My Beloved Horse, Flirt

Every horsewoman has that one horse in her life with whom she was completely in sync, the horse that was absolutely perfect for her.  When I was a teenager, I had a beautiful Paint horse named Tewanna.  I loved her dearly and felt completely at peace when I rode her.  Tewanna lived to the very ripe old age for a horse of 36 years.  When she passed onward, I was sure I would never again find a horse who suited me so perfectly.  I am blessed to say I was wrong, as Flirt the Horse was the perfect horse for me in my thirties, just as Tewanna was in my teenage years.

Flirt was buried last week, and my heart remains sad at her loss.  Despite this, the joy she brought to my life was so significant that my abundant tears still cannot wash away  the happiness that thoughts of her bring to me.  There is a unique symmetry that Flirt entered my world on the day that I first was given a piece of Chimeara crystal . . . And in the week after I purchased the Chimeara Crystal business, Flirt completed her time on this earth.  

In my last blog post, I wrote about the day that my friend Angie brought Flirt to Harrison Farm.  Angie had connected me with Flirt's previous owner.  Flirt had been a brood mare, and had much success as a mother.  Unfortunately, as she aged she developed cysts that prevented her from continuing her maternal role.  Flirt's owners loved her, and did not intend to sell her -- but they told Angie they would happily give Flirt to someone who would love her forever.  I was blessed to get to be that someone.  Flirt had a generous, patient nature.  It took her about a year to completely trust me, but our bond was very strong.  I spent time with Flirt almost every morning and every evening.  Just as she was calm and patient with the baby goats who ran under her and all around her, she was also calm with me.  In the last year as my life was a struggle, I always knew that if I needed to cheer myself that time with Flirt would do the trick.  I would wrap my arm around her, lay my head against her neck, and feel my heart rate steady as my emotions calmed.  Whenever I had a difficult day, time with Flirt would heal me.  I have had many friends who helped me to navigate the turmoil of the last year of my life, and chief amongst these was my horse friend.

Just as Angie was with me on the day that Flirt came to Harrison Farm, she was with me as I said goodbye to Flirt.  Colic is a terrible, awful thing.  A horse can colic for any number of reasons -- most of which are never fully known.  When a horse gets a twisted gut, the illness proceeds rapidly and rarely has a good ending.  Flirt was in good spirits that morning when we visited, but when I checked her at night she was very, very ill.  I am grateful that Angie was with me that night.  It is one hell of a good friend who will get out of her bed and drive an hour to your farm to do everything she can to help you care for your sick horse in the middle of the night.  Unfortunately, Flirt could not recover, and so we made the decision that she needed to be put down.  

One of the most difficult parts of owning animals is the recognition that at times we have to put aside our own emotions to make the best decision for the animal.  I wanted to lay on the ground next to Flirt and hold her for as long as I could, but Flirt was telling us that she was ready for her journey to end.  The State of Ohio has provisions for acceptable means of euthanasia for animals, and for horses the quickest way in the face of such an issue is to put them down with a bullet.  I am not a fan of guns (I have always been much more comfortable with a knife), but I recognize that guns are necessary tools for the world in which I live.  Responsible animal ownership and responsible gun ownership both involve maturity and analytical decision making.  I am grateful my horse had a good life, I am grateful I had the privilege of being her human, and I am especially grateful that I had my best friend by my side to counsel me through this difficult situation.

The night that Flirt passed onward, it was 3am by the time I went to sleep.  The next morning I was physically exhausted, emotionally stressed, and mentally worn out -- and I then had to face the problem of a large deceased animal in my barn!  I am grateful for the good neighbors that we have at Harrison Farm.  My neighbor James took time out of his busy day to help lay Flirt to rest.  I am grateful that I have such an amazing farm family.  So many of my interns & student assistants reached out to offer sympathy.  This was a testament to the beautiful spirit that Flirt possessed.  After Flirt was buried, we held a benediction for her the next Friday.  The goats joined us as we stood at her grave, which was rightly fitting.  

My student assistant Kaity shared these thoughts about Flirt . . .

