feathers for my head

Yesterday was cool and sunny and I was able to ride all three boys on the same day again. My third ride was on Foggy and we accidentally ran into a tree. Foggy lowered his head and was uninjured, but I got the brunt of the sharp thorns of an immature Locust tree. My arms were a bloody mess and I had branches sticking out of my helmet. My mom's sympathy was non-existent as she doubled over onto the ground in laughter at the sight of my "feathered" helmet. I fell almost completely off the back right side of Foggy and lost my reins, but somehow managed to stay on as he trotted forward in fear. I have close calls, but this was the closest. I don't think a fall would have hurt as much as the branches - I am bruised and stiff this morning!

The good news is that our rides recently have been punctuated with baby animal sightings. Birds and bunnies are tiny and adorable in every corner of our farm. My Memorial Day morning ride on Pie delivered the most amazing sighting of all. Pie was forcing me to ride him through the high hay field. The day was already hot and muggy and buggy and I think he was trying to get the flies off his belly. I was looking frantically for groundhog holes and trying to keep his feet out of them. Pie has super sensitive sides and will turn his hunches with just a touch. I used this technique to avoid a tan "spot" in the hay and then I saw many white spots on the tan spot. Unbelievably, it was a baby deer asleep in the hay just inches from Pie's back foot!!! The baby's little eyelashes were so long and black and he/she didn't move a muscle. Pie never saw the sweet thing as it got up and trotted off. The hay was much taller than the fawn. I have said numerous prayers that it has a mommy somewhere on our farm. I can't understand why it was all alone and so tiny.

And more good news - we scheduled three equine massages for the boys! Next Wednesday, a therapist from Philadelphia is coming to work her magic on my sweet horses. After reading this amazing post on Kristen's blog about Laz's bodywork complete with breathtaking images, I researched Masterson Method practitioners in Pennsylvania. Sovereign is the reason I am doing this at all because I believe there is some latent pain that causes his constant cranky demeanor. He is sound and healthy by all measures except for his disposition. Pie and Foggy, by contrast, will melt into two horse puddles during their massage, I am certain, because they seem comfortable and happy all the time as it is. A deep massage will only intensify their joy. Sovey, though, is an altogether different kettle of fish and my hope is that we somehow permeate his stiff, ironclad exterior. Any insight and release would mean more to me than words can express.

And, in frustrating news, my blog is undergoing a series of disappointing problems. The current situation has culminated in a new address: My blogspot address is now www.honeysucklefaire.com but it doesn't seem that my new posts appear in any Blogger Reader. Update:  To see current posts, please select "stop following this blog" and then select "follow this blog" - that is supposed to work anyway. I guess I am just blogging to myself again. Oh well...that is how it all started back in 2008.