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Hi Welcome to this month’s HorseConscious Newsletter. First off, I’d like to tell yout about the tremendous response we had to the survey last month from Linda Kohanov, so many thanks to all of you who took part. I know you will be keen to learn of the results, so I have posted a pdf version of them, which you can view and download at: EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH HORSES We also had some very interesting responses to the survey, which were emailed in. For example, we heard from HorseConscious friend a friend and regular guest, Margrit Coates, who wrote: "My big concern is that the industry is jammed full of research into what the horses do for people ( and I heard some of the latest studies presented at Festina Lente ) …but nothing has been properly done into what the EFL type work does for horses and how to identify the horses’ emotional experiences ( postive/negative) and take appropriate action. Areas that need research… how many hours horses should work in EFL, facilities they need, how it affects them, whether they actually want to do the work ( choice) , identifying signs of stress, knowing when a horse is shut down and not just ‘ easy to work with ‘, what type of work tires them in particular, what type of human tires and stresses them, mimumun age for the work, maximum age, type of horses suitable, time off for rest and holidays, herd living , physical therapies and body work that can help them, what needs to be incorporated into an industry standard that human facilitators follow as regards the horses etc.The list is exhaustive and to do the horse justice a study should not be just with a few horses, but with hundreds of horses at many venues. This would give a detailed and insightful overview . In my lecture I stated that the industry has become too human focusssed and introspective. I feel that the horse, around whom the industry actually revolves and could not exist without, has become overlooked as the primary facilitator and sentient being. I think that there needs to be some long term study into the needs of the horses. For example I was alarmed to hear someone at the conferance talk about the fact that after just five hourse of EFL work a week with severly autistic people their facility horses were observed to be emotionally and physically exhausted for a couple of days at least. This is a shocking state of affairs that needs looking into urgently and a standard for the industry introduced as regards horse welfare. I made a suggestion about this on pages 150 -151 of Connecting with Horses – the life lessons we can learn from horses entitled Essential requirements to honour and protect horses as facilitators. I am aware that Jill Carey of Festina Lente www.festinalente.ie and Anna Pell www.equineteachings.co.uk are particularly interested in this topic. Behavioural ecologist Mary Ann Simonds has lots of contacts that can help. www.maryannsimonds.com The horse is waiting for change to be made, and having his and her choice removed through domestication, only the humans who are responsible for their care can implement this." Thank you, Margrit. These are obviously extremely valid concerns and we would love to hear your views, which you submit via the forum over on the HorseConsciousCommunity Forum
If you haven’t read the book, Beautiful Jim Key was actually a horse, who achieved some notoriety and fame around the turn of the 20th century. It wasn’t for his breeding, which was spectacular in itself, and it wasn’t for his speed on the racetrack, although that’s what he had been bred for. No, the horse known as Jim Key became famous for his ability to read, write, spell and do mathematics. His owner, Dr. William Key, was a former slave of mixed blood, and was identified from an early age as being something of a horse whisperer. His love of animals and particularly horses drove the young William Key to teach himself to be a veteranarian. During the course of treating animals (and humans), he developed what he called ‘Keystone Liniment’, which was used internally and externally, for such horse afflicitions such as joint spasms, he cuts, swelling, saddle sore, lameness, colic adn their human equivalents. He ended up travelling the country with a group to black negros selling his liniment. Through word and mouth and repeat business, selling on the road and by mail order, he built a fortune of $100,000 before he even go into the world of entertainment. Remember, that was around 1900, back when $100,000 was a lot of money During this time, he managed