It is a sad thing that so many people have forgotten how to listen to the messages from the animals. In my strange and sometimes sorry existence, I have forgotten too, but they started talking to me some years ago, when Julius and Stanley, my wonderful yellow Labs, taught me about the discipline and loneliness and beauty of becoming a writer. Orson spoke to me of regaining my lost life, Rose talked me about being brave on my first farm, Red speaks of community and connection, Fate speaks to me every morning of joy, enthusiasm an laughter.
And the carriage horses…what can I say about them? They have been speaking to me for more than a year, they have changed my view of the world in so many ways, awakened me, connected me to the spirituality of animals, given birth and rebirth to some of my writing. Horses have come into our lives, and literally, Maria has her pony Chloe. Horses are on Bedlam Farm now.
Maria has a powerful connection to the big and beautiful horses at Blue Star, a very close connection to Chloe. She loves her, talks about her often, thinks of her. I have been watching this evolving and deepening relationship and I think Chloe’s message to Maria is about strength.
It is a strengthening thing to groom a horse, to walk one, to ride one. Maria has been growing in strength ever since I met her. This Friday will be our fifth wedding anniversary and I never imagined that Maria would want a horse or ride one, or that we would have one. She draws strength from Chloe, they speak every day. Sometimes Chloe wants to do what she is told, sometimes she doesn’t. That is the nature of the pony.
Each day, she asks Maria to find her strength, to call upon it, to trust it. Each day, she does. It is a beautiful thing when people open up to the messages of animals, learn to trust and believe them. Animals are not about being cute or cuddly, although they are sometimes that. We patronize and trivialize and emotionalize them all the time.
As I see every day with Fate, there is serious stuff between us, they deserve to be taken seriously. It is a sad thing in New York City to see so many people live among the horses and fail to see them, or hear their true messages. They are not asking us to take them away, they are pleading with us to remain.
Maria has an open heart and soul, and Chloe will be able to talk to her more easily than any dog has talked to me, at least until now. I believe in the messages of animals, Chloe is talking to Maria about strength.