"All that I can say about Flirt is that she was and is truly special. She was one of my favorite parts about Harrison Farm. I am grateful that I got the chance to become friends with her. I am even more grateful that she helped me convince Cecelia that I am not too bad of a human. I always gave her a hug when I went to the West End. Now I will just have to give Cecelia two, whether she wants them or not :)"

My intern Elizabeth shared this story about Flirt . . .

"Flirt is a very gentle and lovable horse. My moment with Flirt began during the time I was assigned morning duties one weekend. After I was done checking on the goat population, I saw Flirt calmly standing around the corner. Flirt and I locked eyes as I slowly began to approach her. Once I reached out to her, she then began to move against the palm of my hand as if she wanted me to continue touching her. I began to adore her greatly after this moment. It was later on Facebook that I saw a post on the Harrison Farm page that Flirt had passed. It was very sudden to me, and I started to regret how I was unable to share more moments with Flirt since I only knew her for a short period of time. Overall, Flirt is such a wonderful horse, and it saddens me to know that she is no longer with us; however, when looking at the situation in a positive light, I am happy to know that Flirt is no longer in pain, and I believe that she is now in a better place."

My lasting memories of Flirt involve so much joy & gratitude.  She brought intense happiness to my heart, and her story reminds me of how much I have in my life for which I should be grateful.  I know there will eventually be another horse for me to love, but Flirt will always hold a special place in my heart.  I hope she is at peace.  I hope perhaps she is in a place where she gets to graze with Tewanna.  As my mother Rebecca was wont to say, God forbid I should go to a heaven without any horses.

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year!

Season's Greetings from Harrison Farm! As the New Year approaches -- and I have finally finished my Christmas cards! -- I want to extend all my best wishes to those of you who support my efforts on the farm!

During the Christmas Season, we've had many new faces join us on the Farm, including the beautiful horse pictured with me! I am very grateful for the good friends who brought me Flirt the Horse on Christmas Eve! For the last several years, I had cared for Lassy the Horse and Abe the Mule. I grew up with these two equine, who had belonged to my mother. Lassy passed away in the fall of 2010, and Abraham passed just a few months later in the winter of 2011. Since losing these wonderful animals to old age, my friends Angie & Elliott had offered to help me find a new horse. I told them that I was only willing to spend up to double what I had given for the last horse I bought: Tewanna, who was nick-named "Old Dollar" for her purchase price! Despite that low price, Tewanna was the best horse I ever had. We had many wonderful adventures together when I was young!

Things happen in a special way on the farm. Shortly before I left for Germany, Angie & Elliott told me of friends who were looking to find a loving home for Flirt. She was raised at Honey Bear farm, had been a novice reining champion, and was the mother of a World Champion Paint Horse. Unfortunately, Flirt had developed uterine cysts and could no longer be bred. Her owners at Honey Bear Farm loved her very much and did not want to sell her, but they were willing to give her to individual who would take good care of her. After meeting Flirt, I could tell she was a very special horse. Angie & Elliott agreed to be the delivery service, and Flirt arrived on Christmas Eve. She is extraordinarily beautiful and very, very smart! I feel incredibly blessed to have this fantastic mare, and even more blessed that I have good friends who would make this possible for me!

Christmas weekend was very busy for us, with travels to Fairborn and multiple family gatherings. I got to see many members of my family -- family through blood, through marriage, and through adoption. It was a very hectic weekend, but well worth it. On Christmas Eve, I attended Mass with friends at my home parish, Holy Family. The first time I ever attended Mass there was on Christmas Eve in 2003, and then I made my confirmation there at Easter 2006. My confirmation name is Joseph, which was also my father's. It is a special name to me, since Joseph is the patron saint of workers and the model of a good family leader. Saint Joseph shows me the importance of loving the family that is sent to us . . . which may or may not be related to us by blood. During all the hectic travels over Christmas -- and the many events and places I wanted to go to -- I reminded myself how extraordinarily blessed I am to have so many family members that God has sent into my life!

My gift this year, from my step-father & his wife, was two sheep! I am very excited to have these lovely ewes joining the menagerie at Harrison Farm! Since Gabe passed away and I butchered Thunder, I have missed having sheep of my very own. A couple of times I have made inquiries about purchasing ewes, but nothing ever came together right. My new sheep are a blessing, and a happy reminder of all the wonderful memories I made working with my grandfather's and my mother's flocks of sheep. The older I get, the more I understand those two remarkable individuals. I am extremely grateful to have had them in my life, and I appreciate this gift that is making it possible for me to carry on the traditions they handed me. Family is a marvelous blessing!