to acquire a pedigree Arabian mare that was reported to been the one-time favourite horse of the Sheik Ahemid or Persia. Anyway, the mare had fallen on hard times after having spent many years on circus tours round America but William Key recognised or discovered her breeding and bought her for a song. Once he had nursed her back to health, using Keytstone Liniment of course, he tried to breed her with a Hambletonian with a view to producing a horse that combined the best of both breeds and an out-and-out racer. Unfortunately, his initial plans were dashed when the foal who became Beautiful Jim Key was born misshappen and in extremely poor health. Despite his disappointment, his natural caring tendancies meant he set to work to nurse the foal and his sickly mother back to health after the trauma of the birth. William spent many hours rubbing his liniment on the foal’s underdeveloped muscles and twisted tendons, trying to massage his body back into shape. What of course happened during this period was that a very deep connection was formed between them, both them sharing the conviction that the foal, now named Jim, would get better. The Doctor first noticed Jim’s extraordinary ability to learn when several months later, the young horse brought him a stick that William had been using to play ‘fetch’ with a dog. The horse put the stick in his hand and waited. The Doctor duly threw it and the young Jim raced after the stick , collected it, returned and placed back in his hand. In time, Jim grew out of his early ill health and developed into a fine looking horse conforming to his the bloodlines of his heritage. By this time, man and horse had become so close that the Doctor was sleeping in a campbed in the barn next to Jim and continued to do for the rest of their days together. Jim eventually joined the Doctor on the road selling the liniment as a testament to its’ curative powers. It soon became clear that Jim was a born comedian and actor and would, for example, play lame an then fall over before the Doctor rubbed him with the miracle liniment, at which point, he would spring to his feet once more and bound around the stage. At some point, William decided that as the horse was such a quick learner that he would teach him to recognize the letter A. This took some doing and first required the horse to get used to eating lumps of sugar as reward. This took some time in itself but eventually he would eat the sugar and then it took another sustained period of extraordinary patience to get him to recognise the letter A. Once this was achieved, William thought if he could do that he could learn the rest of the alphabet as well as all the numbers from 1 to 30. It didn’t stop there however and in time, Jim learnt to select letters from a rack and place them on another rack to spell someone’s name, which he did for President Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Alice (Eg A-L-I-C-E R-O-O-S-E-V-E-L-T) and also for President William McKinley, who was quoted as saying: "This is certainly the most astonishing and entertaining exhibition I have ever witnessed. It is indeed a grand object lesson of what kindness and patience will accomplish." For this was the truth of the training that took place between William and Jim. The majority of horses that toured the many travelling circuses of that time were not so fortunate. Many were taught to do the rquired circus tricks using violence or by using pins and sharp tacks to prick the horse’s head to teach them to nod ‘yes’, pricking their shoulders to teach them to shake their heads ‘no’ or pricking their legs to teach them to kick the ground to count. Jim however was taught exclusively as President McKinley had described, with patience and kindness. Through this means, the Doctor was able to teach this amazing horse a whole variety of feats including:
One of the most moving passages is where William and Jim performed for orphans. Afterwards the president of the orhanage wrote saying: "If you could have heard not only their many expressions of delight during the performance and those given me privately afterward, I know that you would have felt repaid for the ray of sunshine you have thrown into the lives of these homeless waifs." "Several boys who have had the care of horses before coming to us, said they would never whip a horse again." This heralds a different phase in the book and one I am now just reading, so will tell you more about this next month. Let me preface it for you by quoting the exchange between William and a New York reporter, when the Doctor was quizzed on his training methods.
