Musings of a Little Bay Thoroughbred

Thursday

Beautiful Summer Breeze....



It was a magical evening.....the moon was full, and there was a soft breeze blowing out of the south.   As the sun was setting, the clouds were the most gorgeous mix of pinks, reds, yellows, purples and blues.  One of my daughters remarked that it almost felt like being at the beach at night-standing at the water's edge, feeling the delicious warm wind on her face.

I was just finishing up at the lovely little winery where I hold tastings and sell wine.  The girls had come up from the barn and kept me company up until closing time.  (I am so blessed that my boss lets us be together like this.)   The farm where I work  is nestled in between green rolling orchards that are filled with apple, peach and cherry trees intermingled with lush vineyards.  Our spectacular backdrop is Big Mountain, which looms up from the valley.  It is just breath taking and I can almost imagine being on the Tuscan hillside as I take in the view. 

Tonight is one of those nights where we realize it's not necessary to say much; each of us seems to understand and communicate perfectly without talking.   The fireflies dot the landscape and a couple bats are swooping for insects.

We decide to go see the horses for a quick visit on our way home.  As we pull up to the barn, we can see the herd is peacefully grazing on a hill, their outlines silhouetted by moonlight.  As I get out of truck, I can feel the warm breeze rush up to greet me again-filled with the smell of honeysuckle and mowed grass.  My mare hears the door as I shut it, and she nickers from the group. Curiosity fills her companions, and everyone raises their heads to see who the visitors are.  Snorting and breathing heavy, they cautiously approach us as we make our way to where they are.  It is light enough to make everything look like it is bathed in silver.  Dancer comes up to me and brushes her velvet nose against my cheek, releasing a sigh. She leans in to me and asks me to rub her withers.  Content, she drops her head and begins grazing again.  The girls and I are all standing with our horses, feeling the summer wind and enjoying the back lighting of the moon.  Stars dot the sky, and the trees that border the field softly swish their leaves with the breeze.  It's too early for crickets yet, but we hear a killdeer scolding us from a distance to stay away from her nest.  

What a beautiful evening to enjoy just for the sheer beauty of it all.  The herd is peaceful and in harmony, and inside each of us is a feeling of pure joy and contentment.  It is the feeling of knowing that nothing can ever buy this beautiful stitch in time and that God is giving this gift to us with infinite love and care.  It is a moment like this where you just know that no matter what, everything will be okay; it's a moment of glorious love and peace and clarity and assurance for whatever may come to us; it is a message to have no fear, because our Glorious One is always there.

Here's wishing you all many a peaceful summer night to share in similar revelations.  

XO Andi and Dancer


Quote of the Day


A true horseman can relate and communicate with a horse in an effortless manner and with mutual respect. 
He understands the horse and is sensitive to where the horse is mentally.
He has a total commitment to understanding the communication that takes place from the inside out between horse and rider.
I have only met three of those in my life; Bill and Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt.
They each had an understanding of each horse that they came in contact with.
They knew what the horses were feeling on the inside and they dealt with each horse from that perspective." - Buck Brannaman.
Image is of (Left to Right) Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt & Tom Dorrance at the Rancho Cienaga del Gabilan, San Juan Bautista, CA.
Image is by Julie Baldocchi and is from the book 'Tom Dorrance, More Than a Horseman' by Margaret Dorrance & John Saint Ryan.
The book is available for purchase from here - http://www.tomdorrance.com/
Buck's quote is from an article which appeared in the 'Arabian Horse World' and is by Annette Venteicher -

Thursday

July, Good Wine and Fantastic Equine Course!

So here we are in the middle of July......it is hot, hot, hot and while I always have looked at summer as a time for slowing down and recharging, it appears there is no break in sight.  What have we been up to?  Well, for starters, our town was awash with visitors for a 10 day period to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg; approximately 4 million!  I have the honor of working at a local winery, and the place was hopping!  It's great to be in a place where most of your job involves spending time with happy people. People + Wine = Happy!
For me it's Horses + Me = Happy!  And taking it one step further, it's Dancer + Me=Bliss.  Now that the whirlwind of the sesquicentennial is over, I am able to focus on a few other things, one of which is a course Dancer and I are taking with an extraordinary woman I was turned on to by a good friend, Hannah Rivard over at Cambria Equine. 

The course we have embarked on is called "From Your Horse's Heart" and is taught by Jenny Pearce.  The wonderful thing about this great teacher and her class is that it affirms what I have been working with on Dancer already without realizing it.  It has thrilled me to no end to discover I have been heading on the right path with her.  It has always been my wish to have a deeper connection with my horse and this is truly a wonderful medium to achieving this goal!

I invite you to follow along with me as Dancer and I begin our journey.  If you wish to learn
more about this wonderful course, I will be happy to fill you in on all the particulars.  Until next time, keep cool, Cheers and Happy Trails!  XO Andi and Dancer