Update on Tiz Life and More Oysters
Tiz Life and More Oysters joined the herd over two weeks ago. As usual they were kept on the outskirts at first, and gradually the distance between the herd and the new girls got smaller and smaller. The two mares are clearly bonded and up until the last few days were always near each other. I was a little concerned that they would stay that way and not integrate into the herd, but they are horses and so they have stopped depending on each other and have become herd members.
Chance, always the lady’s man, can usually be found in their vicinity, and Roxanna seems to have befriended More Oysters. It was interesting to watch Roxanna take charge of the social interaction in the early days. She controlled who could approach the girls, and in what way, and also how close the girls could come to the herd. Herd behavior is fascinating and informative.
I have given the girls nicknames. More Oysters has become Maura (a pretty name that sounds like More). I had a harder time thinking of what to call Tiz Life. Tizzy rolls off the tongue easily, but really she is not a tizzy. I find that Tiz Life has a special spirit. I can’t prove it of course, but I believe she has been hurt emotionally by comments made about her since birth – due to her leg. But she has remained a kind and affectionate horse. The other night, in bed, I tried talking to her. (Basically, I just visualize talking to a particular horse.) I asked Tiz Life what she would like her name to be. I immediately was bombarded with a response, but it wasn’t words or pictures, and it was so fast I couldn’t make heads or tails out of it. But it was clear that she had definite thoughts about it! What often happens is that shortly after receiving information, it seems like my subconscious understands and will process it to something my conscious mind can comprehend. In this case, about 5 minutes later, it came to me – Beauty. And so that is what I now call Tiz Life. Beauty. And surprisingly – as I am not one to choose names like that – it comes out very naturally and easily. Which makes me think I definitely have it right.
I went out the next day and spoke to Beauty and gave her some neck scratches, which she likes, and she turned her head to sniff me very carefully. I think she was interested in what a human was like who cared what she thought.
Of the two, Beauty is the thinker. Maura is more nervous around humans and doesn’t seem to expect anything good to come from us. It will be interesting to see how the girls change as a result of being with the herd and getting affection without agenda.
Thanksgiving
This year Thanksgiving was truly a day of thanks.
Every year I am thankful to have a place to live - and basic comforts. I am grateful for my horses and for my dog Cynthiana, and my cat Sissy. I am grateful my sons are healthy and doing well, and that they care about their mother. I take none of it for granted. However this year has been a difficult one for me, and just when it became very hard to bear, a miracle occurred. I have posted that I bought a farm, but I did not post how that came to happen. Here is the story:
I was on my couch reading a book by Deepak Chopra. In the middle of reading a page, what I call my ‘little voice’ prompted me to put an ad on craigslist looking for a new place to rent. I scoffed at first – I had already done that 2 or 3 times and had no response whatsoever. However, having learned very painfully to trust these promptings, I put the book aside, went to the computer, and placed an ad. Basically I said I was a mature woman looking for a place to retire with her horses, and said if anyone had a farm to rent, or space on their farm, please contact me. Imagine my surprise when I got several responses. Timing is everything. But the best surprise was that one response was from a man who said he had 75 acres that he would sell me for $175,000, with owner financing. How tempting! But I emailed him back and told him I had no cash to put down. He said that was not a problem – $2,000 would be needed but that was all. At that point I became hopeful, but I had not seen the property yet. I knew from my travels that some property is literally just the side of a hill. Or it could have been completely wooded. Or completely wrong in any number of ways. I got directions and drove down to look. As you approach, the road goes around a turn and looks down on the farm. Right at that point I knew it was right. I had been told it was on a dead end – with only one property beyond it. And so it was. It sits in what is virtually a private valley, and extends uphill to the north and west. And there, in front of me, was the perfect field for galloping!
In any event, my son lent me the money and here I am. If that is not a miracle I don’t know what is.
And if that was not enough, less than 2 weeks after moving to the farm I was offered the two mares, Tiz Life and More Oysters, for what I call my Mare Rejuvenation Project. (See www.horsesabetterway.com for details.)
An added bonus – there was a man renting a trailer down at the end of the property who owns a tractor and is willing to work and help out.
How quickly things can change.
View of farm on north side of the road 10-26-11
View of farm on south side of the road 10-26-11
- View from the driveway January 25, 2012
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