It's raining today...long, soft, rumbling, grumbling thunderstorms. My kind of September rain; not too serious but no stop to it either. When I was a girl, I took long walks in this kind of weather, much to the consternation of my Mom. "Silly girl! Walking out in a thunderstorm...what were you thinking?"
I wasn't thinking. I was very young and in love. I was in the moment.
This morning, while I was out with my herd doing chores in the rain, I was in the moment too, horse style. I'd decided to keep them up in the paddock. This was no light and easy rain. When the thunder and lightening came in, it REALLY came in. And if I'm out there with them they'll come in to stand in the big shed with me instead of standing on the top of the hill, making themselves in to lightening rods.
I was cleaning, they were chewing and watching me to make sure it was safe to be inside instead of out on the hill, where their instincts told them to go. Ever so often it would really BOOM!, and they'd stop and check in again. " Still alright?" Amazing! They're really beginning to believe me when I say "Yup. Alright."
When I was sure the worst part of the storms had passed, I decided it was OK for me to go inside. I walked around to make sure all buckets were full, shed and stall clean, hay out, gates closed. And I stopped to check on them too.
I leaned on the shed doorway, over to the right, and watched the rain drip off the trees and run down the hill to the pond. Beautiful! And then Lucky stepped forward and stood next to me, steaming and dripping with rain. His head came down to my level (he's 16 hands high and I'm 5'4", so he had to come down a ways) and we relaxed together, watching. And Patch stepped forward to, on Lucky's other side, his head coming down to match ours.
I don't know how long we stood there. It didn't matter. We were in the moment, together, being.
Maybe that's the best kind of "training" session there is...just being...together.
It doesn't get any better than that!
Nancy, smiling at the way things go!
5 comments:
Hi Nancy, I'm a facebook friend of Gaylen Bettiol, so that's how I got to read your blog. Your blogs are so positive & uplifting, it's a treat to read them. I love animals as well but I have never owned horses. The love and connection that you have with your horses is awesome. Keep blogging. Your style is like a breath of fresh air.
Lesley... How very nice to "virtually" meet you! I'm glad you stopped by to read me writing to myself. I've always journaled about things going on in my life, either with my sketch pads or whatever blank book I had lying around. Now I do the "writing to the air" thing on line.
The world is changing and I'm loving it!
I hope you stop by again! And send me a friend request. I'd love to be one of your new "virtual" friends too.
Nancy, smiling because the rain has stopped!
I agree with Lesley... Love reading your blogs, so uplifting and positive! It's raining here in Pagosa Springs, CO, today, too (yesterday we had bright sunshine and upper 80's), you must have send it our way :-)
Petra Christensen
Parelli 2Star Junior Trainee Instructor
Parelli Central
Petra...
Many, many thanks for putting the link to my BLOG in your BLOG entry yesterday. It's easier for me to write when I think I might have an audience. You gave me that lift I needed to keep myself focused and moving forward.
I am having the time of my life! Please, let all the folks you work with know that I am one of their biggest fans. So are Lucky, Apache and Willow (I'm guessing at that part...big grin!)
Nancy, living in horse time and loving it!
We LOVE to hear feedback like this, Nancy. That's sooo awesome!
Petra Christensen
Parelli 2Star Junior Trainee Instructor
Parelli Central
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