A story of re-claiming my own power through a horse. I posted this photo yesterday on my personal FB page as one of my five all time favourite photos of horses in my life, thanks to a challenge by my lovely friend Lori. During my training at Eponaquest Worldwide back in 2006/7 I met Laramie, a 17.2hh Dutch Warmblood mare. She was huge and stunningly beautiful. During one of our training sessions we were each choosing a horse to do active round-pen work with. As I walked around the horses I came finally to Laramie in the last corral. She was standing quietly but as I stood in front of her a big smile started to break out on my face. I know you were the words I heard along with a deep sense of familiarity, and a huge sense of FUN. It was as if we did already know each other and Im certain she and I indeed did, in another lifetime of course, as this was our first ever meeting. In that moment of recognition of her, I also felt a huge increase of inner-power inside of me. A real: I can do this feeling, and one of confidence, freedom and as I said, wanting to have FUN! When I told Shelley Rosenberg our facilitator for that session and Laramies owner that Id like to work with that horse, her eyebrows went up: Really, you do know who that is dont you? She asked me. Yes I calmly replied. So into the round-pen went me and Laramie. Now at this point, Laramie was a Grand Prix level dressage trained horse, this was primarily what she and Shelley did, so round pens and loose work were very new to Laramie, and she found them tremendous, yes youve guessed it; FUN! I went into the centre of the pen, the safest place when a horse is loose, and watched as this enormous animal realised she was loose and began to race full-speed around and around, kicking up her heels, bucking, wee-heeeeee! She was having a blast! I stood calmly, aware of her speed and power but totally unafraid. I completely trusted this horse and felt completely safe. I also knew she would eventually calm down. And calm down she did, after shed got her exuberance and joy out she came back down to a trot, then a walk and then I asked her to come over to me. I felt nothing but utter love for this animal, I just wanted to be with her, and so it turned out, she felt the same. Glued to my side we walked arm-in-arm around the round pen, very quietly and very calmly. An air of tranquility began to fall over the two of us and my fellow apprentices and staff who were sitting watching in awe at this romance blossoming in front of their eyes. As they all knew that for me this was a big turning point. My self-confidence forced underground by my huge inner-critic (false-self) have left me for much of the time doubting myself and usually playing it safe in my choice of equine partners. But Laramie and I just clicked. When I stood in front of her she also reminded me of another bay may Id known some 20 years before called Cherry when I worked at a riding school. And Cherry and I used to have tremendous fun together. A highly sensitive and hence greatly misunderstood horse, I just got her. And we had a blast together. Very sadly she wasnt mine and I had to walk away from her, she died very shortly after I left and I was devastated and beat myself up wishing I could have bought her and saved her from her fate; but it was not to be... When Laramie and my time together came to a gentle end, we stood together in a haze of blissfulness and love, I guess what a lot of people would describe as a sense of complete oneness with each other. As I opened the round pen gate she pretty much followed me out back to her corral, the rope barely needed. After watching this transformation in me but also her own horse, Shelley offered me the wonderful and unforgettable opportunity to ride Laramie. This I did, several times and that is another story of its own; but suffice to say, it was just heavenly riding this magnificent and talented horse and doing flying lead-changes for the first time in my life; bizarrely having never been taught how to give a lead for one I somehow just knew what to do. I found out today that very sadly Laramie died last Friday, she was 23. I am in mourning for her and wanted to write this as a tribute to her and the fantastic times we had together, and the impact they had on me as an horse-woman and as the person I am today. And I also wanted to pay tribute to Shelley for her graciousness in letting me spend time with and ride her beloved, beautiful girl; The Queen as she called her. By the way if you havent read Shelley Rosenbergs book, My Horses, My healers, Id highly recommend it. Its a beautiful, honest story of her healing through her horses. So, go in peace beautiful Laramie. You remain etched into my heart, soul and body. I feel your power, grace and beauty in my movements and own sense of power. And I remember with huge love our time in that round pen together, the first time I road you, which was AWESOME! And the times I just visited you in your field and gave you a good old scratch which you also loved so much; you were a hugely important part of my growth at Epona and I love you. Aho, Angela Dunning
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:06:52 +0000
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