"What I See"

Howdy Friends!

My mare Kessy looking to me, and all of us ...

When I look at a horse I see the horse it can be, wants to be. Somehow I look right beyond the stiffness, lacking posture or inverted body carriage ... Much like a sculptor who looks at a chunk of granite and chips away all the tiny pieces hiding the beauty of the masterpiece that lays hidden beneath. The artist sees the beauty from the inside out, and reveals it to the world. That is how I see every horse I meet, and I know by chipping away at the stiffness, unbalanced body carriage and uncertainty ... we can reveal and empower the beauty, grace and splendor that lay inside yearning to be free. It’s not about training–it is about freedom and comfort of confident movement. ~ www.itsforthehorses.com

 

Gitty Up, Dutch. 

Heartland Horse Heroes Second – Inner City Slickers Day

Howdy Folks,

Saturday, October 18, Heartland Horse Heroes held their second Inner City Slickers (ICS) day. ICS, founded by Michael McMeel, former drummer for Three Dog Night, is a program where at-risk youth spend a day on a ranch, farm or equestrian center learning through ranch and equestrian chores, activities and fun, by the "Cowboy Code," they indeed are important, they have purpose, can build self esteem, trust and feel honor. There is a real magic in the day and you can read more about Michael and ICS HERE.

Heartland Horse Heroes had invited girls from the Discovery School, and beforehand we had asked for each girl to write a short note about themselves, their fears, worries and why they were at the Discovery School. Michael and I reviewed the stories Friday evening, and they were so sad, tough to read. These 11 girls ranged in age between 12 and 17 and each had already in their young lives endured so much. No wonder self esteem, trust and honor were foreign to them. Let me mention here, we could not hold this program without our fantastic volunteers, some of whom drove 3 and 6 hours to be there.

LaRue Sprouse talking about holding onto your dreams no matter the obstacles

The day started with the participants' arrival, LaRue Sprouse, owner of Sprouses' Corner Ranch and host of Heartland Horse Heroes led them on a short farm tour. She paused at the big show ring and spoke about her own dreams, and the hurdles she needed to overcome to realize them. I took the moment to build on that and encouraged them to look around at the beauty, the horses, the world that LaRue had created. We talked about holding fast to your dream, expect people to tell you, "you can't do it," and forging ahead anyway - The only negativity that can touch you is what you allow, so you have it in your power to brush it aside, to grab your dream.

Michael explains the power of self confidence.

Michael began to talk and engage them, he asked real questions about being let down, about trust, respect. I watched closely their faces, saw some ready to trust him, others roll their eyes as if to say, "Heard all this before, no-one cares." He painted pictures they could see with his words, promised he would always be there for them, promised they could trust him, and themselves, and told them today would be a journey of building trust, confidence and self respect. He asked on a scale of 1 to 10 how much they trusted him – it varied from 5 to minus 8. He was cool with that and said it was a lot better than minus 10, we all had a nice chuckle and a bit of an engaging chat. But half the faces remained hard.

We then handed out journals, and asked them to write their first thoughts of how they felt that moment. On the first page is pasted the commitment they must sign "I believe in myself – If I fall I will get up – If I'm beaten I will return – I will never stop getting better – I will NEVER give up – EVER!" Each time they open their journal they will see their commitment. We encouraged them to write in it daily happy, sad, mad – it doesn't matter, write it.

We created teams or "posses" who would work and play and take the challenges together. Some of the activities were competition, each posse member would help, support and encourage the team. And we set out about the glorious day. First we worked, real ranches have real work, we mucked paddocks and cleaned tack. Of course at first there was a bit of confusion, hesitation but as minutes wore on teamwork and cooperation began to lighten the load, and faces. Always Michael was there to encourage and inspire, as he promised he would be. All the volunteers were, too.

The "Fall Of Faith"

The first challenge was the "Fall Of Faith." A 10 foot step ladder the girls were to step up as high as they could bear, cross their arms and fall back, trusting that the adults, and a few team members would catch them. Great fear and doubt kept anyone from being willing, but Michael reminded them, he, and all of us were there to catch them, they would never fall alone. Eventually one girl went first to great cheers! Then another and another, the cheers and encouragement got louder, funnier and soon even the most timid girl took the fall ... Several insisted on going again as they wanted to step higher up the ladder. I studied their faces, by the end of this first challenge not a single face lacked a smile, all hard faces had melted a little already. And Michael's lowest score was now minus 5.

