sensation. Keep all four connected.
Let me know if any of this makes sense, Promise. They say that if it doesn't make sense, let a little time pass and something will happen to bring it all together.
The way that I do a reading is to concentrate on the person and the question while shuffling the cards. If a card falls out or resists going back into the deck, that's the card with the answer. If a card does not fall out, I cut the deck and take the card on top.
Promise's Question: What do I need to do to make this relationship work?
Card Pulled: Lightning Horse (Flash of Inspiration, Glimpse of the Next Level, Unmanifested Possibility)
Linda Kohanov breaks up the text for each card into the following categories: The Gift, The Challenge, and The Journey. Here are a few excerpts from her writing:
"THE GIFT: Inspiration surges like an electric current through your body, flashing hints of clarity to come."
"THE CHALLENGE: When the imagination stirs, new ideas burst into consciousness, carrying tremendous energy. Yet these brief glimpses of potential can be hard to hang onto, taking significant effort and dedication to manifest."
"THE JOURNEY: Flashes of inspiration are a lot like wild horses. You must travel through untamed territory to find them. And whether you seek them out, or come upon them unexpectedly, the first sighting takes your breath away."
Linda's text goes on for many pages, and though her writing and interpretation are much better than mine, I can't reproduce it, so I will summarize: You must think like the one you are trying to tame. Increase your sensory awareness and pay attention to nonverbal communication. Logic, language and will get in the way. Do not separate thought and memory from feeling and sensation. Keep all four connected.
Let me know if any of this makes sense, Promise. They say that if it doesn't make sense, let a little time pass and something will happen to bring it all together.
Unexpected Losses and Shoe Garlands
On Saturday I was going to meet a friend in a far away city for lunch. She had previously said that I could do a photo shoot with her cat. So, I took my antihistamine, loaded up my camera backpack, my accessory backpack, and my geocaching/letterboxing backpack into the trunk of my car, put the key in the ignition, turned it, and nothing happened. The battery was dead. The car is 5 and a half years old, and that's about how long a battery lasts. So, that meant having to splurge for a new car battery. This was yet another unexpected expense while unemployed. It's always something. Things that have served us for years without complaint are now suddenly failing us when we can't really afford to replace them.
I moved all of my equipment out of my car trunk and into my husband's car trunk, only to get to my friend's house and find out that her cat had been run over by a car and was no longer available for a photo shoot. How sad. She had just relocated from a rural mountain town to Nevada's Biggest Little City, so the traffic must have taken the cat by surprise. We took a walk in a park near her house and I took pictures of the river, some ponds, geese and ducks.
We searched for one geocache and found it right away, which was amazing for me. We also came across a shoe tree!
I love shoe trees. Someone recently cut down one of the most famous and oldest shoe trees in Nevada as a prank, I guess, but no one thought it was funny. It was just plain vandalism, and it destroyed a work of art and a part of Nevada's history.
The type of person who would do such a thing is an example of the type of people we have moving here. Mrs. Martyr hit the nail on the head when she said that people who don't have a history with the land don't care about the land. I wish there were some way we could filter out all the people moving here and turn the jerks away. Tell them to go back to where they came from. But I guess that's what prisons are for, if only we could catch the criminals.
It always cracks me up when people from big cities move here and shoot off their mouths about how cool and cultured and educated they are, because they are from Big City X or wherever. It's clear in their minds that they are better than everyone else. That's the type of mentality that leads to structures of historical or sentimental significance being vandalized. Someone moves here from a big city and thinks, "A shoe tree. That's so stupid. Only country bumpkins would do something so dumb."
But I'm sure that many of those shoes belonged to travelers who looked forward to seeing a familiar part of their past hanging from that tree each time they pass through. Many of the shoes probably represented something to someone, perhaps a period of their lives that brought them happiness.