"I made him understand that by learning promptly that he would earn a lump of sugar or some other dainty, while dullness meant no sugar and a good scolding." "A scolding? Do you mean with a whip?" "No, sir, I never used a whip in training Jim… The whip makes ‘em (horses) stubborn and fearful." He confirmed that trust was the secret to education and fear destroyed this trust. Does any of this sound familiar to you?? I was sitting there, reading the book, thinking "How come we are having this same conversation 100 years later?" Crazy. I am currently just over halfway through the book and as I mentioned, it takes a slightly different turn and one that is even more relevant to he situation we find ourselves in today and the whole ethos perhaps of HorseConscious. Watch this space! I hope to have some exciting news next month regarding the development and direction of HorseConscious so you’ll just have to keep your eyes peeled for the next exciting episode, same time, same channel, next month! I was hoping to go away for a week’s vacation starting today but family issues mean I will be travelling to the UK instead. I still hope to have some time to chill out and finish ‘Beautiful Jum Key’ along with a few others. Hope you are having fun and giving yourself chance to relax too. There’s surely no better way either than just hanging out with your four-legged friends. Enjoy. Best wishes |
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"A horse is like a best friend. They’re always there to nuzzle you and make your life a better place" – Unknown |
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A HORSE’S TALE QUILT EXHIBITION Our quilt was juried into the Horse’s Tale Exhibition that coincided with the International Equestrian Games in KY. A celebration of all things related to the horse, this exhibit features the work of quiltmakers from the US, Canada, and Belguim, including six from Kentucky. Accompanied by 14 quilts by guest artist Shirley P. Kelly. Through November 16. The Machine Age of Quilting: From Treadle to Computer — From the treadle to the computerized wonders of today, sewing machin how quilters have utilized sewing machines from the 1840s to the present with stunning results. Through December 6. Selections from the museum collection in our main gallery- ongoing. To view some of the other quilts:http://tv.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/videoclips/animals/ Thank you to those who participated: Connie Funk, Melody Golding, Mitzi Koch, Beth Schang, Dianne Bartlett, Sally Leong, Deanna Opstedal, Betty Lucke, Kim Male, Tessa Wood-Woolard |
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“Whether you regard the horse with awe or love, it is impossible to escape the power of his presence” – |
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Horses in Art magazine is art for the horse lover, dedicated to presenting the world of fine art inspired by the horse to those who admire and collect it. Horses In Art is now gathering in the final articles, features and other great news for the Holiday/Winter Issue coming out in November. Leslie Harrison. We have a whole stable full of emerging artists to share with you as well as an exclusive interview with Leslie Harrison! Also feature articles on Paul Miners, Sam Price, and Liz Mitten Ryan just to name a few! |
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“To see her is to love her, and love but she forever, for Nature made her what she is” – Robert Barns |
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JACK STEVENS: SCULPTING FROM THE SOUL As I drove by the campus of Midwestern University located in the Wichita Falls, TX about a year ago, I started to notice the busywork of a huge sculpture being erected. Little did I know that the amazing art form that was taking on a life of its own in my hometown would take my breath away every time I beheld its grandeur. And that in addition, the artist’s life story would be one of the most soulful testaments I had ever heard. Much to my surprise and delight, the figures that were slowly taking shape were those of the wild mustangs that have graced our beautiful land of North America for untold centuries. Midwestern University’s newfound mascot, the MSU Mustangs, were now depicted in this beautiful monument. As I started to investigate the artist who created the sculptures, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a local artisan by the name of Jack Stevens. Stevens has created a number of sculptures in the Wichita Falls area. One of his most famous sculptures is a sculpture called “Wee-chi-tah”. The sculpture reenacts a Comanche Family crossing the Wichita River. The sculpture depicts how Wichita Falls got its name in reference to a local legend that the word “Weechi- tah” meant “waist deep”. Stevens later told me his research revealed that the "white man’s" legend was a mistaken interpretation. The Comanche didn’t have a word for “waist deep". The Caddo Indians called the Wichita people “Wichitas,” which means Big Arbor — due to the fact that the Wichita people lived along the rivers, often in houses thatched with leaves and limbs. I arranged a time to meet the man behind these incredible sculpted horses and other legendary works. As I pulled up to his studio I was greeted by the alerting bark of his dog and then Stevens appeared and greeted me warmly. As we sat down, I could feel his kindness and sincerity. I inquired about how he became an artist. He humbly replied that ‘it had just always kind of been there.’ He then started sharing his compelling life story and I sat mesmerized at his heartbreaking beginnings. His story began when as a very young boy of about eight years old, he and his ten year-old brother were orphaned and left to fend for themselves. They lived alongside a creek, their only source of food the fish his brother caught. Then disaster struck another hand of misfortune, Stevens’ brother slipped in the water and drowned, leaving Stevens all alone without a way to acquire his only source of food.
