Equine Relationships

[Nancy Reed]

My equine relationships have literally saved my life several times over.  Perhaps this is not a Christmas story, but to tell it is to show the blessings and the gifts our horses give to us. 

 

When it came time to spread my late husband's ashes we rode down the canyon to the creek trail we had named the Cathedral. Here the creek slows down and the century old oaks spread high and wide enclosing the trail in a soring green canopy.  To say this spot on the trail is special is to understate the obvious; this place is magical.  Even the air is different, filled with moisture even on the hottest of days. 

 

Just prior to his death, Jerry took pictures of the Cathedral and downloaded them onto my computer.  He had  picked several to be screen savers that looped every minute or so.    It was as if he had a premonition of his impending death and literally showed me were he wanted his ashes to be spread. 

 

Late in the afternoon about a dozen of Jerry's closest family and friends met under the oaks just were the pictures showed us: in a small clearing, under the tallest oak, next to the big boulder in the creek.  Our daughter Danielle and I rode down on Lyric and Sierra our steady Quarter Horse mare.  After I had spread some ashes I handed the urn to Danielle.  A little breeze came along and some of the ashes went under Lyrics nose.  She breathed in the ashes.  The Lyric turned to me with her eyes wide open in shock.  The look said "that is were he went, now I know what happened to Jerry!"

 

By now Danielle is sobbing and handed the urn to her grand father.  Lyric stepped in and encircled Danielle in her warm grey neck and held her softly until Danielle calmed. 

 

I have no doubt that our horses know us better then we know ourself.  Because of the time required to do distance we spend many hours together.  It is the time spent together that is the gift and the blessings.  Merry Christmas to everyone, may you be blessed with happy equine relationships in the New Year!

 

Nancy Reed

Lazy J Ranch

Elfin Forest, CA

 

[Mary K]

Only a lovely person writes this eloquently.