I was born in the month of June 2007 in the province of Manitoba, Canada. It was fascinating to see this world around me after coming from the security and safety of my Mother’s womb. As I peered around even before getting up I notice others like me. Wobbly on our legs but yet so spirited in our hearts, it would not be long before we were standing by our
Mother’s side nursing for our very first time. We played, kicked and ran circles around our Mom”s who would from time to time say enough is enough and with their firm language, keep us close to their sides in quietness. This was always a good opportunity for some more good nourishment and without choice what would often befall, a nice siesta, and then once again with our energy rejuvinated, we would do it all over again.
In my first days I came to know what is called
a human. Sometimes they would come in our space, check us over
and if one was in the way, we’d get a heavy shove on the rump. Why
wouldn’t they play with us? Sometimes their voices would be really
gruff, not at all friendly like I would have hoped, but these occasions
were far and few between. Most days were filled with lots of play time
and enjoying this wonderful place we had come to life in.
Then one day many of these people came into our field. All of
my friends and I tried to run as far away as we could from them but
were not able to escape their tactics to push us all into a small
confined area. With fear, many of us babies cried for our Mom”s. Where
were they when we needed them most? I was only four months old and I
didn’t want to be without her. I soon felt the pressure of my friends
pushing against me and having no choice but to move forward, I found
myself in a place that was very small and tight. There was no room to
move around and all us babies were left to stand side by side when we
suddenly felt the energy of movement beneath us. We called for our
Mom’s as they did to us, but soon we only heard them from a distance,
and for the very last time…except in our dreams.
This new space we have been pushed into is not nice. We have fences around us now and no longer have the lush green grasses of the fields we were raised on to play and grow. I craved some of my Mom’s warm milk but none was ever to be offered again. Our days turned into just this; days where time would simply pass. We were given lots of food but no place to burn it off. In fact most of us started to get pretty chubby looking but this is what happens when horses are put on feed lots. Why did these people want us here?
After what seemed a lifetime, once again we were loaded up in this tight foreign box and taken away. So much noise in this new place. One by one we were separated from our own little herd. I started sensing that something was terribly wrong here and then came to understand we were now going to be taken away forever; from each other and for many of us, more was about to be taken away…and this was our lives.
During this time some people would come through and look at us. Why were we so captivating to them? Once again I was separated from my last few herd members but lucky for me, one was able to come along. The person who took us away did not exhibit this unnatural aggressiveness we had already experienced from other people and even spoke with a soft voice. I found this comforting, as did my friend. We stayed close together and were not separated again; well at least not for awhile.
Then on a cold day in January 2008 I was put in this travelling box and once again, I could feel this familiar movement beneath me. I called endlessly for my friend as he called for me but inevitably our voices were lost in the wind. I felt very alone this time but comforted by the fact I had others of my kind close beside me.
Finally after about four days in this traveling box the doors were opened and I was invited to step out. The voices from these people were soft and kind. With little resistance I followed one of my new herd mates and we were soon introduced to some other young horses like us. They were really friendly! I wasn’t used to such happy mates but adjusted to this easily. The people then started calling me Fatty Patty which people started to call me .
On a warm spring day in March, only two months after joining this new young herd, my caretaker came at her usual time to feed us lunch. Two of us had been bad little horses had broken into the barn. (Most often you will hear of horses breaking out of barns but not us, we break into them as we live outdoors 24/7 and only come in for snacks!). We were not really in trouble, in fact these people laughed at us. We were both happy to run into our designated stalls knowing our tasty horsey kibbles and bits were on the way. Not only did the kibbles and bits arrive in good timing but so did this girl with a soft voice. She quietly put horsey treats into my bucket and invited me to eat them. Well, this was a new experience! I wasn’t sure about having this person so close to me but she gave me some pretty tasty snacks so she couldn’t be all that bad. But then she started to touch me. My hind end came up in fear and I braced myself. Was she going to hurt me? Her touch was so gentle but I was not used of being touched by a person, except for when I was being pushed around and sometimes this hurt me. She wasn’t about to give up though which caused me some concern. I finished my food and there we were together, her attention solely on me and mine on her’s. When she moved slowly over to the left side of my body I became very confused… I needed to run away but there was no place to run, just circles in this little stall. So I ran small circles until I tired and then stopped. I could not comprehend her energy on this side of my body. While cocking my head to the left so I could see her through me right eye I tried to process what was going on. Her body slowly moved towards me with her hand reaching close to my side. I could smell a soft scent on her which comforted me. Her voice stayed firm and soft and in just minutes she was touching me lightly on my left shoulder, and this seemed to be okay now. She moved away and came back in slowly once again. I heard her whisper a new name to me and it was Angel. I somehow felt safe and at ease with her and even fell into a light sleep.
The next day the girl is back again. I remembered her and was feeling almost happy to see her. Shortly thereafter another person came in to see me. This new energy was different but still very soft. I began to feel apprehensive when he came inside my stall with her, I feared I might be harmed by this new person but soon I could feel his gentleness. I began to invite his touch and like the day before, we went through this exercise where I was finally able to allow him to touch the left side of my body. She stayed with him and together we came to know one another.
Just when I thought this good thing was over the next day these two people come back. They managed to separate the other young horses away from me and get me into my stall. They had the tasty treats which was a very good sign for me, I was very happy to get more of what they gave me the day before. Then suddenly things started to shift inside of me. I felt this soft energy running through me and the scents of natural herbal essences were in the air. I found this to be very calming. The soft touches and voices from these people only helped to relax me more. I could sense they were trying to put this thing over my head and I really didn’t want to have any part of it. But eventually I gave it up and let go of my resistances. The smell of the leather halter was close to me and I was not really bothered at all when it was finally being slipped over my nose and then over my ears. It felt strange but I was so sedated in this feeling you might call peace or tranquility that it really did not matter. I felt safe and realized that not all people were the same. These two were special. They understood me and helped me to finally feel safe in this world since I had been taken away so long ago it seemed, from my Mom.
This
routine went on daily for the next few weeks. I found myself in joy
playing with these two people that I have even started to enjoy being
around, them more than the other members of my own herd. They keep my
mind busy and are teaching me so many fun things now. One day they had a
really nice girl come in and she handled my feet a lot but I felt so
much better in my body when she was done. I had been practicing withthe girl on how to pick up my feet and hold them steady so getting my first trim was really not a big deal.
The new man in my life, the one with the gentle energy, spends
so much time with me now. Soap and warm water to clean all the mud off
that I roll daily in has become routine and I like it! We have even
been told when he leads me that we are like two 15 year-olds out on
their first date together! I lean into him because I want to be close
and likewise for him. He feeds me treats and I trust that he will keep
me safe. It has been pointed out though that I shouldn’t lean so
heavily on him so when he is ready to ask me to stop, I politely will,
but of course will always look for his invitation to snuggle together
closely. I might be pint size today but with my breeding being a Percheron Something Cross, I won’t be for long.
My life is beautiful today. I know they are going to put a saddle on my back one day soon and I am happy for them to do so. In fact, my trust has grown so deeply for these two people I have chosen to give them all of my heart. I know what they have done for me. I know the sad road the others I was raised with traveled; the unlucky ones that did not have the nice coloring and confirmation that I was gifted with at birth. I am a pmu foal born from a pmu mare. I hope so much one day my Mom will be set free from this life she has endured. Not just in raising me from conception but for all the other babies she has had along the way to produce Premarin for the pharmaceutical companies. I know I was only a by-product of this industry and it was only by chance that I was found by an Angel, andthen passed onto another Angel, who then called me…her Angel.
Through my young eyes, heart and mind I have learned that I do have a purpose in this world. I did lose my inspiration to live this life after being through so much but I see now that it is possible to overcome challenging times. I have an even greater appreciation than I had before, and do not take for granted this gift of life, like when I was just a little foal. Knowing that I am once again loved shows me that we all have this capacity to love more, whether it be for man or beast.
April 7, 2008 To my new caretaker: thank you for giving me the chance to fulfill my life that I can share with you and others the many gifts we have so close to us, which we may not recognize in this day.
They are there…let me help you find them.
Angel – Standing In The Tracks Of My Ancestors
Voice for the Horse ~We are happy to let you know Angel now proudly resides in Langley, B.C. which has long been known as the Horse Capital of British Columbia. With more than 400 farms in the area that have produced almost 5,000 horses. There are more horses in Langley than in any other community in the province. It is wonderful to see so many horse lovers on the west coast and it shows by all the fine facilities out there caring for our equine companions!
Learn about another young colt that came from the same feedlot as Angel this past fall of 2008 and is looking for a good long term home where he will be loved and brought to his full potential.