It seems amazing that he survived, but survive he did, doing odd jobs carrying groceries for pennies. Eventually he managed to convince a local cattleman to hire him. Since he wasn’t very strong, the only thing he could do with his small frame was to work with the young horses that needed training. As he said, “I was too young to know to be afraid, and the horses figured I was too small to be a threat.” Spending time with the colts and training them came naturally to him and they became his passion and the heart of what he loved. In his rare but treasured free time, Stevens started drawing, painting and sculpting. He learned from other artisans but really just considered it a hobby. At the age of twenty-one, Stevens enlisted into the army and soon was sent to Germany. In the year 1956, he drove a blackout truck (a military-issued vehicle equipped with blackout lights) helping refugees escape the Russian invasion of Hungary. During his travels, he saw what he described as amazing sculptures of horses and chariots, horses and riders, and sometimes just horses among the war torn canvas. Where he would look around and see nothing but the shattered bits and pieces of a war zone there in the middle of it would be the untouched sculptures holding the inspirational key to his heart’s purpose and gift. After his time in the military, his life went on and soon he was juggling his own family and farming. Just as things were finally starting to take shape for Jack, disaster struck again with the “green bugs” that hit and wiped out his entire wheat harvest leaving him owing the bank thousands of dollars. With all lost, he had to start again. He went back to ranching, squeezing in his art and sculpting on the side. Never giving up, Stevens worked for the next 14 years to pay back his debt. When the final payment was made, during a showing of his art at the very same bank, he left the bank with several thousand dollars in his pocket. It was this time that Stevens knew his art was the path that he should be walking and he’s been walking it ever since. I asked Stevens if he used reference materials such as photos for his work and I was so impressed to hear that everything he does comes from within and from a sense of knowing. There are moments in life when you know you’ve really met someone special and gifted, and meeting Jack Stevens was one of mine. I often had to hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes as I listened to this sincere and honest man tell stories of a life challenged by hardships, blessed by art, and inspired by the love for the horses that gave him a safe place to live when he had nowhere else to go. I t takes a rare person like Jack Stevens to recover from hardship and not only create beauty, but to exemplify it in his soul. Horses in Art, by Davina Andree |
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FOR ALL THINGS EQUINE AND ART… VISIT: |
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HORSES RECONCILE, SUPPORT EACH OTHER AFTER CONFLICT After a squabble in the field, horses might "kiss and make up"–at least in their own equine way. But even more often, post-conflict horses are visited by a "peacemaker," probably to preserve the unity of the group, according to a new study by European researchers. In the study, a group of seven domestic horses shared the same four-hectare (10-acre) pasture for two years. These horses showed reconciliatory behavior within 10 minutes after conflict about 40% of the time. But nearly a third of these reconciliations were encouraged by a "peacemaker"–a third pasturemate not involved in the conflict. Overall, "peacemaker" horses would come to provide comfort or encourage reconciliation in about 60% of the post-conflict periods, although this would not always lead to reconciliation, Cozzi said. At some stage in the study, each of the seven horses was involved in both conflict roles and peacemaker roles, he added, and this could be related to a preservation instinct. These images were taken from a camera used during the study, showing conflict (top) with one horse chasing off the other, and then resolution and friendly contact from a third party "peacemaker" (bottom). "Conflict resolution (in social animals) may represent important evolutionary mechanisms which help to maintain the cohesion of the group (and to) share resources such as food and living space," Cozzi said. The post-conflict behaviors were compared to the same horses’ behavior at the same time of day on days without conflict, he said. The frequency of friendly behavior between the horses in conflict and third-party horses was significantly greater following conflict than in periods not following conflict. The research led by Cozzi and his colleagues could lead to a better understanding of the importance of different kinds of conflicts between pasturemates, which would provide insight about when it’s important to separate horses and when it isn’t, he said. "With more data on the mechanisms of conflict resolution in horses we will be able to better understand the social system of this species and so respect their welfare by organizing their space and living groups in a more practical way." The full study, "Post-conflict friendly reunion in a permanent group of horses (Equus caballus)," (Behavioural Processes Volume 85, Issue 2, October 2010, Pages 185-190), was carried out in collaboration with scientists in Italy and the U.K. The written publication is available through Elsevier online. thehorse.com, by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre, October 14 2010, Article # 17102 |
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“Think, when we talk of horses, you see them Printing their proud hoofs i’ the receiving earth” – Shakespeare |
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NEW ARTICLES ON HORSECONSCIOUS |
