New Years!

As I turned into the gravel/sand road, I saw her standing alone looking into the distance as if she could see the changes the new year was bringing. I 

wish I knew what she was seeing, what in the future had captivated her, still like a statue but breathing. Maybe she was only smelling a new strange wind blowing, or was simply enjoying the scenery. I want to think that she was actually watching the road for me. Looking back over the years, we've grown closer. Twilight used to be the horse who hated to be brushed, ran from me when she saw me, and now she will at least acknowledge me when I call to her. She'll let me wrap my arms around her face and hold her close, I let her stand untied because I know she wont leave my side. Its ironic, she used to run from me, and now she becomes nervous when she can't follow me.

She didn't hear my tires crunching gravel, and she finally looked over when I 'clucked' to her. Twilight was nervous and excited, her canter was smoother today and I think she's finally adjusted to her short hooves. Ever move she made was full of power, she exploded into the canter tossed her head when I told her to slow down. She wanted to charge into the new year I think.

   After our ride I was cleaning up and petting Lightening when I noticed Mike (the horse whisperer) enter the pen of one of the Arabians that have recently come to the barn.

This one, a little mare,  is tiny and delicate like a piece of porcelain. Her coat is a stormy grey dappled with small silver coins, her face perfect and angular is a ghostly white, her black eyes are like two pools. 

She was beautiful, but she was also afraid, turning in nervous circles away from Mike, dancing as far away as the small pen would allow. She has a halter and lead rope on and he slowly reached down and grabbed then end of the rope. Immediately she became tense, taunt as a bow string.

"She isn't very human friendly is she." I said,

He nodded at me, it was clear he disapproved of how they had treated her.  

"They've never touched her," he said. And he let her reach out and run his hand down her long slender neck and over her chest, within moments she was quiet under his touch, but her eyes were wary.

I want to find away to make my soul as quiet and open as Mike's. So that I can give peace to the horses I work with, and myself.