Relaxing in the sun for lunch

Then lunch, which proved to be a circus of laughter and giggles as each girl relived their "not very scary" fall of faith. Michael drifted among them, as we sat in the sun warmed grass, and told stories about everything from his recording and TV and acting days to his first horse. Then he started roping the "straw steers" and some of the girls had short but successful lariat tossing lessons.

 

Learning about balance, trust and connection with Sandman's help

It was time to ride now, and LaRue's fine and devoted lesson horses, Donny, Sandman and Penny entered the ring. A few girls were extremely eager, a few timid, a few refused, at first. Now riding time at a "Slicker" is about much more than riding, which is done bareback. It's about discovering the spirit of the horse, learning to hear the horse and facing fears, if there are any, with the help of the horse. I gave a little talk on the connection between horses and humans while volunteers readied the girls with helmets.  First they mingled with the horses, some touched, others hugged, and finally a few rode. And with Michael's promised support and encouragement, eventually everyone rode. I noticed even the most isolated girls began to join in the fun, the posses mingled together, all helped one another. Michael's score moved up to an even zero.

Teamwork, high spirits and reaching high for a goal, the Cowboy Toothpick

For the next hour we played confidence and team and trust building games, the "Cowboy Toothpick," a 12 foot high pole and each posse collaborates to drop 3 rings over the top – it takes real teamwork to get a posse member up that high! But with effort, teamwork and plenty of cheering and laughter they got it done, together!

 

Ridin' high with new found confidence on the wild Barrel Bull (I wish I could paste here the thundering cheers of encouragement!)

The day's highlight, and most demanding and thrilling challenge, the barrel bull ride, was saved for last. Each step of the way all day is carefully orchestrated to build high spirits, self confidence and trust, and even though each participant by this time had overcome fears, and built trust, in themselves, each other, Michael and our volunteers, that high swinging barrel gave them all pause ... For about a minute. Then cries of encouragement convinced one girl to ride high, and soon everyone rode the barrel bull, laughing, screaming and loving it. Michael told them, "It only takes balance, just like life."

Ending the day with thoughts about living and loving life with self respect, courage, faith, dreams and purpose.

We ended the day back in the barn where we all talked at once, laughed about the silliness of the day and congratulated everyone on their success and spirit of going for it. I looked carefully at tired, dirty, happy faces ... not a single uninterested or hard face could be found. I got the feeling for some of them it may well have been the most fun day they could remember, perhaps ever had. Michael assured them he, and we, would always be there for them, they were never alone again, they could contact him, or us, anytime. for any reason. Michael asked them to write another entry in their journals, that they might have today to turn to, always. Michael's "trust" score had skyrocketed to 15!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Photos by Connie Bloss and Cynthia Drew -

Saving Christian - A morning's Ride Ripe With Encounters

Howdy Folks,

It started as all our rides do, Kessy walking her wonderful soft shuffle down our path under tall pines to the logging road, Saturday trotting behind. But this would prove to be a more adventurous ride than most. Of course a little adventure is always fun, so ride along with us.

It was cool, but the sun warmed the tall yellow wild asters lining the logging road. Butterflies enjoying the warm sun beams flitted about the pretty flowers. Kessy's shadow glided along with us. Saturday is a bit off his game right now, so we did a fair amount of waiting for him, which gave plenty of opportunities to bird and butterfly watch.

Saturday leading Kessy and me up the trail

We'd left the logging road to explore one of our favorite side trails, and Kessy and I were waiting for Saturday. I was engrossed watching a sparkling blue butterfly on an orange flower. Kessy was close to sleeping. Without warning a large hunting dog exploded from the brush, almost colliding with Kessy. Kessy spun to investigate. Both Kessy and the dog were as surprised as I, then at a stomped foot protest from Kessy, he dashed away. This is the month hunters around here turn loose their hounds to run the big woods and get in shape for hunting season, so encounters do happen.

Not usually encounters like we were about to have, though. Back on the logging trail moving merrily along, at a slow enough for Saturday pace, we heard a pack of hounds behind us, yipping, howling and barking as they do when they are running on trail. But it sounded as if they were coming our way. I turned Kessy so I could look behind us, and sure enough that pack of about a dozen hounds was trailing us. Coming at us with their best speed!