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CAROLYN RESNICK: BECOMING THE BEST YOU CAN BE FOR YOUR HORSE BY DEVELOPING YOUR MAGNATISM To create a deeper connection with your horse, put yourself in a state of happiness So how can we do this? Start by putting your attention on the well being that is always there inside of you until it consumes your awareness fully. Become aware of how your body feels in the moment. Focus on the parts of your body that feel alive and well until your whole body feels alive. If you have something that does not feel good inside you, this is not you. It is an external condition that has caused feelings of sadness or any negative feeling that pulls you down. Let it go on your exhaled breath. Imagine breathing in healing energy. To read the compete article and more of Carolyn’s articles, visit Carolyn Resnick on HorseConscious |
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LIZ MITTEN RYAN: BECOMING ONE WITH THE HERD Whether you live amongst a herd of 16 ‘wild’ horses as I do or have one best friend you hang out with, it makes all the difference if your herd accepts you as one of them and in particular the one who guarantees their safety and well-being, the lead mare. Many trainers espousing a knowledge of herd language will tell you that domination is the key. When observing a herd, and particularly an unstable one with horses being introduced and removed, it is easy to notice horses exerting pressure on each other in an attempt to become dominant over each other and hence get more food. Often people think that is lead mare behavior but it is a middle mare or dominant mare that needs to fight for position in the pecking order. They fight because they are not respected. When we apply that kind of logic to our relationship with our herd would you rather be a wise and benevolent leader or the one with the biggest stick. To read the compete article and more of Liz’s articles, visit Liz Mitten Ryan on HorseConscious |
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SANDRA WALLIN: THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE The Art In Horses: How horses help humans become their own masterpiece. Horses have inspired artists throughout the ages and in turn, those of us who look upon their art are captivated by the beauty and majesty of the horse. The cave drawings in Lasceaux, Leonardo’s sculptures, and the finger paintings that adorn kindergarten classrooms, created by little girls who dream of being a horse. What I want to share however, is a new way of looking at horses, through stories that pay homage to the master artist in each horse. Instead of the painted, they are now the painters, transforming the at times tattered canvas of the human spirit into glowing masterpieces, alive with the colours of love, compassion and joy. To read the compete article and more of Sandra’s articles, visit Sandra Wallin on HorseConscious |
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FOAL HANDLING CLINIC WITH ANNA TWINNEY Dear Friends, It brings me great pleasure to be introducing this new foal gentling clinic to you. Last December 7 foals were saved from the feedlot in Canada. They safely made their way to Ray of Light Farms in East Haddam, CT under the guidance of Frank Weller and Bonnie. A documentary film crew were brought in and I gentled the foals from coming off the trailer to graduating with trailer loading…each step of the way they discovered the first touch, sharing breath, first grooming, first leading, first blanket and more…a gift in itself. Most of these foals have since found their forever homes. We continue to work on the 4-part DVD series to introduce not only a true partnership based on trust but also share about the PMU industry. We are planning a Christmas launch. The new clinic was born out of this experience and I can now bring to you a 6-day clinic where you too can meet the foals for the first time and be their person who introduces them to a better way of being, a better life. We shall work together to gentle the babies and offer them a 2nd chance. We have 5 spaces left on this course and its designed for ROTH students. For those wanting to learn about foals, weanlings, gentling the untouched horse. For those wanting to enhance their partnerships for horses, for those really wanting to learn FEEL. Foals will teach you your timing like no other. You can fool yourself that you have a 50/50 partnership with your horse, but not an untouched foal. You will learn how to create that. If you are seeking something unique, a new ROTH class or are wanting to become a ROTH trainer this course IS for YOU. Please contact vin@reachouttohorses.com for further details on the class itself, while Bonnie will take care of your accommodation needs and the centers directions. Attached is a photo of Petie – we are about to launch the Equine Angels cards on our website, courtesy of Susan Williams…take a peak – its worth it. For the Horses, Anna Twinney |
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“They are more beautiful than anything in the world, kinetic sculptures, perfect form in motion” |
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DROUGHT STRESS AND PASTURE QUALITY Drought causes pastures to dry up, weeds to flourish, and horses to get thin without supplemental feeding. But there are other things going on in your fields that you need to know about in order to protect your horses from problems such as laminitis, colic, diarrhea, and toxic weeds. The problem isn’t over when the rains come; conversely, the much-needed, drought-breaking rains can cause additional problems to grazing horses. One might think that green grass is highest in nutrients and brown grass is lowest. This is true for some nutrients, but not all. When dead grass is rained on, water-soluble nutrients are leached out. But under drought conditions, they remain; your pasture might actually be higher in non-structural carbohydrates, which includes sugars, starch, and fructan.
