Episode 14 – The Throwaway Horse

She knew nothing when she arrived. Carrots and apples frightened her, snorting and flinching when they were carefully offered to her soft nose. There was no recognition or desire for oats and molasses, it could have been lumps of coal in the feed bucket for all she cared. When she discovered our cows though, she was happy to join in at the round feeder with easy familiarity. It was clear this little filly had grown up running wild with cattle in the hills. A few days prior, as I was examining some fencing materials at the home of a very nice fellow, a livestock hauler by trade, I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see a young palomino filly eyeing me curiously. Her gangly legs were dominated by knobbly knees and her coat dirty, but her timid gentleness was so appealing that for the rest of the day, she was on my mind. That night, I was jolted out of a deep sleep by words in my head as loud and clear as if someone had spoken - “She’s going for meat!” I lay still, struck by the dawning realization that this lovely young spirit was destined for the butcher, her life to be cruelly cut short. I felt troubled and resolved to find out more. At first light, I called the livestock hauler, “That little palomino filly – she’s going for meat, isn’t she?” His reply contained a sigh, “Yes, it’s a shame but the owner didn’t want her, said she had a bum leg, and is no good. She’s going to the meat auction later today.” “Hold Your Horses!” I shouted down the phone, and proceeded to state that this girl needed a chance, she was too young to throw away like that! Luckily, he agreed, and wanting to be of help, brought her to the farm that very afternoon. It’s almost a year now since Flicka’s arrival and every day she brings joy to me and all who know her. She loves to be cuddled and stroked, to curl up in the warm grass and snooze in the sun together with my daughter, Eva. Her body has grown and stretched and she is the epitome of beautiful grace and sleek health, leaping and running, cavorting with the sheep and herding the cattle. Above all, she is kind, sweet and trusting, a true horse blessing, and I am so thankful that I “got the message” she needed patient kindness to help her regain her right to be loved, to be healthy and strong. It seems to me that patient kindness is at risk of being lost in this unnaturally fast paced world. Instant communications stimulate nervous anxiety and rush judgements, agitating phones ringing and dinging create damaging addiction patterns, facebook pain and remorse, cruel tweets and callous emails destroy trust and rend the fabric of civilized discourse. In a device staring shift, our communities are drifting towards the creation of disconnected and care-less crowds with little time for those who don’t fit in. By today’s standards, I’m a throwaway person who can no longer plug into the matrix. After years of using a cell phone pressed against my head, I developed serious ill health reactions to wireless microwave radiation now pulsing through virtually every area of life. But that forced disconnection allows time and peace to consciously choose how to live without being swept away in technology’s tsunami. Thankfully, I have found a new life on the farm, where fluffy chicks are the only ones tweeting, patient kindness can save a horse, and there is freedom to choose values to live by, no matter what’s going on in the world. Una St.Clair, Official Horse Cuddler HighCroft Farm, Sorrento, B.C. See You at the Market!