We were on a long straight stretch of trail, the hounds were perhaps 500 feet away and closing. They can outrun a horse, and in times like this there is only one safe decision. I grabbed my hat, let go a loud holler, "Get it on, Kessy!" and set her in a flat out gallop straight on for the hounds, whooping and yelling.  Saturday of course was a safe distance behind.

We charged those dogs, Kessy's ears pinned, her feet pounding the hard packed dirt road and me yelling, "Get 'em girl!"

The hounds collapsed in a pile of yelping, squealing terrorized fur, then regrouped and dashed back the trail. Fleeing, tails tucked and barking in panic. We ran them until the left the logging road for the safety of the dense woods, then turned for home. A hundred yards back we picked up Saturday.

But the morning was still young. We'd heard the neighbor's goat had escaped about a week ago and I'd been asked to keep an eye open for him. A nice year old Nubian buck named Christian. They only had him a week before he set out on his own … The neighbor is my sister, who needed a goat like she needed a leaky roof, but …

Now Kessy and I have ridden up on bears several times, and of course often hounds, so when we rounded the turn, and there stood Christian about 100 feet ahead, I was happy. When Christian saw us, he jumped with joy, and bleated a happy greeting. Then began bouncing our way.

I reckon it was Kessy's first ever, horse meets goat moment, because she launched into a series of twists and crowhops that would have made a rodeo horse proud. Christian just kept coming, and bleating. He was so happy to see someone!

I'm still not sure I know how I rode that little explosion out, but I kept patting Kessy's neck and telling her, "It's okay, he's your cousin." Finally Kessy settled into a slow, bouncing, trembling walk, away from Christian.

It took a lot to turn her around, and when she did, the goat hopped off the trail into the woods. I saw our chance and hurried Kessy past him. At this point we were only about a quarter mile from our trail through the woods to our barn. I wasn't sure Christian would follow, so we stopped and waited … a safe distance ahead. Kessy still trembled. Then Christian stepped from the woods to follow us, Saturday behind him.

Kessy began to settle nicely, in fact as we made our way toward home we would need to stop often to wait for little Christian, who called out if we got too far ahead, and Kessy began stopping on her own! Saturday stayed with Christian.

Christian followed nicely even as we turned off the logging road, and it became clear Kessy had gone from scared as all get out, to worrying about her little goat buddy. At each turn on the tight brushy trail she stopped on her own and waited until Christian was back in sight.

I called Ravishin' Robbie to tell her we were bringing Christian home, and asked her to open both gates on the barn so I could ride through and get Christian in the barn. It worked beautifully, and he and Kessy stood together like lifelong friends. In fact when I rode Kessy out to the mounting platform to dismount, little Christian hollered and hollered from the barn.

We waited all together in Kessy's barn until my sister came to take Christian home again. Kessy and Christian are now good buddies and we'll need to let them visit often, perhaps even take Christian along a ride every now and then. We sure had an adventurous ride, and hope you enjoyed riding with us!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Seeing With Her Heart"- Ariana Tomaselli and Cheyenne

Howdy Folks,

This is a story I wrote for mt Heartbeats column in Trail Blazer magazine. It ran in the Dec 2012 issue as I thought it was a perfect Christmas story. Ariana & Chy's story is truly one of love and trust.

 Seeing With Her Heart

 

Cheyenne is a beautiful 9 year old Paint Quarter Horse mare who loves to hit the trail, run poles and barrels, too. She even enjoys doing a few low jumps and strutting her stuff at Fun Shows. She's an all around great horse who since she was 2 always took care of her person, Ariana Tomaselli, who was a young girl of 12 when they met. The relationship between Chy, as she prefers to be called, and Ariana is a bit different from most horse and girl partnerships, for since Chy was 3, she's been totally blind.

Ariana & Chy running barrels

Ariana met Chy 8 years ago when a friend invited her to go along to pick up her new one year old filly, Chy. The two girls played with Chy for a while, then decided to load up and take the playful filly home. But Chy, who had been so co-operative all afternoon, would not step into the trailer. After trying over and over, Ariana, acting on a hunch, carefully covered Chy's head with her jacket and lead the filly quietly into the trailer. Even though Chy was her friend's horse, Ariana felt the first tug at her heart for Chy that would signal the beginning of a journey of their two spirits bound together by a powerful loving connection.

Ariana had no horses of her own, but Chy's new home at a lovely boarding barn was only moments from her own house and for the next 6 months her mother always knew where to find her. At the farm playing with Chy. In fact she spent more time with Chy than her owner did and the bond between them grew and strengthened. They always seemed to know what the other was thinking. Together they frolicked, sometimes even getting into trouble.