They actually held a memorial for the shoe tree that had been cut down. Most people do care about things. For those who don't, I suggest going back to the body and soul assembly line and requesting a heart. It doesn't matter how cool, cultured, fashionable and educated you are if you have no respect for other people and what they value.
I moved all of my equipment out of my car trunk and into my husband's car trunk, only to get to my friend's house and find out that her cat had been run over by a car and was no longer available for a photo shoot. How sad. She had just relocated from a rural mountain town to Nevada's Biggest Little City, so the traffic must have taken the cat by surprise. We took a walk in a park near her house and I took pictures of the river, some ponds, geese and ducks.
The type of person who would do such a thing is an example of the type of people we have moving here. Mrs. Martyr hit the nail on the head when she said that people who don't have a history with the land don't care about the land. I wish there were some way we could filter out all the people moving here and turn the jerks away. Tell them to go back to where they came from. But I guess that's what prisons are for, if only we could catch the criminals.
It always cracks me up when people from big cities move here and shoot off their mouths about how cool and cultured and educated they are, because they are from Big City X or wherever. It's clear in their minds that they are better than everyone else. That's the type of mentality that leads to structures of historical or sentimental significance being vandalized. Someone moves here from a big city and thinks, "A shoe tree. That's so stupid. Only country bumpkins would do something so dumb."
But I'm sure that many of those shoes belonged to travelers who looked forward to seeing a familiar part of their past hanging from that tree each time they pass through. Many of the shoes probably represented something to someone, perhaps a period of their lives that brought them happiness.
They actually held a memorial for the shoe tree that had been cut down. Most people do care about things. For those who don't, I suggest going back to the body and soul assembly line and requesting a heart. It doesn't matter how cool, cultured, fashionable and educated you are if you have no respect for other people and what they value.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Valentine's Surprise
My husband surprised me by bringing me a couple of gifts for Valentine's Day. You might say my husband is gifted when it comes to the art of giving gifts. Everything he gives me shows a tremendous amount of thought. It shows that he pays attention to me and the things that I like. Usually, he gives me gifts that I would have never even thought of requesting, but they turn out to be perfect and just what I needed.
It's not just the gift that is special, but the way he presents the gifts. One of my favorite memories was when my husband came home from work one winter shortly after we had been married with a funny expression on his face. He stood in front of me in his big tan parka, bouncing up and down making rustling noises. Then he said, "I've got something for you, but you've got to find it."
I reached into one of his pockets and pulled out some candy. Oh, how I'd been yearning for sweets. He said, "That's not all. Keep going."
My hands traveled from pocket to pocket, and each pocket I found more candy. It was fun candy hunt.
Another time I had just quit a job I loved, because my coworkers had ganged up on me and accused me of some things I didn't do. My feelings were so hurt that I couldn't work with them anymore. My husband brought home this sculpture of a little red-haired fairy sitting among flowers and butterflies and told me that the fairy was me -- magical and misunderstood, never quite fitting in, but always having good intentions. I've always cherished that sculpture because of the way my husband presented it to me, and to this day I still have problems with being misunderstood, and that sculpture always makes me feel better.
This Valentine's Day my husband brought home the movie Secretariat and watched it with me. He also brought me "Way of the Horse" book of exploration written by Linda Kohanov (www.taoofequus.com) and 40 divination cards illustrated by Kim McElroy (www.spiritofhorse.com).
You can ask a question along the lines of "what to I need to learn about..." and select a card or group of cards, then read the corresponding text in the book and see if the information coincides with your questions. The book talks about synchronicity, a phenomena that always astounds me when it happens. My most recent experience with synchronicity had to do with the novel I've been writing. I spent a lot of time trying to pick a city for the antagonist to be from. I finally settled on Torrance, California. A few days later I met another volunteer at the animal shelter, asked where she was from, and she said she was from Torrance. It was an odd moment of synchronicity, and I took it to mean that I am on the right path with my novel.
