A Forest Awaits . . . Horse Girl’s Nirvana!

Happy New Year to all!

I wanted to post something today, New Year’s Eve, 2023, in honor of the 11th year Anniversary of this Soul Horse Ride Blog!

In looking over some earlier, unpublished drafts, I found this sweet missive, written from a magical ride on my homebred Shire-cross mare, Fae.

So here’s some inspiration to cheer on the rides and horse-interactions we can look forward to in 2024!   DawnHoof

~~~~

McGill Trail, Mt. Pinos; Los Padres National Forest, California. Fall, 2019:

Imagine a pristine fall day, clear skies in all directions. Golden hues. Warm sun. Not the slightest breeze.

Imagine a real-life Pegasus with rocking-horse canter. Not prone to spooking, but steady, ready. Ears forward, eager to tackle the trail.

Atop the mare, a snug Australian saddle, covered in fleece. Comfy. Ready to keep our Horse Girl Adventurer safe. Secure.

Now imagine a vast, endless forest, with a world-class single-track trail traversing the side of its great mountain shoulder.

Vistas abound: distant peaks, hidden valleys, secret animal trails. Late-day sun drapes shadows down the ridgeline, streaking patterns of dark and light.

Above, trees the size of skyscrapers. Below, delicate ground foliage expressing fall’s full color palette.

Oh, and might I mention, not another soul in sight. The mountain today, normally riddled with off-road mountain bicycles, is all ours!

Put the these rare-as-gold elements together, and you have a recipe for Horse Girl’s Nirvana!

~~~~

“Silent Film” Shadow Show

It doesn’t happen just anywhere — the conditions have to be right. (I’ve experienced this phenomenon a few times before, always end of day, with the light at low angle — and in the fall.)

But it always blows my mind!!!!

Today, in one steep section, it happens!

Our moving shadows drape down the slope, and pop onto the foliage, creating the illusion of an old-time silent movie.

Below me, my horse-shadow alights, briefly, onto a tree in the foreground.

Next moment, farther down the drop-off, we leap onto a bright Ceanothus.

Then flash back onto a dark faraway trunk.

Now we’ve popped up close again.

What a strange illusion!

Dark. Bright. Here. There.

Hopping. Skipping.

Foreground. Background.

As if projected onto a 3D screen — flickering outlines of horse and human . . .

In an ephemeral  symphony of shadow and light.

I watch as the shadows appear, disappear, reappear.

Fleeting as Life itself.

Our elongated images illuminate onto the landscape, as surely as would a leaping doe, rabbit, coyote, or bear.

~~~~

But who sees the shadow-movie of the bear?

Would it be as the sound of one hand clapping?

What trove of images does the cellulose of this forest hold?

~~~~

Because we are traversing their world.

The world of unseen creatures that live here on fleet feet.

None standing still — but ever moving, ever restless, like my horses when I ask for a halt.

For the animals seem to know, instinctively, that all Life is movement.

Like they know, even in stopping, there is no real standing still.

(When the movie stops, the audience leaves the theater.)

Like we know, watching the hands of time.

Watching the sun track across our sky.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Watching my own strong hands, my own horses’ hooves . . . as they age, and slowly fade.

We know, one day, the film will end. We will run out of celluloid.

Live today, Horse Girl Adventurer.

Get off your comfy couch — get out and ride!

Take in Nature’s silent film beauty, and watch with awe.

~~~~

So I paint a snapshot of my ride today, so that I may always remember. So that I may always have Fae, and the magic of our forest, ever with me.

For Life is fleet. One day, Fae will no longer be here. And I want to know that I didn’t let her go to waste, but enjoyed her movement. Her intelligence. Her willingness. Her majesty.

My Pegasus mare — Fae has the smoothest canter of any horse I’ve ever ridden, in my fiftysomething horse years!!!!!!! (That’s saying something!)

What a riding partner! Her canter’s surging motion both gentle and smooth, big and strong. Just what a canter should be.

Light as a feather for being so large (nearly 16 hands high, size 5 shoes!). Willing to stop or slow at my slightest shift in thought and body.

Willing to go, and keep going, rounding each dip or turn in the trail with surefooted perfection. Sheer delight!

Oh Fae. My Fae. My Faerie. My love!

May I forever savor your movement. May I forever savor your Silent Movie.

Horse Girl’s Nirvana ~ indeed :))

~~~~

Update, Winter, 2023:

Oh yes, I remember this ride! And so many other rides with the Silent Film Shadow Show, leaping, popping light-shows to my great surprise and delight.

Fae was just 18 at this ride. Now she’s 22, and sound and strong as ever. (See my Post, Treasure of my Heart for more on Fae.)

Happy Horsing to all, and may we treasure the horses and saddles, freedom and goodness they represent!  

You might enjoy reading my first Post, Aladdin’s Wings, from 12/31/2012

DawnHoof

~~~~

Copyright 2019, 2023

Photos: Dawn Jenkins

~~~~

Please also visit my Life Blog, Journal of Dawn ,

for Strategies and Insights into the

Journey of Life

~~~~

Join Dawn for a Soul Horse Ride!  Experience the thrill of becoming one with your Horse . . . Join Dawn and her homegrown herd for a  Soul Horse Ride in the Frazier Park Outback!

Call to book your Life-Changing Adventure today:  (661) 703-6283

~~~~