Feature Friday – “Unspoken Messages – Spiritual Lessons I Learned from Horses and Other Earthbound Souls” by Richard D. Rowland”

Howdy Folks,

The pigeon landed on the edge of the roof, its golden chest shimmered in the sun. Its eyes focused directly on Richard. Paying no interest to the other back yard guests, the stunning bird watched Richard’s every move for 2 hours with eyes that spoke only to him. “Before my eyes were opened to things like this, I would have thought something wrong with the bird and there was probably a scientific reason for its presence. Now I know differently.” Richard explains he was told God can send messengers in the form of animals. “Now I know this to be true.”

But he didn’t always. Richard, a retired Kentucky police officer and Vietnam Vet had lived most of his life in what he describes as a world of black and white. “I was hard headed, opinionated, absolutely sure of my place in this world, and convinced that science-based ideology was the only truth.”

That was before his journey. A journey that started only a few years ago. A journey guided by the hearts and wisdom of “horses and other earthbound souls.” A journey that carried Richard from where he was to the spiritual and believing person he is today.

Ingeniously he broke the story of his journey into 2 halves. The first half of the book is stories about horses, a few other animals, and people, whose lives and circumstances began to teach him to see beyond the vision of his eyes. From them he learned there are no coincidences, and how to see with his spirit.

You’ll meet Buffy and her foal Peanut, and witness a spiritual goodbye from the rest of the herd. Whiskers and Sarge will climb onto your lap, and into your heart. Pal, a horribly foundered Paso, will show you how his physical challenges helped Richard face his own terrible health scare. “I was able to apply what I learned from him to go forward myself.” You can visit Pal HERE on Facebook. “Pals page has become another medium for us to teach others that founder is not the end of a horse, and cancer can sometimes be treated with nutrition, and we need to move forward with humor and hope.”

 Pearl will trot of the pages to tug your heartstrings, and wet your eyes, as her story with many layers unfolds, and you meet all the people in her life. From her you’ll learn, “There are no coincidences.”

There are others you’ll meet too, who will become your friends, and perhaps your guides. Together you’ll share a few chuckles, tears and deep thoughts. As you read these stories, sometimes your mind will race ahead of the words on the page and, you’ll wonder, as I did, why is he telling this story? Why did he let this happen? Then you’ll realize it was necessary for us to feel the spiritual growth, just as Richard did.

Your journey will carry you from part one to part two with the wisdom and reassurance that “animals are old souls with deep and ancient abilities to communicate with us, if we let them.”

In part two Richard shows how people, and their loved ones, faced with life ending, or altering prognoses and challenges, can use that ancient wisdom, and the listening learned to explore new, AND ancient, paths, ideas modalities.

Richard was given a blunt prognoses on August 21, 2008, “You have a blood cancer called multiple myeloma, and it’s incurable.”

Of course at first he and his wife were devastated, terrified, angry and scared. Then they turned their focus toward determination, hope and dedication. Using some lessons learned from Pal, and the others, and guidance from his wife, who is a holistic nutritionist by training, they marched forward to meet the challenge.

Part two tells of their choices. How things worked for them. It is not a knock on Western medicine, though at some points it might feel like it. But just as with the stories in part one, some facts and thoughts had to be shared for the reader to fully understand the journey. The journey that led Richard to find balance.

Unspoken Messages” is at times happy, at times sad, but always touching. Richard invites you into his most private moments wrestling with confusion, enlightenment, joy and sorrow. I not only recommend it, but suggest "Unspoken Messages" be required reading in our High Schools.

Back Cover

Join Richard on Facebook HERE for the book. And HERE to become friends.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Feature Friday- book review - Down-To-Earth NATURAL HORSE CARE by Lisa Ross-Williams"

Howdy Folks,

 

Lisa Ross-Williams will tell you she was born "horse crazy."As a young girl, her first horses were beautiful Breyer Horses who galloped happily around her bedroom amid walls papered with posters and pictures of horses of every size, breed and color. She was 10 when her first real life horse entered her life; Liza was a 10 year old Arabian mare. For 6 years they shared a wonderful life together and Liza taught Lisa much about the spirit of the horse. Later in life another Arabian came to her, his name was Rebel. He came with a few issues that sent Lisa on a search to find better answers than the seemingly conventional ways of feeding, caring for, and housing. Nothing she was seeing seemed "Natural" to the horse for Lisa. Rebel's needs and benefits charted Lisa's path on a lifelong pursuit of seeking the truly "Natural" way.

Along the way many other horses continued to be Lisa's teachers. As she and her husband continued to learn they realized they needed to share that information. To that end they formed their company "If Your Horse Could Talk" http://www.naturalhorsetalk.com/index.html  in 1998, and began a highly respected radio show.

Lisa on the air

As more and more important information about the "Natural" needs of horses began to come together Lisa eagerly shared what she learned, and still needed to do more. It made sense to her, and many friends had encouraged her, to put what she learned in a book. So she set out to assemble over 10 years of research, contacts and information in one book. In 2011 she published, Down-To-Earth NATURAL HORSE CARE, an easy to understand and fun to read book.

The title is perfect and describes exactly what you'll find between the covers – "Down to earth, Natural horse care."  Within those covers lies a wealth of realistic and helpful, easy to understand information on caring for your horse, or horses, naturally.

Everything from housing, to hoof care, feeding and nutrition, and more, is expertly detailed. And yet in such a way that it is easy to understand. Everything you need to know to change, implement or improve upon your current horse care practices is right there. Plus Lisa explains why the natural way is so very beneficial to all horses. And she points out in most cases you'll save time and money.

The book walks you through a journey of understanding starting with "A Natural Way of Living" giving easy, affordable and fun ways to create a natural paradise for your horse. "Equine Health" delivers tips on everything from dentistry, to truly natural feeding, things to do, and avoid. "Natural Hoof Care" explains how it's much more than, "just a trim."  "Natural Horsemanship," is a piece of the "Whole Horse Puzzle." In the segment "Myths and Facts" Lisa clears up many misconceptions.

There is a wonderful "Resource Guide" included that will be at your fingertips to help you find many more answers and helpful contacts.

This book puts it all together, how we might care for our horses in way that makes sense, "Naturally." It is a valuable resource for novice and seasoned horse owners alike, and I highly recommend it to everyone. 

Lisa & Kenny's equine family- from left- Rebel, Simon, Bam Bam, Riley, Smokie, Elvis, Trooper & Cooper

Thank you Rebel, for helping Lisa begin her journey.

I often use my own little quote, "It's for the horse." And while Lisa wrote this book for humans, the guidelines and information in it are truly, "For the horse."

You can purchase Lisa's book here - http://www.down-to-earthnhc.com/ 

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry