Equine Body Work Adventures

Free Natural Horsemanship Training

2009-01-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

Natural Horsemanship

Clinic FREE

Sunday February 8th

10am to 4:30pm

at Hytyme Equine Rescue

29979 SE Heiple Road, Eagle Creek, Oregon 97022

Stacey Riggs from Riggs Training will be working with volunteers to apply natural horsemanship principles for groundwork and riding with the rescue horses. This event is free to the public to watch and learn. We will also be conducting a silent auction during the clinic t raise money for the care of our horses. If you would like to donate any items to be auctioned please contact Ashley at hytymeashley@gmail.com.

Grant Writing for Equine Rescue

2009-01-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

I have been absent from the blogging world, I apologize. Recently, I began volunteering at Hytyme Equine Rescue in Eagle Creek, Oregon. They currently have over 60 horses and are in the process of rehabilitating them through healthcare, and training in hopes that they will be adopted into their forever homes. They also work on educating the public about horse slaughter, the dangers of overbreeding and proper care for the newly adopted equine. I have begun helping them with grant writing. I am new to this and am currently taking a grant writing class through the local community college. I am really enjoying the process of learning how a horse rescue operates and having the opportunity to learn natural horsemanship through some great trainers. I recently injured my knee and haven't been able to ride as much. I think by next week I should be able to get back on Jack. I hope you all are well and enjoying horsey times.

Write a review to help a local Equine Rescue raise $ for Hay

2009-01-10T11:03:00.000-08:00

HyTyme is having a fundraiser, all we have to do is write some reviews for Insider pages to earn money for the horses!

You just make an account and click to join our fundraiser and wha-la! We make money for hay!

Each review is worth $1.50 for places that have not yet been reviewed yet or 50 cents if it has already been reviewed for the 2-4th reviews. Think of all the places you can review!! All across America! We have 20 days to earn as much as we can!!

Here is the link to the website to set up your account and make sure you click to participate in our fundraiser!
http://www.insiderpages.com/fundraisers/HyTyme-Equine-Rescue-0901

Arctic Blast = No Horsey Time

2008-12-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

I am so bummed that I have not been able to get out to the barn and see Jack. Even more so I wish I could have been around to help out at the barn with all the winter horse chores. The power was out, propane heaters were used to keep the pipes from freezing and horses were hand walked up and down the barn aisles as the arena was frozen. The wonderful people of Continental Farms deserve a vacation, somewhere warm for all their hard work. I can't imagine going through winters like this every year. The Portland area rarely sees snow and nothing like this has happened in nearly 30 years. As you can imagine no one was prepared. I am sending out warm Holiday wishes to all and extra warmth to those who have put in time and labor to care for our horse buddies in this "Arctic Blast".

The Problem with Unwanted Horses

2008-12-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

More and more articles in horse mags and online sites are focusing their attention on the current situation of what to do with unwanted horses. Just writing the word unwanted makes me so sad. In this article is a link to a survey being conducted regarding this problem. If anyone has time or ideas please speak up.
A link to read the full article can be found here.

Riding into Winter

2008-12-11T16:09:00.000-08:00

I realize I've been a bad blogger. I am finding it difficult to pack in all I aspire to do as the days grow shorter. I don't officially have internet at my house which I should remedy. Also, I don't always get a chance to take pictures, which I think enhances the blogging experience for me. I will get better. I have been riding Jack as often as I can. He is a new horse I have begun 1/2 leasing. I think it will be a great experience. I have given him a little body work and intend to give him a full massage as soon as he fully recovers from his worms (poor buddy). I am currently trying to figure out what direction to focus my attention towards regarding "the future", or rather "what I want to be when I grow up when I am already grown up". I've decided that I need to be a bit more assertive with the marketing of my massage work with horses. I am finding it difficult with the economy to acquire new business. I plan to continue studying and start offering free massages at my barn, as well as volunteering at a local equine rescue. I am fortunate to have a somewhat flexible work schedule which pays me enough to afford lessons and leasing, although bartending is not satisfying and purely for monetary reasons. My dream is to have a rehab center for horses bringing together various holistic practitioners. I would love to have it be an educational center for horse owners as well, offering workshops and trainings as well as body work and massage for the rider, we all could benefit from that for sure. I recently came across an article in the NW Horse Source magazine about a woman that has a rehab and recovery center with holistic practitioners , located in Bozeman, Montana. She followed her passion and has inspired me to do the same, to think about the possibilities rather than the what if's. Her website is www.fourcatranch.com. She puts out a newsletter if anyone is interested. I hope you all are well and enjoying your horse buddies.