The holidays have not been without sadness and struggles. Most vivid, of course, is the loss of my beloved Captain. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her and miss her. I detest waste, and one of my deepest fears was that her death was a total loss. A miserable accident that wasted a precious life. What I was given by The Captain, however, lingers large even after her passing. She was an animal of great spirit, full of affection & curiosity. What has truly amazed me, though, is the number of people she touched without even realizing. When I wrote my blog post about The Captain, it was with a heavy heart and with an unsure mind. I did not know whether to share those details, but I felt I was untrue to The Captain if I did not speak honestly. I was amazed by the way The Captain touched people: within 48 hours of me posting about her loss, 146 people had viewed that piece! Now, those are small numbers for many bloggers, but for Harrison Farm that was huge! The link to this piece was shared on Facebook by people I did not even know, and my hope is that people learned through reading about my beloved pup. In addition, a friend of mine contacted her cousin -- a vet -- who was able to offer some closure on what happened to The Captain. As best we can tell, it was still a terrible freak incident, but it helped me to say goodbye to my darling girl.

Augustus turned one year old on December 19th, and celebrated with a delicious hotdog! He was, however, very down after his sister died. It was a full week after The Captain passed before Gus acted at all like normal. Animals are creatures of instinct & sense, and Gus knew things were not right. As he mourned his companion, we debated how soon to get another dog. The loneliness I observed in Augustus and the loud howls of coyotes at night were signs that we should go ahead. Through friends, I learned about a litter of pups near Gambier. After speaking with the farmer, it turned out that I knew his wife and his father! On Boxing Day, we drove to see these Pyrenees dogs, and ended up coming home with a new pup! The farm where she grew up is in Harrison Township in Knox County, and just a few miles down the road from the cemetery where many of my ancestors are buried. I think it was meant to be!

The new pup is doing quite well! We are getting to know her and she is getting to know her new home. I was immediately struck by two things: she is very attuned to the livestock and she wants to please me. It is turning out to be MUCH easier to train one puppy than two! Augustus is a good role model for her. It took him a couple days of being afraid of this little dog -- only half his size! -- to overcome his anxiety. Now they are fast friends! The puppy is gradually getting more freedom and is responding well to training. While there is no replacing The Captain, I am grateful that God provided another dog that is fitting in so well to the farm. It is hard to lose the ones that we love, but life is about changes.

A new year is about new hopes, new expectations. If we live with regrets and sorrow, we will darken our own souls. On New Year's Day 2011, I watched the movie "Invictus". I was profoundly struck by the ability of Nelson Mandela to overcome the anger that must have been in his heart from the struggles he faced during Apartheid. As Mandela, actor Morgan Freedom explained this with the quote, "Forgiveness liberates." Everything in life is affected by how we choose to view it. The same thing, the same situation can be viewed by different individuals in radically different ways. Life has taught me that we must look forward, that we must learn lessons, and that we can choose our attitude toward what happens to us. I am excited for the new year, I am appreciative of those that support me, and I wish many blessings on you in 2012!

Support Horse Welfare -- Support Horse Slaughter!

I am a strong proponent of horse slaughter. This might seem like a strange contradiction for someone who adores horses. Rather, it is my absolute love of them that makes me believe every horse should be treated well in life & shown respect in death. My mother was a dedicated horsewoman, and so I grew up around equines. Some of my first memories are of riding her Quarter Horse, Zada. I don't remember actually learning to ride, since by the time my memory formed I had already spent countless hours in a backpack or sitting in front of my mother on a horse! It was a good education to spend hours caring for horses, to learn about nature from atop their backs, and to develop the integrity to get back on when I got bucked off.