 Something Was Very Wrong

Then when Chy was just over 2 years old, she began to show signs that something was very wrong. She would stumble and act uncoordinated. The veterinarian was summoned and Chy was diagnosed with Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) sometimes called Moonblindness. Even though treatment was started right away, the left eye could not be saved, and the veterinarian worried for the right eye. Ariana's friend decided she would find a rescue that would accept Chy.

The bond between Chy and Ariana grew stronger every day and Ariana prayed she would never lose her friend. The threat of Chy going to a far away rescue hung heavy over both of them. Would anyone care as deeply for Chy at a rescue? What would her future hold? But while they had each other, they made the most of every moment. Ariana spent countless hours brushing and fussing over Chy, hiding her tears in her thick mane. Ariana and Chy's love for each other continued to grow and Ariana dreamed of ways to keep her at the farm so they could stay together forever. She was convinced that must happen when one day Chy's owner decided to ride her in the ring. For whatever reason, Chy promptly deposited her in the dust. No one tried to ride her after that, though Ariana wanted to. She knew Chy would never do anything to hurt her.

Sitting on top of the world together

Finally she convinced her mother to let her ride Chy. She slipped on the mare's back, bareback, a little worried, but happily confident too, for she knew Chy would never harm her. Her mother led them through the pasture, Chy was a perfect gentlewoman. The feeling of togetherness between young girl and young horse was forged even tighter that day. Ariana insisted her mother take her to visit Chy every day after that. In less than a week Chy was walking, trotting and even cantering under saddle. In a few more weeks they jumped their first fence together. This is even more incredible when you realize Ariana had only ever had a few horseback riding lessons. Ariana said, "We just figured it out together." But the fear of loss was still there, as the search was still on for a rescue who would accept Chy.

The Christmas That Changed Their Lives

It started as any ordinary Christmas a few months later, but it was about to prove to be a Christmas that changed Ariana's life, and saved another. After Ariana opened all her presents her mother handed her a small beautifully wrapped box. Inside was a letter from Chy, written by Ariana's older sister. "I belong to you now and together we will run the fields and trails forever. Love, Chy." 

 

"I have no words for this mare. She is the love of my life"

They set out to explore the world as only a girl and her horse can. At least the world as big as the boarding farm. But there was plenty to do there and they did it all. They rode the pastures, played games in the ring, started to bend poles and run barrels. Chy loved to run.

Then the horror returned. Ariana noticed Chy had problems in her right eye. For a year she and her mother battled to save the sight in that eye. They seemed to be holding their own. So it was perfectly natural to accept the invitation to go on their first ever trail ride with friends. It was a 12 mile ride and the excitement was high. Down the trail they went, Ariana confident and high spirited, Chy as strong and safe as ever. But as they traveled along things happened that tore out Ariana's heart. Chy stumbled, and she never stumbled. Instead of jumping a small jump, she ran right through it. Ariana took great care to guide her beloved horse back to the trailer. 

A vet check that evening proved the worst. Chy had lost all vision in the right eye, too. Suddenly and unexplainably.

Blaming herself, Ariana never took Chy off the farm again. She never took her to shows and certainly would not risk hurting her on the trails. So for 5 years they just played together at the farm. But it was much more than play. Ariana talked to Chy for hours on end and together they made plans and invented ways for a blind horse to, "see the world." Ariana knew Chy loved to play. She knew she loved to run barrels, bend poles and even jump a little. So, learning from each other, they set out on the next phase of their journey. Ariana would help Chy to do all the things she loved to do by, "seeing through her heart."

 

Bending the poles together

They put Chy in a paddock with her friend, a safe old horse named Britches, and Ariana studied how Chy would follow Britches by the sound of her footsteps. So she began to lead Chy making sure to stomp her feet as a signal to step up or down, or just be careful. She noticed how Chy would carefully use her whiskers to find the opening in the gate or other obstacles, carefully reaching out and touching with her nose. Ariana began to incorporate the things Chy did on her own into how she handled her when they played. She knew they could ride again, because Chy always listened to her and loved to play and had a heart as big as the moon. Ariana set about inventing ways to communicate to Chy the things she couldn't see.