I am wishing for a wireless internet connection for the holidays, so I can be a better blogger.

Almost Back in the Saddle

2008-11-19T12:34:00.000-08:00

I am going a bit stir crazy. I miss the barn, the people, and especially the horses. The weather here in Oregon the past week has been so beautiful. I would have given anything to be on atop a beautiful horse buddy. I had acupuncture for my back pain a few days ago. That has been the best treatment thus far. I am going back for more! All of the amazing photos from fellow bloggers have been so inspiring. I used to be an avid photographer, I think I'll get back at it. I hope everyone is enjoying their horse friends and having a lovely autumn.

Tagged!

2008-11-12T21:02:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged over at EquineMine.

Choose the book closest to you.

Open to page 56

Go to the 5th sentence on that page and write down a few lines.

My book is Centered Riding by Sally Swift

"It is nearly one-quarter of your weight and will hit the ground with a thump! Your leg might drop an inch or more with this technique, and certainly it will soften and lengthen. Done repeatedly, in your horse's rhythm at any gait, it becomes the basis for the perfect inside aid."

Sounds so mysterious, right? This is the chapter on balance and body rhythm. I keep this book close to me and refer to it often. I am such a visual learner that I get great benefit from her imagery. In doing this exercise I realized I am surrounded by horse books and more horse books, I need a little fiction in my life.

This is the first time I've been tagged. I'm not sure if I am suppossed to tag others or who has gotten this yet. I'll do a bit of research and get back to you all.

Thanks Equinemine!

Back Pain is the Worst

2008-11-11T00:12:00.001-08:00

I have been absent for a few weeks dealing with unexpected back pain. Randomly last Sunday I was getting out of bed and a pain out of nowhere threw me to the ground. I laid in bed for the first 24 hours, then slowly started walking again the first few days. I have been to the chiropractor a few times and am now frustrated at my slow recovery. I feel like my life has been put on hold. I am becoming more patient each day but miss the horses. Needless to say I am bored of watching movies and icing my back. Unfortunately it hurts to sit so standing or lying flat have been my two options. I've been without internet as well. But the biggest and brightest news is that we have a new president. I am extremely excited and hopeful for the future!!

Looking for a horse to ride

2008-10-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

I have been working hard at organizing my marketing materials for my equine massage business. I think I am finally ready! Although I am now once again without horse. I was leasing a great guy to get me back into riding again, but he has decided that his job is retirement. I have been taking lessons this past month on a wonderful horse with such a bigger engine. Working on the basics and developing my seat. Wish I had been leasing him these past few months, as I have learned so much. Sadly, he is not for lease so I must wait to see if there is someone else I might ride. I am determined to continue, although financially it might not make sense. When have horses ever made sense financially? The fall here in Portland is beautiful, yet getting cold. I hope everyone is enjoying the fall wherever they may be. If anyone in the Oregon area knows of any riding opportunities please let me know. I am willing to trade work/massage for lessons.

End of Summer

2008-09-18T10:47:00.001-07:00

I spent the past weekend on the Oregon coast. It was amazing and beautiful, and best of all SUNNY! The coast is rarely this warm and without wind. I feel fortunate to have spent it with James and Bear.

Feeling frustrated lately with riding. I want to progress more than I am. I feel great after a lesson but on my own I feel directionless. Finding it difficult to tell if it is me or the horse somedays. Looking forward to the day I can have a horse buddy of my own versus leasing. I am in love with one of the horses at the barn, although I believe I am not ready for him, and he is most likely too expensive. It is hard to justify the money I spend on horses sometimes. But we all feel like that at times, right? Patience and Diligence.

September 1st

2008-09-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

The end of August here in Oregon was filled with mild weather and yesterday a typical fall day complete with rain. I convinced myself that it would be great to go out to the barn Saturday. I brought a good friend of mine out to take some pictures with me and enjoy some horse time. It is always fun to see one of your non horsey friends interact with your favorite animal. After having such a great lesson on Weds. I was anxious to see how much we could get done on this ride. Once again I leave confused, and a bit frustrated. I have so many questions and want to learn so much, I need to practice patience and not take it so personal. The horses are amazing and just being out on the property watching them interact is worth the drive for me. I look forward to more adventures this week.

Is it still summer in Oregon?

2008-08-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

The last few days of August are here and already we here in oregon have had more than a few days that hint that fall is biting the backs of our heels. Although fall is my favorite season, I am in no way ready to surrender. I want more summer. I haven't had as many summer adventures as I had hoped. As a child summer seemed to last for a year. Now it's a few weeks. Let's all hope for that indian summer.