I think it would be fun for me to do a few readings for you. If you have a question about what wisdom you need to gain from some experience (work, love, accident, loss, even what it is your horse has to teach you), leave it in a comment with this post. I'll try to do a reading for you in a future post. I'll be sharing it with everyone, so only ask about what you don't mind others reading. I'll pull one card and summarize key parts of the chapter on that card. I'll put anything in quotes that I pull from the book. Linda Kohanov has a really nice way of writing, and you may be interested in getting the kit yourself after reading samples of what she wrote. The cards are beautiful, but I don't want to reproduce them here without permission, so I'd say check out Kim McElroy's website for a better idea of her artwork.
I don't know if I'll have the time to get to everyone's questions, but I'll try, even if it takes a few months. It'll be fun to get some feedback to see if the wisdom on the horse in the card I pull while concentrating on your question triggers something for you.
I do have a couple of other posts I wrote a while ago that are scheduled for publishing, so I may interrupt my readings with those. I'm using the label "Way of the Horse" for the readings, so you can always find that label link to search for your reading.
It's not just the gift that is special, but the way he presents the gifts. One of my favorite memories was when my husband came home from work one winter shortly after we had been married with a funny expression on his face. He stood in front of me in his big tan parka, bouncing up and down making rustling noises. Then he said, "I've got something for you, but you've got to find it."
I reached into one of his pockets and pulled out some candy. Oh, how I'd been yearning for sweets. He said, "That's not all. Keep going."
My hands traveled from pocket to pocket, and each pocket I found more candy. It was fun candy hunt.
Another time I had just quit a job I loved, because my coworkers had ganged up on me and accused me of some things I didn't do. My feelings were so hurt that I couldn't work with them anymore. My husband brought home this sculpture of a little red-haired fairy sitting among flowers and butterflies and told me that the fairy was me -- magical and misunderstood, never quite fitting in, but always having good intentions. I've always cherished that sculpture because of the way my husband presented it to me, and to this day I still have problems with being misunderstood, and that sculpture always makes me feel better.
This Valentine's Day my husband brought home the movie Secretariat and watched it with me. He also brought me "Way of the Horse" book of exploration written by Linda Kohanov (www.taoofequus.com) and 40 divination cards illustrated by Kim McElroy (www.spiritofhorse.com).
You can ask a question along the lines of "what to I need to learn about..." and select a card or group of cards, then read the corresponding text in the book and see if the information coincides with your questions. The book talks about synchronicity, a phenomena that always astounds me when it happens. My most recent experience with synchronicity had to do with the novel I've been writing. I spent a lot of time trying to pick a city for the antagonist to be from. I finally settled on Torrance, California. A few days later I met another volunteer at the animal shelter, asked where she was from, and she said she was from Torrance. It was an odd moment of synchronicity, and I took it to mean that I am on the right path with my novel.
I think it would be fun for me to do a few readings for you. If you have a question about what wisdom you need to gain from some experience (work, love, accident, loss, even what it is your horse has to teach you), leave it in a comment with this post. I'll try to do a reading for you in a future post. I'll be sharing it with everyone, so only ask about what you don't mind others reading. I'll pull one card and summarize key parts of the chapter on that card. I'll put anything in quotes that I pull from the book. Linda Kohanov has a really nice way of writing, and you may be interested in getting the kit yourself after reading samples of what she wrote. The cards are beautiful, but I don't want to reproduce them here without permission, so I'd say check out Kim McElroy's website for a better idea of her artwork.
I don't know if I'll have the time to get to everyone's questions, but I'll try, even if it takes a few months. It'll be fun to get some feedback to see if the wisdom on the horse in the card I pull while concentrating on your question triggers something for you.
I do have a couple of other posts I wrote a while ago that are scheduled for publishing, so I may interrupt my readings with those. I'm using the label "Way of the Horse" for the readings, so you can always find that label link to search for your reading.
Yup. I Said It Before and I'll Say It Again...
Horses are disasters waiting to happen.
