A Meadow Missing A Horse

Outside my office window is a meadow that is missing a horse...

Shambhu has been some two hours north for the last month with his trainer Kim Leonard.  Along with a handsome border collie named Shiloh I was loaded up today in the big truck to make the drive with Carol to visit her horse. It was a big day. Shambhu had not been ridden since October. Carol had been bucked off by her normally quite calm horse - his way of telling her that he was hurting.

This equine world is all quite new to me. But they have begun to transcend the role I had perceived as merely majestic lawn ornaments... Strong personalities and stronger connections to their two-legged humans.

There are a plethora of different saddles to fit different size backs, one reason Shambhu was not happy last October. There is a science and an art to watching a horses gait as it moves, to a trained eye there are so many tiny nuances relating to muscles, tension, hidden injury or malady. Fitting is clearly no easy task. Jen, the specialist, was working her alchemy to best discern the right saddle by starting with the fiberglass tree, the basic shape that would be padded and then bound with leather.

Kim the trainer is certainly a horse whisperer. A connection born of years in a saddle, competing as well as being an instructor and training of horses. So much unspoken communication, in and out of the saddle. Horses ears are back to listen to her voice when riding but movement of the horse comes mostly from the seat bones, sitting erect. Then it seems the knees and finally the reins direct...

Miles was leading the horses in the arena. What a great name for a border collie that only has three legs. A nearby rancher shot Miles thinking he was a coyote. But you would never guess Miles knows he is missing a leg, still crazy able-bodied and perhaps the friendliest dog alive...

When Carol finally got on Shambhu's back it had been some 8 months. There was emotion for sure, a long healing journey. A couple more visits to get the perfect saddle, a few more rides with Kim and Shambhu is transforming into a much healthier and happier horse. Pretty cool to see this connection/progression... I can see why there are so many equine therapy places around, so relaxing around these horses... I look forward to Shambhu's return...