First, as she led Chy, she began to add words to her stomping feet signals. She taught Chy to, step up, step down, slow down, and later even jump. She led her through the poles allowing Chy to stop and touch each pole as she had seen her investigate the gate opening. Together they learned the barrel course the same way. One step at a time. When Chy was ready, Ariana rode her through the courses and began to add leg and body cues to the voice cues. Their runs became flawless, and Chy so sensitive that if Ariana got out of balance she would adjust to rebalance her.

Eventually there came a day when Ariana thought perhaps they could leave the farm and go to a Fun Show. Chy loves to have fun. But Ariana still worried and it turned out her worry caused Chy to refuse the trailer. Looking back now, Ariana says Chy knew it was Ariana who wasn't ready. Just as Ariana was always careful to look out for Chy, so did Chy look out for Ariana, and she knew that her partner was not quite herself that morning. And just as sometimes she needed to adjust to rebalance Ariana in the saddle, she made an adjustment to keep her safe that day.

 A few months later they tried again, this time all went well. Their first Fun Show since Chy lost her sight. In every event they entered they placed in the ribbons. They've been to a few more shows, always placing in the ribbons. They are back on the trail too. On the trail Ariana will always allow other horses to go ahead because she noticed Chy does rely on a horse in front to lead the way and follows their footsteps around obstacles.

"She's never had a bad day"

Through it all, Chy has never had a bad day. Ariana says she never once acted mean or ever wanted to give up. She is always willing to happily try the next new adventure. Chy loves people, she loves fun and she loves going places and meeting new friends. Chy and Ariana have discussed more exciting plans for their future. They are planning to visit therapeutic riding centers and work with children and Veterans. Ariana believes that Chy's big heart and powerful determination to overcome her own situation will help change lives. She knows it has changed hers.

Together they fly - Trusting their Hearts!

Their journey together continues and in the near future they will begin to invite others to be part of their journey, showing folks that circumstances are not obstacles, just different trails to follow. And seeing with your heart may be the very best kind of sight of all.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

"Our little Hero Saturday"

Howdy Folks,

Happy Monday Friends! … Ravishin' Robbie and I had a swell weekend dodging thunderstorms, humidity and managed to squeeze in a little work. Well Robbie did most of the work, I mostly coached. We had some water issues in the barn, which of course this recent monsoon weather made all too obvious, so a few structural changes were needed, and a bit of this and that. All finished now and this morning's Coffee Clutch saw the return of a number of Hummingbirds. During these past two weeks of heavy rain and very high humidity they had disappeared. Robbie wondered if they went into stasis in rough weather. This morning's buzzing, darting and dive bombing was a welcomed treat indeed.

Saturday and the rest of the Coffee Clutch family

A story I'm compelled to tell about this weekend is about our sweet little Saturday's huge heart. On Saturday I was fooling around getting ready for the barn repair work while Ravishin' Robbie was in town doing a little theater work. The barn repair required a little digging. I'd dig five minutes then sit fifteen minutes recovering in the shade fifteen watching the birds and butterflies at Robbie's flowers.

 

Saturday and Tigger relaxing together

You may recall from past posts that I have this thing on my left side where it gets all confused and literally just goes away, and I fall down. That's why we built the big mounting platform and made a few other changes. Saturday is always with me, never more than a few yards from my side. On Saturday though he began to get in my way, almost underfoot. I was digging a small ditch next to the barn and after about an hour (of mostly resting, not digging) he would actually come sit in the ditch almost against me. As I've said I'd dig five minutes and sit fifteen, and Saturday stayed glued to me. I had my normal aches and numbness, but really was not working very hard.

 I had about three feet to go when I hobbled back to the barn wall, reluctantly leaving my very comfortable green lawn chair. Saturday put himself between me and the ditch and sat down, which is very odd for him as he always follows. I scratched his head, picked up the shovel, then without warning, my left side went numb, and I fell in a heap half in my little ditch. This time I hit pretty hard.

It takes a little while for things to recover before I can get up again after these little bouts, and Saturday lay tight against me the whole time. I can't help but think he saw it coming and that's why he tried to block my way.

Saturday keeping an eye on things

Do our friends know? I think yes. My sweet mare Honey did the same thing when I fell in her yard about 5 years ago, and Kessy did once too, when we were doing a little groundwork. Saturday though was the first to seem to know before it happened. He's a great little buddy who obviously is a lot more tuned in than he lets on.

Sunday, Robbie had help and the repairs were completed, as Saturday and I watched from the shade of the big oak.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry