Magical Moonlit Ride.

I spent most of a boiling hot day yesterday repairing the guttering at the back of the cowshed, where my ponies now reside. I wanted to try and avoid anymore flooding when we have more thunderstorms and the guttering was a mess. I told one of my best friends that DIY can't be that hard if men can do it (you can probably guess that is was a male friend!).

I found myself singing as I worked and the end result, if a bit 'agricultural' should make a difference, cost nothing and gave me a great sense of achievement. I warned my friend that if anyone laughs when they see it there'll be no more cakes!!!! He said it looked just fine from where he was, which was about 5 miles away!

It was too hot to do anything with my ponies until late. I did a little in hand with Jack, including working on his Spanish Walk, which he needs to catch up with Bella in, then rode Bella and did some ridden Spanish Walk, etc. I was going to take Grace out but it was getting dark by then so I rode her in a paddock.

Even though I've only hacked her out for ages now she was going beautifully and really 'with' me when a large, white ghostly form flew overhead. It was one of a pair of Barn Owls that always nest locally. He was swooping about above us when I spotted the pair of Little Owls that nest on the farm, seemingly following me around the paddock, flitting from one fence post to another in the warm, still moonlit night.

It was a magical, mystical experience and one that I knew, even in that moment, will remain indelibly lodged in my memory forever. It felt as though we were in a fairytale and to be sharing it with Grace, when I've shared so many sad and lonely rides with her of late, seemed extra special and very appropriate. She seemed to be as enchanted and entranced as I was and stood like a rock while we drank in the peaceful, soothing atmosphere.

Since I read my main inspiration's words last Friday afternoon I haven't cried or felt deserted once, and believe me that is some record these days! I now have them printed in copper plate script and framed. I am coming to realise that, for me, words are the art form that means the most, much more so than paintings, sculpture or even music. I find endless beauty, solace and inspiration in words, and none more so than those particular words, written straight from the heart.

A good friend of mine lent me Magrit Coates book, 'Horses Talking'. Although I am not really a believer in animal communicators as such, there are some passages in the book that sent tingles up my spine. This passage in particular resonates with me and sums up the feelings I've had with some of my horses, past and present:

"There are some horses that we know slightly throughout our lives, and other horses that look into our eyes and move us so deeply it feels like our souls are shaken. These horses leave permanent imprints of their inspirational presence and love in our hearts and minds. By receiving their powerful messages we are never the same again. Many of us are only ever truly known by horses, especially the ones close to us in our lives…our soul mates.”

and:

“The horse captures the imagination of the human whose soul it mirrors.”

and:

“Love creates a bond and a bridge between horse and human to reach the spiritual depths of both”