My first ride in 2 weeks

2008-08-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I've been able to saddle and ride Brooks. It was a nice cool day at the barn, and I was the only one there. It was great to enjoy the silence and watch the horses be horses out in the field. Brooks felt good although a bit reluctant to work. I've been trying to stretch him after his workout, but he's not a fan. I think I'll keep trying and see if he can get into it. Carrot stretches always seem to work, though somedays I feel like I'm nothing but a walking carrot in his eyes. Looking forward to my lesson this Weds.

I'm Back!

2008-08-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

After many ups and downs through out the winter and spring, I have finally completed my certification as an Equine Body Worker. I took a hiatus to buy a new (newer) vehicle than old mancamp, studied intensively, and found new friends in the horse world who let me into their barns to massage their beloved horses. I was fortunate to come across Talisman Farms in Aurora, Oregon. Talisman Farms is an Eventing barn with an amazing trainer by the name of Julie Hook. I met Molly McAllister, a friend of a friend through the Audobon Society in Portland. From there I was able to finish my externship on Molly's horse's as well as her friend Jenn's amazing buddies, Mixer and Nick. Nearing the end of certification I was excited at the opportunity to begin riding again. I began leasing a wonderful horse by the name of Brooks. With Julie's guidance and the opportunity to come out multiple days a week to ride I felt that I would be able to learn more than ever before. Just being around the barn lifts my spirits, and Brooks is a wonderful partner to practice my massage techniques on. I have also been working on my new website: www.nwhorsemassage.com
Hope you all are enjoying the summertime and I look forward to connecting back into the horse blogger community.

Holiday in Ohio

2007-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

I don't even know where this month has gone. My last entry being from Halloween, Yikes! I have spent the past 3 weeks packing, painting, and moving. I have moved a dozen times or more and each time I assume that the move will be easy. Maybe it is that as you get older you have more boxes of memories to mull over, things you only look at when moving. I had one day to gather and pack for the trip out to Ohio. I came out to meet Ryan's family. They live in Hudson. It is a small town, well to do full of historic homes that look like dollhouses. Luckily we are tucked away in a wooded area where I have seen new birds and black squirrels. We ventured out yesterday into the countryside. Unfortunatley we have missed the fall leaves and everything appears barren. On our way back to the house we hit a dear. I had only a moment to see the deer as it collided with the driver side. I felt so helpless and awful that I could not help this poor animal. It lay stunned in a driveway. After a few moments it stood up with apparent injury to the hind end and ran off into the woods. Not the country drive I had intended. Tomorrow we fly back and its work work work!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I last wrote. Working hard on my externship for EBW certification. This work is so incredible to me. After each horse I learn something new as well as crave learning more so I can aid in their healing and overall health. I continue to purchase books through Amazon, yet I must stop, I have to admit I feel like a junkie. How many equine anatomy books does one need? I have come across one that is a tremendous help that I would recommend to any horse lover, Horse Conformation, structure, soundness, and performance by Equine Research. Oh, and of course The Horse's Pain-free Back and Saddle-Fit book.

The other wonderful thing about this type of work is all of the amazing little communities I get to see outside of Portland. The past week here has been so beautiful. The rain has stayed away for now and the blue sky mixes brilliantly with the fall leaves. Oh how I wish I had a horse for trail rides!!!

One of my best experiences so far was meeting Kirsten from West Linn. She had read my blog, we had several phone conversations and then I was working on her wonderful horse Dez. How amazing is that! I also was fortunate to meet her friend Ann, and work on her horse Nikkers. I am hoping after I get my certification at the beginning of the year to go back out and do a demo for the 4H-club.

Hopefully on my next few massage outings I can have someone along to take pictures.

This past weekend I enjoyed the Mt. Hood wilderness by mushroom hunting with a few friends. We found a bounty of yummy chantrelles. If anyone has ever done this you know how fun yet compulsive this can be. Once you find one you can't stop looking. And today I went back along the beautiful Clackamas river to Austin Hot Springs. The water is extremely hot, nearly boiling so you have to mix it with a bit of the river water, I wouldn't say it was all the way relaxing, but a beautiful excuse to drive into the countryside.

