when one becomes two
Our first horse, Alchemy, forever changed the trajectory of my life. She was the alchemist who showed me the way to find my own alchemy within. Because of her, I realized that I wanted to share the beauty of connecting with horses with others. I began to dream of what my world of partnering with horses would look like.
I started exploring different ways of working with these sentient beings. During my exploration, we retired Alchemy from the show world to our home in North Bend. I fully expected her to be my partner as I walked this journey. However, Alchemy’s life ended here on earth before I was able to have a full vision of my new line of work.
When she died, I felt as though my dream had died with her and I grieved what felt like the loss of that dream. During this visit with grief, I wanted to sink into my sorrow and forget about the dream. It took me 18 months before I felt I had sufficiently moved through the grief and was ready to rekindle the dream within. For the dream to ignite, I needed to look for a new horse to walk this path with me.
I began my search for my “dream walker” at a local horse rescue. I met with several prospective horses looking to make a heartfelt connection with the one that would come home with me. The available horses were lovely but none called to my heart. The rescue’s owner told me there was a horse that lived nearby that would be available later in the week and this horse might be what I was looking for.
When I visited the available horse, I discovered that there were two horses on the property and I had a heartfelt connection with the one I wasn’t there to see. I asked if they would consider letting her come with me as I knew we were destined to be together. Not that I didn’t want the other horse…but I was only looking for one horse. I was asked to consider taking them both as the pair was obviously bonded. Well…for a person who doesn’t do well with spontaneity, I need to think on this one.
After much contemplation, I decided they would both come home with me even though I only had one stall available. How was I going to shelter two horses? This situation required some creative thinking. I decided the covered area on the side of our barn used as storage space could be converted into the additional needed stall and there was enough space to create a small run outside of the stall. I shifted my perspective which opened space for two horses along with the expansion of a dream.
Maizey and Apollo came home to be a part of the birth of Alchemy’s Touch three years ago. I opened my life to one horse and ended up with two…a decision I will never regret. They each bring a different gift to the work that I do. Maizey’s approach is strong, honest, and I refer to her as the drive by healer. Apollo is soft, compassionate, and known as the medicine man. I give gratitude each day for the horses who are walking this dream with me…when one horse became two.
Much love,
Margo & the Herd