Tucked safely in a small canyon, surrounded by golden hills, is a herd of young horses who’ve traveled far to find their home. You park your car on a dirt driveway that leads from the big house on a hill to the acreage below, leaving behind all your city cares and worries as vistas beckon you forward.
You hear the crunch of rocks and pebbles under your boots, the faint voices of people below, and an occasional whinny drifting upward on the canyon breezes.
And here comes Abby, the ranch dog, the first one to see you. She stops at the bottom of the hill, looking up as if to say, “Do I know you?” You call down to her, her tail starts to wag, and she comes running to join you for the walk down.
Below you are the horses, in many sizes and colors, grouped in large, neat pens, under shelters, and standing at fences, receiving pats or carrots. You begin to recognize some of their faces and markings (though the babies have grown so much since your last visit!). And you begin to notice the faces of people, too — the horses’ family who watched their hooves touch this ground for the first time, some of them over two years ago, upon arrival from Canada.
Intellectually, you know the people rescued the horses, adopted them, take care of them. But in your heart, you know the horses have really rescued the people, adopted them, and continue guiding their lives …
Because you’ve heard the stories …
You remember one woman grieving inconsolably over the death of her horse … before she began spending time with the weanlings and mares. Soon a colt stole her heart, rescued her and, in time, led her from sorrow back to joy.
You also remember the man who loves horses, bought acreage to be near the farm, and adopted three yearlings; and the volunteers who muck the stalls, and feed and groom the horses; the trainers and trainees (human and equine); visitors coming and going; musicians writing and singing songs about this place, performed in evenings around the farmhouse fire.
You notice that the once skittish horses have settled into a peaceful life with their people. They greet you at the fence and stand still, their eye calm and kind.
The acreage, outbuildings, and fences are expanding outward, as is the herd and its family of owners, adopters, volunteers, visitors, and neighbors. But so, too, is the spirit. People and horses learn and grow together, using talent and time for something hard to define. You grapple for words and can only come up with deep … different … healing … contagious.
This spirit seeks out others to come discover this windswept canyon and take part in this work with friends who share your same hopes and dreams. It calls and you answer. You decide to pool your energy and resources to help create and maintain something extraordinary and worth saving.
Clearly, the horses are the gauge of this work’s success. These highly sensitive creatures are responding to love and care. You see it in their eyes and their demeanor. Then, sadly, you recall the history and plight of horses around the world, used under harsh conditions, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. You now know the difference between a horse forced and a horse nurtured. And with this knowledge, you can never view the horse the same nor return to the old beliefs. Truth binds together the horses and people here into one constant vision for a better way.
Building a life that is borderline idyllic on the surface is tough underneath, sometimes grueling and full of risk, uncertainty, and loss. The farm comes at a high price and personal sacrifice … and no one knows how long it can continue. All you know is that you never want it to end.
But you have a life back in the city, far from here — with the weight of responsibilities, obligations, and demands. But you don’t go home unchanged, for you can never forget the people and horses you’ve met nor the lives that have been transformed.
As you walk back uphill toward the car, you turn to take one more look at the farm — the horses’ heads now buried in full hay bins — and breathe in the sweet air now sharp and cold as the sun dips behind the mountains.
Yes, you must go. But then, on the drive home, you suddenly realize you’ve found yourself again, and your strength is renewed. Feelings and memories remain — powerful reminders that you have experienced something different, something great that horses and humans are building under God.
And you can never be the same.
Terry Writes
August 21, 2007
Tammy and Vikki
Imagine life as a continuous wall that stretches along the road. How you see it depends on how fast you travel past. Some drive slowly, enjoying every little piece of brick and dwelling on the patterns it makes and in each little crevice. Some drive by so fast, constantly preoccupied and overwhelmed, that they fail to see much except a wall.
Now imagine that there is a minute little hole in the wall, almost impossible to see. There is only one of these holes and the vast majority of people never find it. This hole, this tiny, minuscule opening, leads to the one true dream of that life. The one thing that that person wants to find in their life more than anything else. Many will find other openings that may lead them near this dream or pretty close to it, but not directly into this rare experience.
