One horses kind heart...

 If you were to look at any media type post, there are people that just don't get it when it comes to animals.  It's plain to see that some people believe animals are just possessions. An acquisition of sorts to brag to friends and family of ownership, breeding or price.

Animals are, in my opinion, one of the best gifts in life.  We have purebred horses, grade horses, papered dogs and Heinz 57 varieties too.  I wouldn't trade any of them for anything. It doesn't matter one bit whether one animal is 'papered' vs the other.  What matters to me (and to us as a family) is the 'personality'.  Are they kind, loving and loyal?  That is our litmus test.  And the reason for my post today.

Just to paint a bit of a picture...we have approximately 60 acres.  As we have just moved, only about 8 acres are fenced which is where our five horses currently live. Our fence borders our neighbours who also have two horses.  When we go to feed, our hay is right next to the other field where the other two horses usually are and they come down and peek to see what the commotion is all about.  The bits of hay tossed over the fence to them is just bonus :).

As you can see in the picture, it was snowing outside.  The horses were anxious to get to the 'new stuff' and were following Gary as he was walking the hay towards the feeders.  What was so cool (and I sooo wish I had my video going on my phone) is that I saw Pressley (pictured in the middle in August) look over at the other horses and walk over to the fence.  She stuck her head over to the Gelding to say Hello!.  She then looked at the hay stack and what Gary was doing and looked down at the ground.  She then bend down and took a mouthful of grass that was growing at the base of the fence line and pulled it gently out with her mouth.  I thought she was just going to eat it.  NO!  That darling girl lifted her head up and lifted her face over the fence.  She then put her head towards the horse and when he didn't notice what she was doing, she waved her head at him.  He then noticed and moved over to her and took the grass.  My heart just melted.

To me, that was such an amazing and kind gesture.  That to me, meant she processed that her friend had nothing to eat, found him food and then made sure he got it.  That is kindness.  That is love.  That is amazing in my books.  And, that is just one more reason that she is my love horse.

I only wish that we as humans, could be more kind to each other like Pressley was today to her four legged friend.  I only wish that we could slow down enough to see when others are without and make little gestures that would make anothers persons day a bit easier.

As for you Pressely, I love you my girl.  And I always will.

Kim

The right thing isn't the easy thing...

I am learning that country living comes at a price.  A price that has no numeric value, but rather a weight that rests heavy on your heart when tough decisions need to be made.  In reality, it's easier just not to make one.  To let you heart and your head go to battle with no outcome... to let the problem exist on it's own.  But, that is not fair.  And, doing the right thing is never the easy thing.  

Thus here we are.  Today we had to say Goodbye to our beloved Miss T.  Mama to Maple and 

Maximus.  A mare that through no fault of her own, sustained a shoulder injury that was just getting worse.  A condition that was causing her pain to which winter would magnify the issues to the point of being inhumane.

So, we made that tough decision on her behalf.  We made her last days filled with love and treats.  And we made her final moments as tender as we possibly could.

We will miss you dear girl as will your babies.  Thanks for all you gave to each of us.

Kim. Xo

Thanksgiving...the real gifts.

    

Thankgiving is just that.  A time to give thanks...and it's a time where we really should slow down long enough to think about what we are thankful for.

For me now that we have moved into the country, it's all about the slowing down.  When we lived in the city, our lives were constantly go, go, go!  It seemed that I was never able to truly decrease the pace long enough to breathe let alone enjoy any moments that came along.  I was continually in a rush and I always felt behind.  Always.  It was a terrible feeling.  So much so that I was in a perpetual feeling of anxiousness...what the hell?!?

But now that we are here, I am starting to enjoy the small things.  Gifts that I hardly ever took the time to notice...a beautiful sunrise, gorgeous fall colors, the beauty in watching the horses play with each other.  Those kind of moments that are truly wonderful if you take the time to actually sit and watch.

This morning, I looked up over my coffee cup and saw the most beautiful sunrise.  It was like something out of a magazine.  I have never noticed such a mixture of gold and pink, so much so that I had to go outside down by the lake and just drink it all in.  WOW!  It was magnificent.  A gift.

Then on my way back into the house, I noticed the fall colors in our bay...beautiful.  A gift.

Then I remembered the picture I took yesterday of Miss T and Maple with the beautiful skyline in the background as baby nursed.  A gift.

I have begun to realize that true gifts are not purchased, but rather witnessed.  We are given moments in time that are suspended for our brain to grab a brief snapshot.  Enjoyment that if we are really lucky, we can capture that moment by photo and share it with others so they can enjoy it too.

So, friends enjoy this Thanksgiving Day, but most importantly slow down enough to realize the daily gifts that we are given.

Kim