Most cool-season grasses accumulate sugar and fructan (a type of sugar) under drought stress. When plant growth slows due to lack of water, the balance between photosynthesis that creates sugar, and growth that uses sugar, is lost. Sugar levels rise in intense sunlight, and high sugar levels trigger formation of fructan, which is the storage form of carbohydrate in cool-season grasses. Warm season grasses do not make fructan, preferring starch for carbohydrate storage. Fructan reserves are like the fat on a hibernating bear: The more fructan plants can accumulate before they go dormant, the more energy reserves they have to sustain them during the drought and allow them to get a competitive advantage when conditions are again favorable for growth. Unfortunately for horses eating these plants, fructans are a known trigger for laminitis in susceptible horses. Orchard grass varieties that best survived a long-term drought under Mediterranean conditions were found to have sugar and fructan levels up to 63% of dry matter in the green, living leaves enclosed in the leaf buds. In a study of wheatgrass in the high desert of the United States, sugar and fructan levels increased seven-fold in the grass crowns and roots under drought stress compared to irrigated control plots. Other species prefer to turn their fructan reserves to sugar under drought stress. In tall fescue subjected to drought stress under greenhouse conditions, sucrose content increased 258% in the leaf base, and fructan decreased to 69% of that in control plants that got water. When selecting plants to survive drought, plant breeders either purposely or inadvertently select those with the highest levels of fructan and sugar, because they tend to be the hardiest. Then the Rains Came Fructan and starch are the storage forms of carbohydrate. Neither is transportable in a plant because they are too big. To be used by the new growing point, they have to be broken down to sugars that are small enough to travel from the lower storage portions of the plant up to the new growth. Re-watering stimulates production of enzymes that break long-chain fructan into shorter chains, and ultimately to the sugar components. Those first new green shoots can be very high in sugar. The type of sugar produced after the drought breaks can vary depending on the species of grass. Ryegrass is an exception in that it makes even mores fructan upon re-watering. So, the consequence of a drought-breaking rain that stimulates new growth in your pasture is a rapid change in carbohydrate form that might affect your horse’s digestive system or cause a metabolic crisis in a horse with impaired glucose metabolism. The effect of the change on grass carbohydrate concentration and form in pasture-fed horses has not yet been researched; although digestive upsets and laminitis frequently occur with seasonal change and periods of rapid pasture growth after a drought-breaking rain. Studies on the fermentation of fructan and sugar in the production of silage show that different species of bacteria tend to prefer specific types of plant carbohydrate. Because bacteria eat mostly the terminal ends of fructan chains, shorter chain fructans are fermented faster than longer chain fructans. These are the same kinds of bacteria that ferment the carbohydrates in your horse’s cecum. If the type and chain length of the carbohydrates change quickly, the bacterial populations can also change rapidly. Those preferring the new form of carbohydrate might proliferate, producing lactic acid and changing the population dynamics within the hindgut. This is the scenario where endo- and exo-toxins might be produced. We are all aware that changing the carbohydrate levels in our horses’ diets too quickly can lead to diarrhea, gas, colic, and even laminitis in susceptible individuals. Long-term drought–and a drought-breaking rain–make for sudden changes in the carbohydrate form and concentration in your pasture, and thus in your horse’s diet if he is on pasture. Weeds in Drought-Stressed Pasture Dandelion, thistles, and chicory are common weeds often relished by horses even under normal conditions. All three contain inulin, the same form of fructan used to induce laminitis in clinical studies. Many plant toxins concentrate under drought conditions. Weeds can accumulate nitrates, oxalates, alkaloids, prussic acid, and cyanogenic glycosides, which can cause a wide variety of equine health problems including digestive upset, mineral imbalances, photosensitivity, and liver, kidney, and neurological damage. Fescue infected with endophytes might have dramatically increased levels of ergovaline under drought stress. This alkaloid causes constriction of blood vessels, which can cause abortion in late-term mares and has been associated with laminitis. Preventive Strategies If your pastures are too high in NSC for your horse, limit pasture access and feed more hay. Make sure he’s not so hungry he starts nibbling on weeds with possible plant toxins. When the rains come again, exert caution and consider controlling access by dry-lotting part of the day, using a grazing muzzle, or forcing strip grazing with portable fencing until grass is two to three inches tall. This allows grass growth to use excess carbohydrates accumulated during the drought. thehorse.com, by: Kathryn Watts, BS August 26 2005, Article # 6058 |