So, Monday morning we had high winds. I fed the horses breakfast in their stalls so that the hay wouldn't blow away. When they were done, I wanted to let them out to get some exercise in separate pens. Normally, whenever I do anything with the horses I wear my old paddock jacket that my dad brought back from one of his trips to Alaska back in 1990-something.
However, I was already wearing my good jacket, because I had been out running an errand. I was too impatient to change jackets, because the dryer was buzzing at me since the laundry was done, I had to get something out in the mail before the mail carrier arrived, I was hungry, I had to go to the bathroom, I had to get to the Animal Shelter to walk some dogs, I needed to clean house, and about half a dozen other things. My goal was to quickly move the horses from their stalls to their pens, so that I could get on with life.
All went well, but just when I was locking up the last gate, I heard a crash and turned around to see Gabbrielle on her side with her two left legs underneath a wooden fence panel and her two right legs over the wooden fence panel. She was up to her crotch in wood. I was standing there trying to figure out how I was going to get her out of that mess when I heard my nosy neighbors' front door open. I was in no mood for one of their stare-a-thons, standing on their porch like prairie dogs enjoying my misfortunes, so I glared at the crack in their front door, and the door quickly closed.
So, what is the answer to getting a horse out of this kind of predicament? You don't. You let the horse get itself out of the predicament, because otherwise you get the %*!$ kicked out of you. My heart broke watching Gabbrielle struggle and kick. I was standing there praying that she wouldn't injure a leg. This is the umpteenth time she's done this. You'd think by now she would learn not to roll next to fences.
I heard this big crack as the fence panel came flying off its posts and Gabbrielle uprighted herself, but not without first stepping on her blanket. The total damage? One broken fence panel, one ripped blanket, one broken leg strap, and a scratch on her leg.
I grabbed my hammer and started pounding away, bending nails this way and that in an effort to temporarily repair the fence panel. I haven't been able to afford a haircut since I've been laid off, so my hair is really long and it was whipping around in my face, making it difficult for me to see what I was doing. And with all the other chores on my list, I didn't want to waste more time searching out a band to hold my hair back. In the process of repairing the fence, my good jacket got caught on a nail and ripped. Of course.
I waited a little bit and then wanted to examine Gabbrielle's legs for swelling, but she was on pins and needles looking over at my nosy neighbors' back yard. I knew that nosy woman was hiding somewhere spying on us and scaring my horse. It's difficult enough trying to examine an injured horse's legs in high winds without that kind of distraction.
I went back in the house, turned around to close the door only to see Bombay getting down on his knees to roll right next to the round pen panels. I went running out the door screaming for him to get up. He did. I went back into the house, turned around to close the door, and found Bombay getting down on his knees by that fence panel again. Repeat process four more times. I ended up grabbing a tire and laying it in that sweet spot where he wanted to roll, and that put an end to the next disaster.
So, Monday morning we had high winds. I fed the horses breakfast in their stalls so that the hay wouldn't blow away. When they were done, I wanted to let them out to get some exercise in separate pens. Normally, whenever I do anything with the horses I wear my old paddock jacket that my dad brought back from one of his trips to Alaska back in 1990-something.
However, I was already wearing my good jacket, because I had been out running an errand. I was too impatient to change jackets, because the dryer was buzzing at me since the laundry was done, I had to get something out in the mail before the mail carrier arrived, I was hungry, I had to go to the bathroom, I had to get to the Animal Shelter to walk some dogs, I needed to clean house, and about half a dozen other things. My goal was to quickly move the horses from their stalls to their pens, so that I could get on with life.
All went well, but just when I was locking up the last gate, I heard a crash and turned around to see Gabbrielle on her side with her two left legs underneath a wooden fence panel and her two right legs over the wooden fence panel. She was up to her crotch in wood. I was standing there trying to figure out how I was going to get her out of that mess when I heard my nosy neighbors' front door open. I was in no mood for one of their stare-a-thons, standing on their porch like prairie dogs enjoying my misfortunes, so I glared at the crack in their front door, and the door quickly closed.
