taking leaps and making pilgrimages

The insects are singing loudly almost around the clock here, and looking at the weather forecast it seems we're notching up heat-wise over the next five days. It's been so nice this past few weeks. I hope we escape the extremes we had last summer.

Yesterday morning while awaiting the trimmer, Keil Bay was exercising in the arena and reportedly cantered a small jump - unfortunately I missed it, but was excited to hear that he is feeling so good. He's been jumped under saddle just a little, and he enjoys popping over small obstacles on the trail. I've seen him gallop over small log jumps in our field, between two trees, as though the logs were huge cross-country jumps. And he did it beautifully. But I've never seen him choose to take a jump in the arena, in play. A great sign that these herbs are working, and a great message for all of us. When we take care of our horses, they surprise us. When we take care of ourselves, those leaps come easily and with a sense of joy.




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I was reading this morning about pilgrimages and sacred journeys in Wales and Scotland. It would be fun to pack a bag and set forth on one of those during this hot weather, and I read the tips for making a sacred journey as though I might be doing just that.


(photo courtesy of my husband and his brilliant landscapes)

I realized suddenly that I don't need a passport or a trip to Scotland to make a pilgrimage. The tips are good for our daily journeys as well: to the barn, out for errands, editing a manuscript, anything we do in our day's work and play.

Pack lightly.

I used to take everything but the kitchen sink when we went on vacation, but over the years I have found it easier and better to travel light. This is true even when I head to the barn in our backyard. Some days I walk out with camera, water, hat, etc., not to mention bringing the "stuff" I've been pondering along with me. Fortunately the horses are masters of traveling lightly, so they encourage the shedding of all this baggage.


Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

A good tip for every occasion. Lately the most comfortable attire for me is a pair of riding breeches, a soft shirt, and my Ariat boots. I've also been feeling quite comfortable in very baggy jeans, T-shirt, and work boots. If I'm dressed for comfort I always end up staying longer in the moment and thus get more out of that little journey.

Be prepared to get dirt in your sandals.

I wonder about healthy people who avoid the heat, or the humidity, or the bugs, or just plain sweat and dirt and grime. If I could stay clean without compromising the experience of being out and about, I would, but there is something therapeutic about sweat and dirt. Dig in and enjoy it.


Less is more.

This is a good tip for me to remember. I often try to do too much, wherever it is I am. Picking a few things and doing them well, enjoying them to the fullest, is the best way. I'm learning!

Let go of expectations.

Staying open to the possibilities, seeing the magic when it happens. This is an art and a gift, and any pilgrimage is enhanced by the willingness to be amazed.

Embrace your shadow.

This is another big one for me. Allow the delays and inconveniences to be part of the magic. Some days I can do it well. Other days not at all. But it bears remembering, and I try to take deep breaths and remind myself that it's all part of the journey.

And in fact, these days, most of my pilgrimages originate from my own back door.




Be thou a smooth way before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a keen eye behind me,
This day, this night, forever.

-Scottish journey prayer

living the good life

We had two inches of rain yesterday afternoon, but it cleared out with sun before nightfall so the horses were able to go out for the evening and enjoy the very loud symphony of crickets, cicadas, and tree frogs. This morning everything feels fresh and while it's not exactly cool out, it isn't too bad for the end of July.

On the docket today: a trip to the feed store and daughter's riding lesson off the farm. Meanwhile we got barn chores done and can have a leisurely lunch before we leave.

A few other family members are enjoying their leisure as well. Dickens sacked out in a small pile of hay I had put out for Salina and Rafer. Does he not realize he's right in the line of a set of large horse teeth? Fortunately for him, Salina and Rafer decided to go out with the herd to the back field after breakfast.



And here comes the King, who has had his breakfast, his herbal mix, hay, and had panther-walked himself back out to graze. But, and this is the best part, he noted that I was still in the barn and so came back to ask: time for our ride?

This is the Keil Bay I am used to seeing, and boy is it good to have him back.

settled in

Last week the above was the view out my window. It was a pleasure to glance outside and see those gorgeous manicured gardens. The other window in my room overlooked the long beds and the water garden, and I often kept the blinds pulled all the way up so I could have the effect of all that beauty.

Today I'm feeling pretty much settled in. After breakfast, the three horse geldings marched off down the hill to graze beneath the overcast sky and enjoy the quite moderate temperature. Salina stayed up top with me to enjoy her private paddock.



This young man deserves a few photos showcasing his newly one-year old handsomeness. He is on the outside edge of his summer sleekness - if you look closely you can see the beginnings of his winter coat coming in again.





And Mystic is growing like mad. He has been coming out for some time at the barn recently and loves to stalk blades of grass and flying insects and ford the stream from the water hose. Dickens may have another cowboy to keep him company in a few months!