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AUTUMN READING
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R.T. FITCH: STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S HEART A Spiritual Guide through Love, Loss, and Hope is a heartfelt collection of stories from the author’s life. Fitch’s journey with horses started with buying a horse for his wife while living overseas. Then, he had to get one so they could ride together. Once back in America, with only one horse, the author and his wife searched for a rescue horse. Ethan was not rideable. So they continued looking. Soon, their small farm was home to five horses, four of them rescues. The Fitchs’ soon became involved in horse rescues. They learned the horrors of the slaughter market. R. T. Fitch writes simply of his time spent with his horses and dogs. You can buy the book at Amazon. |
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“I love the horse from hoof to head. From head to hoof and back again” – James Whitcomb Riley |
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THERE WAS NO WARMTH, THERE WAS NO LOVE He was young, so young that life had no fear or pain. His life revolved around the warmth that he felt from his mother, her milk and the sun. All the warmth made him feel happy, it made him glow, it made him feel loved. His family was not large but they made him feel safe, they did not play often as he was the only baby but they made him feel loved. There was his father, bold and strong; his young mother, his older sister and two aunts that kept an eye on him if he should stray far from his mother. It was an autumn day as he danced around the brush and nipped at his sister’s back feet. Sometimes she would strike out at him but through persistence he learned that she would turn and run him off. To him, that was playing. But today, as he nipped at her hocks, there came a great sound, a rushing, roaring noise the likes of which he had never heard before. He saw the tension in his sister’s stance then He did not know what to do, there was the ever increasing sound, a pressure from behind and above, dust, running family and he could not keep up. The harder he tried the further away his family band seemed to pull away. The dust stung his eyes, his lungs were on fire, he gave his small legs the freedom to run as fast as they could to escape the giant, mechanical bird that threatened to consume him. He never saw the gulch, the drop-off, the dried creek bed as he went ?airborne over the edge in a cloud of dust and landed on the hard gravel bed, below. There was a snap, a bolt of searing hot pain and his right front let would not work nor let him stand. He struggled and flopped about the dried creek as the roaring, man-made condor descended upon him; from out of nowhere strange horses appeared with odd creatures on their backs. He felt no warmth, he felt no love, he now felt only one thing, fear. One of the back riders slid off from a strange horse, he tried to crawl away, the two legged creature planted one of its feet on his neck so he could not move while the noisy bird of prey sped off. The rider pulled something from his hip, pointed it at his head, he felt a moment of insurmountable panic and in a flash of white light and a bang, he was no more, ever, finished, destroyed. He felt no warmth, he felt no love, forever. His mother heard the shot, the giant buzzard was bearing down on the band from behind and she could not see her baby. Without thinking of her own safety she pulled from the running band and ran back directly underneath the snarling bird of prey. Underneath and back she ran until she found the strange horses with riders standing over a crumpled body on the floor of the dried creek bed, it was her baby. She charged at the rider on the ground to drive him away from her baby, he jumped back just as snake like things reached out and grabbed her neck. She spun around to attack again and another serpentine vine flew out from one of the strange horses