The two of you and Canyon Creek Farm have taken my hand and lead me to that tiny, rarely discovered opening and it has been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. A rural lifestyle surrounded by horses! Not just horses, but other animals too! I have a great love for all animals, but horses have been more than just a love of mine. They have truly been a part of my make-up, part of who I am, as close to being part of my DNA as genetically possible. Their beauty, grace, power and majestic sense of being has always made my heart race and the adrenaline rush through me. But what makes it “over the top”, far exceeding anything I have ever dreamed of is two very special things.
First, the fact that these are not just any horses, but very special animals that need me as much as I need them. Each and every horse there, regardless of gender, color, age or size has an amazing ability to love and gives back ten fold for the love given to them.
When I first arrived at the ranch I had a heart so broken and a longing so deep, I thought nothing would ever heal things. Then I met “them” ALL OF THEM! I had so much to give and they were all more than willing to accept anything and everything I wanted to bestow upon them. I needed them so much and they all were there for me, giving back the love and attention I felt for them. They gave me what I needed most in life, and filled an empty space in my heart that only they could do. They consoled me in a way no human could. We understood each other and the need inside that we all had. It was a silent message, but they understood.
Second, is the chance to FINALLY help animals in a meaningful way. This has always been a very strong desire that has burned in my heart. I hate the way animals (all animals) have been abused, neglected, mistreated, misunderstood, used, and totally disregarded by humans. This is a message I carry into the classroom, hoping to influence future generations of the importance of respecting life – all life – and the great importance that animals play in our lives. I have contributed to organizations that I felt were really trying to help/save animals from their greatest enemy – US!
The two of you have been the most wonderful and close friends I could ever have imagined. Again, a part of that very rarely found true life desire. Never in my life have I had such wonderful friends as the two of you. You have hearts as big as the world and an amazing ability to understand how I feel when so many (including my family) never could. So many of my feelings, emotions, and behaviors I could never completely explain to people and make them understand. When I met you two, and others at the ranch I found a world that I fit into perfectly. Let’s face it, not everyone understands talking to animals! It is like a child that got taken away from her real world, never really fitting into the world she is now living in, and then suddenly finds the world she is from and knows she is home!
When I tell you that I feel closer to you than my own family, you would have to understand how close my family is to truly appreciate what that means. My family has always been one of those very rare families that are so close they do everything together – I mean everything. We always celebrated each birthday together, took vacations together, went on trips together, etc. If one of us wanted to go to Disneyland, Sea World, Las Vegas we would arrange to ALL go. We went to the circus together, attended all the kids school functions together. Our children never had just two parents; they had about 8 parents, all with the same authority, concerns, and support. There were times when I really could not remember whose child was whose. They were OUR children and we raised them that way. We were always there for each other, no matter what. They were the only people I knew I could always count on. I consider you as part of my family and you hold a very special and trusted place in my heart.
I think the vast majority of people go through life, never finding that tiny, almost invisible hole in the wall of life. They never find that one thing that they TRULY want most in their life – that one true intense desire and dream. Probably only a handful of people ever have the unique chance to find that tiny, special opening that can be so easily overlooked. I will never find the words to adequately tell you how grateful I am to you both and the ranch for leading me to that opening in my wall and allowing me to live in the world of my most treasured dreams. There have been many times in my life when I knew, beyond any doubt, that God was watching over me and only through Him do things happen to me. I sincerely feel that he intervened and helped me find you and that all that has happened to lead me to where I am now, was part of his plan. He wanted me to find happiness and to finally find a way to help animals as I have tried to do for so many years. So he led me to you and your unbelievably wonderful mission.
If this all ended tomorrow, I would still be forever grateful for each treasured minute I had had with the horses, for all the wonderful experiences at the ranch, for each new friend I met … and especially for being given the very special gift of knowing both of you and having you in my life.
God helps those that help others and blesses those that care so deeply for his creatures and the lives he gave them. I know he watches over you and gives you special blessings for so unselfishly giving of yourselves to make the unwanted, wanted and the unloved, loved - both animals and people.
We, whose lives you have touched will always love you!!!