This morning I was eager to see how Keil Bay did with his second batch of herbs mixed in with his breakfast. When I went in his stall to collect his tub, he was licking it clean, methodically the way he usually does, and he lifted his head so I could lift the tub up and hold it while he finished cleaning the sides and edges. He carefully licked each of my hands holding the tub, and cleaned every bit of his good herbal blend, some of which I know is extremely bitter and has caused a number of horses to need molasses and applesauce and pure cane sugar to entice them to eat.

I'm convinced that Keil Bay knows this is what he needs, and that in fact his sampling of tulip poplar blossoms, bark, lichens, etc. this past spring was his attempt to get something he needed to address some deficits in his diet. Now that it's right in his tub with breakfast, he is as happy as can be.

He had a glitter in his eye and walked off down the hill with the satisfied stride I love seeing. Believe it or not, I can see a subtle difference since yesterday.

Apache Moon's persistent advocate marched down the hill, cotton ball in hand, to collect his saliva sample, so he will be up next. My guess is that he won't have much to address, and we can move forward with the next horse in line pretty quickly.

I have to say: there is nothing quite like being home with things in order, stalls clean, horses happy, and the summer being so blessed with rain and moderate temps and autumn around the bend.

It's funny - I met a screenwriter on retreat who is now working on a very exciting novel, and it was fun to chat about Hollywood and movies and TV series. And then I come home and see sights like the one below, and I can't imagine why Hollywood isn't outside banging on my door this very moment. Is Rafer Johnson a movie star, or what?!

re-entry and a couple of tangents

Update in the afternoon: Keil Bay's box arrived from Patsy in today's mail so he will be starting his regime tonight! I am SO excited.

I also decided to do a round of pro-biotics for everyone in the barn, so no one will feel left out when Keil Bay gets his. :)


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It's always interesting getting back home after a writing retreat, where I had no responsibilities except to write and feed myself. Yesterday morning I got up and went to the barn, where breakfast for the herd evolved into a 4-hour marathon of catching up on barn chores. I came in for less than an hour and then it was time for Salina's mid-day feed, so I went back out. By the time that was underway a fairly scary-looking thunderstorm rolled in, and we actually had yet another one later last night.

The regular turn-out routine has been off due to so much rain, so I'm not sure what to call what the horses are doing - they go out when it's not raining and they come in when we have wind/rain/lightning going on. Yesterday morning I expected them to want to be out after breakfast, since it was not too hot, the sun was out, and there was a ton of green grass to graze. But Keil Bay insisted on staying in the barn with me while I did the chores. It was nice to visit. I let him in the barn aisle and barnyard and he kept a close check on what I was doing.

He knows I'm awaiting his herbs and he is ready for the six weeks of treatment. He doesn't know it yet, but he will be getting two feeds/day again while this is going on, and I can assure you he is going to be THRILLED about that part.

I still feel like I'm outside my regular footprints but am getting closer to "tracking up" today.


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On another note, I read Marianne Wiggins' newest novel The Shadow Catcher and highly recommend it, particularly if you like the intermingling of history with a contemporary narrative, and even more particularly if you're a photography nut.

I started Lonesome Dove before leaving, and kept reading while I was there, but I haven't gotten very far into the story. I am very much enjoying it, but haven't quite hit that point where I'm compelled to keep picking up the book to see what happens next. It's nice to have that big fat book and not be racing through it.


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And finally, I'm very curious as to what the horseowners who visit here are doing with reference to an equine deworming protocol. I've been reading recently that several of the standard dewormers are losing effectiveness to the point of being not worth using in a rotation.

I've also read that with a few of the drugs, it's becoming more important to overdose a bit to make sure of a good "kill" - so the parasites don't become resistant to those drugs as well.

We do an every other month rotation that is designed to both target specific parasites and time with the first frost, etc. to ensure best results. And my horses have always had clean fecals. But it's seeming that the tide is shifting with regards to what is best, and I'm curious if anyone is making changes.

An alternative I'm considering is switching for a year to a non-chemical deworming program that uses diatomaceous earth along with probiotics. The parasites are killed by the action of the DE on their "bodies" - so they can't become resistant.

I've also been advised to use probiotics 2 weeks after every deworming if I continue the chemical protocol.

What are you doing with your horses? And has anyone reading this done your own horses' fecals? We have a microscope and I'm interested in learning to do those checks myself.

Rafer Johnson Turns ONE

On Saturday, July 19th, Rafer Johnson had his first birthday!

I was out of town, so his party was delayed until I could get home, and now that I am, we'll be celebrating.

He has been nothing but a joy since he arrived, and I'm not quite sure how we managed before he got here. Was there a time when Salina did not have a constant and loyal companion? Or when we did not get endless donkey hugs? Or I did not have a barn manager to help me perform every chore and task? It's so hard to remember a time without him.

Thank you, Rafer Johnson. You're the very best.