Home, at last...

From Jim: We had a couple of new volunteers yesterday. Very nice ladies that have had some horse experience and want to help out with the critters. Donna usually gives any new folks the grand tour, takes a couple of hours. This gives everyone a chance to really see what they're getting into and for us to see what the interested parties would like to do and are capable of doing. Even folks that have had horses have generally not been out with herds of 20 or more of em. We want everyone to have a good and safe visit and to leave with a positive view of the sanctuary. The single most consistent remark, almost universally, is how peaceful the animals are. I suppose we're so used to the peace and quiet of this place that it doesn't occur to us how really special it is. The dynamics of the herds are the reflection of the nature of these critters. They are naturally well ordered and sociable. I think folks that don't have the day in and day out opportunities to live in close contact with a herd don't get a chance to fully know about these creatures. We've watched horses with a life time of mistreatment and abuse return to a state of mental health and natural behavior. It's not us, it's their herdmates that make it happen. They simply know what horses are and that's what they expect from the others. The scars of abuse still show, both physical and emotional, but the wounds heal. There are still those that weave and crib, show "big" eyes and sit back on their heels, are scarred and marked. They and we don't dwell on that. They're horses, donkeys, and mules, not "rescues". I think it's really important to let them move on and be what they are, not keep them living in their past. That's a real lesson for our kind, isn't it. We believe that our critters know that they're home. They know that this is where they will live out their lives. That sounds pretty anthropomorphic, assigning human thoughts and feelings to them, a mental mistake we honestly try to avoid. But our daily observations of new resident animals adapting to and melding into the sanctuary tells us it's true. One recurring question we get is, "Don't you need help with the chores?" Once in awhile it's nice to have someone feed and water for us so that we can go somewhere and not have to watch the clock. But, for the most part, chore time is much more that throwing hay and running the hose. It is time to assess the well being and behavior of our critters. It's a time to pet a nose or rub some ears or scratch a rump. It's a time for us to tap into the peace of the herd and refresh ourselves. Often, I end my blog by encouraging you to go and love on your critters. I suppose I wish for you what I have everyday!