So, what is the answer to getting a horse out of this kind of predicament? You don't. You let the horse get itself out of the predicament, because otherwise you get the %*!$ kicked out of you. My heart broke watching Gabbrielle struggle and kick. I was standing there praying that she wouldn't injure a leg. This is the umpteenth time she's done this. You'd think by now she would learn not to roll next to fences.
I heard this big crack as the fence panel came flying off its posts and Gabbrielle uprighted herself, but not without first stepping on her blanket. The total damage? One broken fence panel, one ripped blanket, one broken leg strap, and a scratch on her leg.
I grabbed my hammer and started pounding away, bending nails this way and that in an effort to temporarily repair the fence panel. I haven't been able to afford a haircut since I've been laid off, so my hair is really long and it was whipping around in my face, making it difficult for me to see what I was doing. And with all the other chores on my list, I didn't want to waste more time searching out a band to hold my hair back. In the process of repairing the fence, my good jacket got caught on a nail and ripped. Of course.
I waited a little bit and then wanted to examine Gabbrielle's legs for swelling, but she was on pins and needles looking over at my nosy neighbors' back yard. I knew that nosy woman was hiding somewhere spying on us and scaring my horse. It's difficult enough trying to examine an injured horse's legs in high winds without that kind of distraction.
I went back in the house, turned around to close the door only to see Bombay getting down on his knees to roll right next to the round pen panels. I went running out the door screaming for him to get up. He did. I went back into the house, turned around to close the door, and found Bombay getting down on his knees by that fence panel again. Repeat process four more times. I ended up grabbing a tire and laying it in that sweet spot where he wanted to roll, and that put an end to the next disaster.
Monday, February 14, 2011
More Use of the Target and Clicker During Trailer Training
After Lostine and I returned from our ride on Sunday, I decided to try out using my target and clicker for trailer training Gabbrielle. She's never been too much trouble getting into the trailer, but sometimes she doesn't feel confident enough to back out. So, in her case, I wouldn't let her get more than her two front feet in the trailer the first dozen or so times that I had her hit the target.
For those of you who missed my previous post about it, my target is a tennis ball on the end of a dowel rod. I stand inside the horse trailer, hold it out for the horse to see, and the horse steps into the trailer to poke the tennis ball with her nose. As soon as she touches it, I click a clicker and hand-feed her a treat.
Once Gabbrielle got her treat, I walked toward her to get her to back out slowly, which she did, and once she was out of the trailer, I clicked again and gave her a treat. Once she was consistently backing out in a coordinated manner, I encouraged her to put all four feet in the trailer by moving the target further away from her. Gabbrielle said, "No problem," and hopped right in.
She didn't panic or crowd me. She just stood there like a lady until I asked her to back out again. She had the whole process down pat, so I swapped her out with Bombay. Last time he got his two front feet in the trailer and backed out successfully, however this time when I asked him to put all four feet in the trailer, panic set in.
He spewed diarrhea all over the place. The poor horse was so nervous. I could see that he kept looking behind him out of fear that someone would shove him in or crack a whip at him or shake a bottle of rocks to scare him in. I admit I've used all three of those techniques in the past, especially when I was late for an equitation lesson, and they worked temporarily, but now I have a fearful, neurotic horse because of it.
My nosy neighbor was hovering about keeping an eye on my training session, and Bombay refused to pay attention to me and the target each time she made a noise. If someone were trying to trailer train a horse, and their horse was obviously distracted by my presence, I would leave the scene. But I receive no such courtesies from my neighbors.
Once the woman got bored by the lack of action and went away, Bombay did get three feet in the trailer, so I ended our session there. If you spend too much time on the same lesson or give too many treat rewards, the horse gets satiated and loses interest. Plus, you may run out of treats and you don't want that to happen on a Sunday when all the feed stores are closed.
