Horses

I am at Hidden Buddha Healing Centre as a wwoofer. It's a wonderful, old-fashioned farm with huge trees and lush green everywhere. I have spent a bit of time in the "buddha grove", which is a miraculous patch of beauty between fields. The birds sing constantly. 

There are eight horses here who have been rescued from slaughter. They live beautiful, peaceful lives, cared for by Lidia. 

This is Spring Rose. She is a wild mustang. She doesn't have a screened mask on her face because she won't permit it, being wild. She's a bit unpredictable, so I give her carrots, but don't push my luck.

Here is Lidia with Rocky. He's over 32 years old and blind. Lidia has acquainted him with his surroundings, both barn and pasture so that he can get around. I felt really bad on the day I gave him a good brushing, which he enjoyed, but then he tossed his head and banged it against a post in the barn. Now I know why we groom him outside where he isn't near anything he can bump into. He's a really sweet horse.

This is Gracie. As you can tell from her ears, even though they're under the screen mask, she is a donkey. She likes singing. I sing to her and she listens, walking toward me. I don't think I have the vocal wherewithal to sing to her as much as she would like, so I brush her for a break. I don't think she would tire of being brushed either.

This is Woody. He's over 120 in horse years (50+ in people years), a very old man who is very dignified and a bit bossy. He is so well cared for that he appears to be a young horse until you are up close and see his very wrinkly chin.

These Percheron horses are Maisie and Mica and Mica's daughter Raven. These two white sisters were partners in their earlier life, pulling a wagon. Raven was born in November. They are all very beautiful.

Sarah was a racehorse, saved from slaughter like the others. She receives so much care from Lidia who is attempting to heal her injured leg. I have the privileged task of making poultices each day to treat the injury.

I have been making the healing feed mixtures, poultices and supplements, to be ready for Lidia to administer to the horses. I am using only the highest quality ingredients, and everything that the horses eat helps them become and stay healthy, needing the vet less. Lidia is a macrobiotic expert and feeds the horses accordingly. Her devoted care means that these rescued horses have a beautiful life.

I have visited the very nearby lake (you can hear loons sometimes at night) and the property over to a creek. The Buddha Grove is a lovely shaded place in the trees that Lidia is developing for her guests (retreat people).

It's lovely.

My friends Phil and Mandy lost their 31 year old son Alex this week  to brain cancer. I have been thinking about them in the Buddha Grove. I hope you send love and prayers their way. xo

Today I completed a fly trap that I was inventing as I went. We'll see if it works. 

 "It is the horse's gift to connect us with Heaven and our own footsteps.     

 - Ronni Sweet