A Perfect Fall Morning

2007-10-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful fall morning. I headed out to Sauvie Island to Kristina's farm. The island is amazingly beautiful and so close to the city. This is the busy season for the farm residents on the island as Halloween approaches. There are various places to visit pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and pick dahlias.
I began my first massage with a sweet little chestnut mare, a Quarter horse-Arab named Cinnamon. She definitely needs some work. I got good responses from her and hopefully relieved a few sore spots surrounding her shoulder, back, and hip. Her eyes would soften and she licked and chewed a bit. There were a few exhales and several stretches with her mouth, big yawns. It felt amazing to give her some much needed release. We worked in the round pen with Kris, then I worked alone awhile, relaxing and taking in the experience. Many flocks of birds flew over, especially Canadian Geese. A few of her other horses and foals were wandering in the pasture, finally coming over to check it all out. I made plans to come back and work on her 3 year old Thouroughbred. This work is so rewarding and I can't wait to learn more.

A perfect fall morning.

Accepting Change

2007-10-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

It is Thursday and it feels like a Monday, in a good way. I have been struggling with car issues and relationship woes for weeks unable to concentrate on my studies of my equine buddies. Today feels like a fresh start. After a day of breaking down our relationship, really figuring out where both of us are at I feel clearer and able to function once again. Growing together is a challenge. It is hard to accept that we may both be in different places in our life. With all of the other changes coinciding with a struggling realtionship, resentment was the only feeling I could express. I feel relieved to have talked it out, knowing that we truly love one another and able to give eachother the needed space to figure out how to progress with our chosen work.

Wrestling with the season of change

2007-10-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Was summer mearly a dream? This week the rain returned. I really enjoy cold rainy days, sometimes. I think if I lived in the country, with a pasture full of horses and a giant stone fireplace I could handle the forthcoming months. I have had to temporarily give up my riding lessons. I had been taking 2 lessons a week for 7 months. This was the most I had progressed in riding and now, I wonder what it will be like when I return. I already miss the faces of Robbie and Chase.

This season always slows down in terms of business and therefore money. The extra $300 a month + I usually set aside for horses will now go to my car fund. I believe I have gotten over the initial depression of that and moved on to what I really need to concentrate on. I need to be diligent and study hard to complete my externship. I have 5 months. I will not let this car obstacle get me down. It seems to be the only thing standing in my way. If only we still used horses as our main transportation.

Ode to Mancamp

2007-09-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have been back a month. Days after returning more info started to click. I kept reviewing the muscle points and their corresponding number, the routine, and wondering if I could really do this. The only thing standing in my way is my 1974 baby blue Ford F-100 I lovingly call Mancamp. I had purchased this beast of a vehicle a few years back. I had always wanted an old Ford. I had such intense memories of my families old trucks. They were wheat farmers in central Washington. My mother and father had grown up there, my grandmother was raised there and I was born there too. This would be the only place that remained constant in my growing up. Each summer I would return to play with my cousins, to sit in the back of the wheat trucks and run around the fields of gold while my uncle and grandfather were in the distance driving the combines across the hillside. I loved this little town. It was my sanctuary. So for years I had thought that if I only had an old truck I would be connected to this time in my life as long as it ran.

After months spent searching Craigslist for my dream Ford, I found one I could afford, and it was baby blue. At the time I purchased it it had a canopy with a carpeted couch kit inside. The floorboards were removable and when slid in between the two benches made a bed. There were also 6 cup holders. My friend Alice looked inside at this amazing scene and quickly declared that men camp in this thing, this is Mancamp.

Unfortunately, I had to rip out this majesty as it had been taken over by mildew. Next went the canopy, it was finally transformed into the truck of my childhood. Aside from its gas guzzling ways it drove perfect...for a few months. After the engine went out I saved my summer money I earned at the Brewery. I had wanted to begin riding lessons, I finally had a vehicle, another setback. At the end of the summer I took my $2000 to Tony who installed a new engine. I had to keep it running. Everyone thought I was nuts but it represented something more to me than impractical. We took many trips in it. Mancamp saw the ocean, the mountains, the dump, moved couches into friends houses, hauled manure into gardens, and could fit 4 people on its bench seat. It felt like you were riding a couch. It did take me to many riding lessons, and always turned heads. Yet now, as I embark on my new adventure in equine massage, reliability and practicality are tugging at my sleeve. This year alone I have spent $1300 on the radiator and various coolant issues, not to mention the outrageous gas bill. Oh they do love to see mancamp pull into the 76 station.