For those of you who missed my previous post about it, my target is a tennis ball on the end of a dowel rod. I stand inside the horse trailer, hold it out for the horse to see, and the horse steps into the trailer to poke the tennis ball with her nose. As soon as she touches it, I click a clicker and hand-feed her a treat.
Once Gabbrielle got her treat, I walked toward her to get her to back out slowly, which she did, and once she was out of the trailer, I clicked again and gave her a treat. Once she was consistently backing out in a coordinated manner, I encouraged her to put all four feet in the trailer by moving the target further away from her. Gabbrielle said, "No problem," and hopped right in.
She didn't panic or crowd me. She just stood there like a lady until I asked her to back out again. She had the whole process down pat, so I swapped her out with Bombay. Last time he got his two front feet in the trailer and backed out successfully, however this time when I asked him to put all four feet in the trailer, panic set in.
He spewed diarrhea all over the place. The poor horse was so nervous. I could see that he kept looking behind him out of fear that someone would shove him in or crack a whip at him or shake a bottle of rocks to scare him in. I admit I've used all three of those techniques in the past, especially when I was late for an equitation lesson, and they worked temporarily, but now I have a fearful, neurotic horse because of it.
My nosy neighbor was hovering about keeping an eye on my training session, and Bombay refused to pay attention to me and the target each time she made a noise. If someone were trying to trailer train a horse, and their horse was obviously distracted by my presence, I would leave the scene. But I receive no such courtesies from my neighbors.
Once the woman got bored by the lack of action and went away, Bombay did get three feet in the trailer, so I ended our session there. If you spend too much time on the same lesson or give too many treat rewards, the horse gets satiated and loses interest. Plus, you may run out of treats and you don't want that to happen on a Sunday when all the feed stores are closed.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
First Trail Ride of 2011
When we reached the trail head parking lot, the car side was full, but I had the first horse trailer to arrive. By the time I had Lostine saddled and my trailer locked, four other horse trailers had arrived, and the cars were lined up down the driveway and out into the street looking for parking spots. I guess everyone had cabin fever and thought today would be a great day for a hike.
Do you remember when I mentioned that I only like to ride when I know my husband or son are home and available to help, if need be? Well, I almost had one of those scenarios. The center divider latch was filled with sand and it got jammed. I had a horse in the trailer, and I couldn't get her out. I spent about 5 minutes shaking it and whatnot until it finally opened, so I didn't have to call my husband to bring a can of WD-40 to the trail head. However, you can bet that now I carry a can of WD-40 in my horse trailer.
She bypassed a trail that had a bunch of preschool and kindergarten aged kids on it. However the trail we took eventually looped around to where the kids were. They were screaming, making wild animal noises, and throwing rocks and logs into the stream, which terrified Lostine. My horse started running backwards down the hill. Just when I pushed her forward, some boy came running out of the bushes at a full charge and Lostine came to a screeching halt.
This is why I have to pop an anti-anxiety pill before trail riding. I get so numb that I don't even flinch at these things, which really helps my horses to not overreact. They feel that I'm relaxed despite this short person with a backpack charging us, and they just stop to observe the situation.
When the boy turned and ran away from us, I encouraged her to chase the boy to get her confidence up, but then she smelled another horse, let out an ear-piercing whinny, and took off toward the smell. Whoa, Nellie. I didn't ask to go that fast. I halted her and made her go back in the opposite direction.
We ran across a couple of ladies on Arabs, one that had never been on a trail ride before. The rider and horse were stuck in the same location where I got stuck with my horses on their first trail rides. It's a ditch on a curve with bushes on each side so that you can't see what is around the corner. I maneuvered Lostine into a position where the scared horse could see her, and then it came right through the scary spot to meet Lostine.
When we reached the bottom of the hill, the cars had started a second row of parking in the middle of the lot, so that there were two narrow isles. I'd never seen the canyon this busy before.
This lovely gang showed up just as I was leaving and graciously posed for a picture for me.
