Dr. Nature I Presume?

One of the things of which I am most proud in my life is that I have been able to help make a difference to some very deserving animals that were destined for death or worse.

When a newcomer arrives that is distrustful of humans and other animals and is unable to believe his good fortune in waking up into a world with plenty to eat and little to fear, the first thing we do is not to smother him with kindness or stuff him with tasty tidbits, but simply put him in a natural landscape and allow him to assimilate all the new knowledge of his surroundings.

With little fanfare, he is given plenty of grass, a few flakes of hay and a full barrel of clean water. We allow him to stay there a day or two, either alone or with a well-socialized horse, before attempting any kind of physical contact that he doesn't ask for. (If a horse is yearning for attention, they let you know without any doubt, and of course we are all ready to step in and offer as much as they can handle!)

Nature can heal wounds that many of us may not even know exist. I know when my soul is damaged or my heart is aching, a walk in the woods can bring a peace when nothing else can. Listening to bird song is greater therapy than any professional can give, and the feel of the breeze across your face is far more relaxing than any masseuse's fingers. Hearing the leaves crunch beneath your feet is therapeutic as well, as is sitting in a patch of wildflowers feeling the sun on your face. Whatever life doles out, nature can counter if you give her a chance.

We have seen horses heal from wounds that should have killed them, and recover from abuse that we had thought had surely damaged their psyche for life. While we are proud of our part in the healing, we can actully take almost no credit for ourselves. We simply exposed them to a natural lifestyle and let them heal themselves. We were there to offer support and daily maintenance, but nature provided the rest. We are constantly seeking new information and learning old ways to provide the things that have been removed from a "modern horse's" life. We urge everyone we meet to "try natural first" from training to diet to daily maintenance.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" indeed, but a few teaspoons of this, a tablespoon of that and a little pinch of those helps make everything better still. :)

Right now, we're trying to get everyone fat and happy before winter sets in. With hay at an all-time low around the southeast, our horses may have to rely on bagged grains and pellets to get through at least the last part of winter. For now, we're building and fixing fences on our home property and moving everyone we can up to feast on the bermuda grass and fescue along with a plethora of wild herbs and other beneficial flora. We expect to see some bemused and grateful faces as they realize what bounty is being set before them.

We give thanks too...for being given this chance to "make a difference."