On Monday I drove Mancamp to Sauvie Island. My boyfriend's boss has a 1991 Subaru wagon for sale. Subarus are reliable, right? I left Mancamp and took the Subaru for a week trial. Today will be the deciding factor as I let the Suby specialists do a comprehensive check-up. All I need is a year or two out of this little car. I am not quite ready for the dreaded car loan and everything that is involved with making a car purchase. All of my focus is on my externship, I have 5 months to finish the requirements needed to obtain my certification. The only thing standing in my path is a reliable vehicle. Yet no matter what, as winter approaches I can not take Mancamp with me. Thank you old blue! The adventures will not be forgotten.

Following Horse Dreams

2007-09-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

The intensity of this experience gave the feeling that we had been here for a month. On our final day we performed the entire massage routine. I couldn't believe that we had taken in so much information, with such fabulous instruction and here we were locating 80 muscle points on our equine friend.

Taking this course had changed the way I look at horses and myself. After college I had thought about continuing to grad school, yet I couldn't choose anything that really called to me. I remember the day I knew I must work with horses. I was in college, sitting at the local happy hour in the small town of Olympia, Washington. I was with a few random students, a couple of friends, and my boyfriend, my true love. I thought he was the one, I would ruin my credit for him, I would ignore my friends and drive across the country for him. That night as we all sat telling stories over our cheap drinks, he began his routine of jealousy. Whispering mean nothings at me, like I had brought on this harmless attention to spite him. Ignoring it as I had accustomed myself to, Natalie the Spanish girl began a poetic sermon on horses. I was transfixed as she spoke with such fervor about the desire to be on horseback, riding fast, in any terrain, just as long as it was on horseback. My only experience with horses had been the summers I spent in central Washington. My cousins involved with 4-H lived among all sorts of animals. We would always prefer to go horseback anywhere. I would usually get the older fat horse, like Dapple Dan. We would ride in the open fields, I fell off a few times, rode bareback and laughed for hours as we rode around daydreaming. Yet the horse crazy bug hadn't gotten to me, not then. I was too consumed with boys.

One of my favorite pictures of myself is me at the age of 4 or 5, sitting on a pony bareback up at the Lilies place on Dyer Hill. I look so relaxed and happy, so natural to be there. I am glad I came to my senses. To focus my attention on these brilliant creatures, and to lessen my grip on the idea of the perfect relationship. This newly discovered communication between human and horse was so much more engaging and meaningful to me. I would jump in blindly to follow this dream. Stumbling through lessons, and various disciplines. Saving what money I could for another lesson, for car repairs to take me out to the barn, and maxing out my library account with horse books.

Now 5 years later I am standing near the Shenandoah Valley surrounded by beauty, by horses.

Our daily commute

2007-09-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

After dinner was no time for lounging. Bellies full of fried this and that we would pull out flash cards of muscles, and the stack of equine technical books that adorned the kitchen living area and consume information until our brains grew heavy and tired. I would usually stay up until midnight, still adjusting to the three hour time difference from the pacific coast. Each morning we arose at 6:20 or so, showered and went downstairs to have breakfast with John. I had brought 2 pounds of coffee with me. If anyone can understand the love a Northwesterner has for coffee then that won't sound so strange. I couldn't have survived without it.
We took turns driving, Charly and I. We would come from one end outside of Buchanan and pass through to the other end arriving at Ameythst Acres Equestrian Center where Mark and Debbie ran an Arabian Breeding Farm. The drive each morning was stunning. With coffee in hand we would pass beautiful green hills with pastures of horses, and cows. A little stream running through one would often have herons and egrets standing in the morning light. The air was cool, although a bit moist with leftover humidity. The day would promise to reach into the hundreds for sure.

Study, Study, EAT, Study

2007-09-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

There were 12 of us in the Eq 100 class. Our teacher Ruth Mitchell-Golladay and assistant Deanna Noble had wonderful accents and enthusiasm, I couldn't believe this was all happening. The classroom was situated off of the barn with a wonderful view to the outside pasture. This meant no AC. . . we drank a lot of water. Class took place from 8am-5pm. The mornings were spent studying the bony landmarks, muscle points and issues surrounding the profession of Equine Body Worker. After lunch we would watch Ruth as she worked on Cody the "Demo Dude" Quarter horse. She would locate specific points, demonstrate the massage technique and off we would go with our partner and horse of choice to try it on our own. Deanna, the asssistant had taken the EQ 100 course the previous year. I was so impressed with her knowledge, it gave me hope that I too could be as knowledgable. She would walk into the stall and help each one of us as we struggled to understand exactly how our hands and body were to be placed for each move. At the end of the day Ruth would assign a mountain of homework. As we passed through town we often grabbed a bite at one of the local restaurants. All eyes would fix upon us, definte strangers we were in this close knit community. Sometimes we chose the Northstar, where you could get chicken strips and sweet tea, and choose from a list of side vegetables where cottage cheese was an option. Another night it would be the pizza place, or the Buchanan Family restaurant where blackened catfish and fresh corn on the cob was oh so good. I was amazed at the option for smoking or non-smoking sections of the restaurant, and yet i wasn't. I felt like I was in another time.