The picture above is of my beloved Lassy. My mother had always wanted a good Quarter Horse (so named because they are the fastest horse in the quarter mile) to take West to ride in the Rocky Mountains. Pine Raider's Lassy -- her registered name -- was born in 1978 and came to live with us in 1980. I was 4 and she was 2, so we basically grew up together! My mother rode Lassy all over the country and as I got older I also rode Lassy quite a bit. Eventually, as a teenager, I got my "own" horse: Tewanna. This wonderful mare passed of old age (approx 36!) while I was living in Washington DC. When I returned to Ohio, Lassy & Abe the Mule eventually came to live with me at Harrison Farm. I was the official "retirement home" for my mother's older equine!

By the time my mother passed on, Lassy & Abe were both getting up in years. This picture of Lassy with my godmother & friends was taken in September of 2009. Lassy was 31 then, and was no longer the gorgeous, noble horse who had once thundered along the mountain trails. Instead, Lassy was slower, a bit grumpier, but still quite loving toward me (if not Abe the Mule!). In August of 2010, Lassy passed quite suddenly. There was no lingering illness, simply a quick death from old age. I miss her, and especially missed losing that tie to my mother. At the same time, her death did lift a burden from my finances. In order to keep Lassy as healthy as possible, I was spending a great deal of money on a special feed for her. Even with this measure, she was still quite thin -- simply as a result of age. I do not regret spending that money whatsoever, but I did have to give up things I needed (goodbye health insurance!) at the same time I was making this purchase.

I wonder what I would have done if I was in a different situation. When I experienced a major job change and resulting financial strain in 2010, I was fortunate enough to have a roof over my head, supportive family & friends, and plenty of goats I could eat! But what about those who don't have my resources? If a single parent loses their job, has four children to feed, a mortgage to pay, and a car payment to keep up to date -- do they keep buying expensive grain for a high-maintenance horse? Beyond that, is it wrong for our society to expect them to do so . . . with the possible situation of children suffering as a result? I would resoundingly answer: YES! Sadly, few options exist for a horse owner in this situation.

Prior to 2007, three horse slaughter plants operated in the United States. Horsemeat was processed for sale to overseas markets (where it is commonly eaten) and for zoos & other wild animal facilities. This provided numerous positives: unwanted/untrainable horses had value because they could be sold for slaughter, they were processed in American facilities with inspectors on hand to ensure a humane end to their life, American jobs were created & product was sold overseas that added to our American Gross Domestic Product, and the horse industry could rely on the fact that every animal had economic potential. Due to Congress no longer authorizing federal funds to pay inspectors at USDA plants for horse slaughter, combined with the closure of the three existing plants due to state lawsuits in TX & IL, horse slaughter ceased in the U.S. in 2007. Since then the horse industry and horses have suffered.

A few months ago, the U.S. Senate requested that the General Accounting Office (GAO) issue a report on the unintended consequences of ending horse slaughter in our country. I have pored over the document, and found that my observations have now been documented through this comprehensive study. Jobs HAVE been lost. Revenue HAS decreased. Horses ARE suffering. The equine industry IS reeling. The worst part to me is the documentation that removing slaughter has created an increase in incidents of mistreated horses. There is no longer an option to sell your horse, thus the value is gone during a time when Americans are struggling economically. Do you feed your child or your horse? Many horses are being abandoned on public lands: state parks, federal forests, etc. This creates suffering for domesticated horses that are not used to a wild mustang lifestyle. There is not enough food on these lands for abandoned horses, thus it becomes the burden of the taxpayer to fund state governments & federal agencies to deal with these animals.

Admittedly, animal rights groups (including HSUS), maintain in the GAO study that the end of horse slaughter has NOTHING to do with the dramatic increase since 2007 of 1)abandoned horses, 2)shipment of horses to Canada & Mexico for slaughter, and 3)reports of mistreated or malnourished horses. It is baffling to me that anyone could look at the rise in these three statistics since the key year when horse slaughter ceased in the U.S. and profess there is NO connection. Unless, of course, they had another agenda in mind . . .

As humans we must guarantee animals are treated humanely in life & death. The United States has excellent inspected slaughter facilities that work to produce quality products. There is a strong market for a product we have in abundance at a time when we need jobs in our country. Horse meat is full of protein and there are people who are starving in our world. Let's tell our Senators & Congressmen to bring back horse slaughter . . . and make sure that all horses have value & humane treatment!