and rider and choked itself around her neck. She lunged against the pressure and their grip only tightened. She reared and twisted as the strange horses pulled back and increased the strangling grip on her neck as she watched the ground rider return to her crumpled baby. She could no longer breath, there was fire in her chest, her vision was blurred and began to go dark as she saw the rider look at her, smile and then kick the crumpled form of the baby squarely in the chest with only a hollow thud heard in reply. Her heart exploded, she felt no warmth, she felt no love, she was destroyed from within and without; gone, forever. Later that day, far across the now silent plains, a computer screen flickered with the written text: Friday, Oct 15 Summary: Operations continued at Magnolia Bench in the morning. Helicopter-assisted roping west of County Road 5 took place in the afternoon. Animals gathered: 4 Animals shipped: 0 Gather related animal deaths: 1 Cause: During helicopter-assisted roping a seven-month-old colt broke its leg and was euthanized onsite. Non-gather related animal deaths: 1 Cause: A three-year-old mare died with no visible injuries after being roped. A necropsy was performed, which found a pre-existing heart condition. Significant changes to the musculature There was no warmth, there was no love, there was only a cold and empty silence while a nation wept and no one listened. by R.T. Fitch ~ author of “Straight from the Horse’s Heart“, http://www.hfhadvisorycouncil.org/ |
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‘A horse is an angel without wings.’ – Unknown
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| DIARY DATES: | |||
| October 29-30 | Kathy Pike, The Path to Authenticity Through the Wisdom of the Horse, Tucson, AZ, http://coachingwithhorses.com/calendar | ||
| October 29-November 4 | Kathy Pike, Equine Facilitate Learning and Coaching – Level One Training (includes above workshop), Tucson, AZ, http://coachingwithhorses.com/calendar | ||
| October 31- November 7 | Anna Twinney: Animal Communication Dream Vacation Clinic, White Stallion Ranch, Tucson, AZ, cmoore@whitestallion.com | ||
| November 6 | Kathy Pike, Open sessions for the riders at Desert Springs Equestrian Center, Tucson, AZ, http://coachingwithhorses.com/calendar | ||
| November 6-7 | Debra Olson Daniels: Riding with the Clicker Part 2, Toutle, WA, debraolsondaniels@wildblue.net | ||
| November 7-14 | Kathy Pike, Wild Women Desert Retreat, White Stallion Ranch, Tucson, AZ, http://coachingwithhorses.com/calendar | ||
| November 15- 20 | Anna Twinney: Foal Handling Course, Ray of Light Farm, East Haddam, CT, anna@reachouttohorses.com | ||
| November 17 | Sandra Wallin, Art of Equus, Maple Ridge, BC, http://www.chironsway.com/seminars.html | ||
| November 27 – 29 | Anna Twinney: 3-day, ROTH Natural Horsemanship Clinic, Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, Littleton, CO anna@reachouttohorses.com | ||
| Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking | For details of all of all Anna Twinney’s events and workshops click here | ||
| Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking | Kathy Pike’s calendar and clinics can be found here | ||
| Various dates – Please quote HorseConscious when booking | Details of Epona workshops by Linda Kohanov can be found by clicking here | ||
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Remember: |
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“A horse is like a violin. First it must be tuned, and when tuned, it must be accurately played ” – Anonymous |
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HORSES IN ART
Long-term pasturemates sometimes show reconciliatory behavior after a moment of conflict, and a third pasturemate often will display similar behavior to provide comfort or to encourage reconciliation between the other two horses, said Alessandro Cozzi, PhD, DVM, researcher at the Phérosynthèse Research Institute Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology in Saint Saturnin Les Apt, France, and primary author of the study. Conflict behaviors include kicks, bites, chasing, and threats, while reconciliation is represented by sniffing, grooming, playing, and following each other, he said.
before you see your horse. It will help you to discover yet another core strength within you. Your intentions to elevate your awareness will grow your magnetism. Growing your magnetism will draw your horse to follow your lead. It will cause your horse to trust in your leadership.
watched her legs lung her forward as his family bolted away from the sound roaring at them from behind.
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