You know what was really funny. I drove all the way there and all the way back with a pile of horse hoof trimmings on the running board of my trailer and they never fell off.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Aim for the Target
First off, I just wanted to say, congratulations to the Egyptian citizens and their military. Now onto horse matters...
I took achieve1dream's suggestion of sticking a tennis ball onto the end of a dowel and use that as a clicker training target. Then I separated the horses and stuck out the target over or through the fence, and once the horse touched the tennis ball with its nose, I clicked my clicker and gave them a treat. Gabbrielle immediately caught on. Arabian horses are so smart.
I couldn't get her to stop poking the target even after I pulled it away, so I moved on to Bombay. Here he comes...
See, Mom, I can touch the target with my nose this way...
...and this way...
...and this way...
I'm so awesome.
Since Bombay was showing off and doing so well, I dared him to follow the target into the horse trailer and touch it with his nose for a click and a treat. No, no, Bombay. The tennis ball. Not the padding.
That's more like it...
I only asked him to get his front feet in today, and let him back out as soon as he felt uncomfortable. My husband came home from work and I said, "Look what Bombay can do."
He watched him step right into the trailer to touch the target and said, "That's better and easier than I've ever seen him get into the trailer. That's a smart method of training."
Since I already had his boots on, I saddled up and rode. He was a good boy.
No spooks. No attitude. Just a nice ride.
I ended on a good note and put the horses in their stalls to feed and blanket them. All was good until the neighbors across the street let their grandchild drive his electric toy car behind my barn. I was in the middle of leaning under Bombay's belly to attach his belly straps, and he exploded. I had to scramble out of the stall to avoid getting kicked. Bombay was trying to throw himself through his stall window, and then began full on trying to kick a hole in the wall. He was absolutely terrified.
Because his kicking was shaking the entire barn, Gabbrielle started trying to jump through her window, then spun in circles in her stall. I ran back behind the barn and yelled out to the woman, "MY HORSES ARE FREAKING OUT!"
She couldn't even hear all the kicking and screaming over the noise of that toy car engine. She grabbed her grandchild and dragged him in his car back to her property where he rode around on the grass far enough away that the horses settled down and I was able to finish attaching their blankets. I swear, if I had any idea how popular that strip of road behind my barn was going to become, I would have never built my barn there.
I took achieve1dream's suggestion of sticking a tennis ball onto the end of a dowel and use that as a clicker training target. Then I separated the horses and stuck out the target over or through the fence, and once the horse touched the tennis ball with its nose, I clicked my clicker and gave them a treat. Gabbrielle immediately caught on. Arabian horses are so smart.
Since Bombay was showing off and doing so well, I dared him to follow the target into the horse trailer and touch it with his nose for a click and a treat. No, no, Bombay. The tennis ball. Not the padding.
He watched him step right into the trailer to touch the target and said, "That's better and easier than I've ever seen him get into the trailer. That's a smart method of training."
Since I already had his boots on, I saddled up and rode. He was a good boy.
I ended on a good note and put the horses in their stalls to feed and blanket them. All was good until the neighbors across the street let their grandchild drive his electric toy car behind my barn. I was in the middle of leaning under Bombay's belly to attach his belly straps, and he exploded. I had to scramble out of the stall to avoid getting kicked. Bombay was trying to throw himself through his stall window, and then began full on trying to kick a hole in the wall. He was absolutely terrified.
Because his kicking was shaking the entire barn, Gabbrielle started trying to jump through her window, then spun in circles in her stall. I ran back behind the barn and yelled out to the woman, "MY HORSES ARE FREAKING OUT!"
She couldn't even hear all the kicking and screaming over the noise of that toy car engine. She grabbed her grandchild and dragged him in his car back to her property where he rode around on the grass far enough away that the horses settled down and I was able to finish attaching their blankets. I swear, if I had any idea how popular that strip of road behind my barn was going to become, I would have never built my barn there.
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