Oh Humidity

2007-09-25T15:30:00.000-07:00

Dehydrated and half-asleep I found my way out into the hot wind looking for Thrifty Rental Car. It finally clicked, this is what HUMIDITY feels like. It would be another 4 hours until I reached my destintion of Buchanan, Virginia in Botetourt County. The scenery was dreamy. Old barns and fields of tobacco, and country roads that wound through the Blue Ridge Mountains. I was staying at a Bed and Breakfast with two classmates, just outside of Buchanan. The proprietor, John Shotwell is a true southern gentleman. I felt as if I was staying with my grandfather. I was truly in love with the landscape. Yet this was not the time I would get to experience it. I was here for the horses, for the love of horses, and the hours of study it would take to memorize their anatomy...in latin.

Night Flight

2007-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

The date of my departure to Virginia had seemed so far away. I had received the study guide and ordered the recommended books on Amazon. I spent the first warm days of summer outside surrounded by horse anatomy. Scouring the web I found an affordable yet non-direct flight to Raliegh-Durham North Carolina. From there I would have to rent a car.

All was seeming in order. I just couldn't believe that it was actually happening. I was going to Virginia to study massage for horses! The night of my departure I had a fabulous dinner created by Ryan. He, Branic, and I sat outside eating porkchops and wine. I hate flying, and this was a night flight. I thought I could at least sleep on the plane. So I had a few glasses of pinot noir and off I went to the PDX airport.

As Ryan pulled away in my old blue 1974 Ford I lovingly called Mancamp I couldn't stop crying. Both overwhelmed by the new experience that lay ahead and a slight fear of doing this all alone, I stepped up to attendant at US Airways wishing I hadn't broken my last pair of sunglasses.

I hadn't been on a plane since the girls and I took our February trip to Mexico in 2006. Walking through the security I received an invitation for a bag check. Standing there barefoot I watched as they pulled out my new Aubrey Naturals shampoo. It was over the allowed limit of 3 ounces for a carry on. One item down. I headed straight for my gate. Once I knew the location I could backtrack and enjoy a glass of wine, my liquid sleep aid.

I had chosen an aisle seat when I booked my ticket online. I was claustrophobic just a bit and needed an easy escape if need be. The woman ahead of me had ordered a bloody mary. That sounded great. One for me too. My plan would work, I thought. I will have a long sleep and awake on the east coast.

Hearing the Call

2007-09-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

A few years back I had pondered the notion of becoming an equine bodyworker. I would spend hours researching schools and various programs of study. Yet always in the back of my mind I would find a way to talk myself out of following through with it. ...It's too much money...Do you really know enough about horses?...I need a better car first...
Then, in the winter months of early 2007 I made a decision to go for it.

I had first decided to begin taking riding lessons again. Here I was, 32, determined to surround myself with horses. After putting an ad on craigslist looking for a working student position I was contacted by Shelly Morfeld of Stormcrow Stables. Unsure of how I would be "interviewed" for this position I decided to simply be thankful for getting to spend an afternoon in the country surrounded by the intoxicating smells of the barn. Needless to say, my riding skills were nowhere up to par with what would be required of a working student. I decided to take lessons from Shelly. Twice a week I would drive 30 minutes south of Portland and spend time with the horses, learning horsemanship and humilty.

As I progressed with riding, I decided to take another look at the Equinology website. Reading over the various class descriptions, the instructor bios, and archived newsletters I knew that I had to begin my certification this year. A friend of Shelly's just happened to be an EBW, and was coming out to massage a few of her horses. As I sat and observed Miriah working I knew this is exactly what I wanted to be doing. I decided right then to begin saving. The foundation course was $1700. I knew spring and summer would be profitable at the Brewery I worked at, even more than the previous year. So I set out stashing my tips in an envelope in my closet. I struggled between wanting to take the course offered in northern California in June, and knowing that that also was during the birthday camping trip Ryan and I were planning. The only other date that looked available was in Virginia in August. I took it. I had never been to Virginia, and it sounded like an adventure that was calling to me.