Have you ever been part of something that is so outside of your normal experience, so remarkable, that you find yourself thinking “I can’t believe this is happening to me”? That’s what yesterday morning was like.
My friend Pam has a trail-riding horse named Dexter. He lives with a herd of about 30 horses in Wildcat Canyon. The animals live outside on acres and acres of pasture. They roam and graze and play at whim. Pam invited me to visit them with her while the hills are green and alive with wildflowers. I knew it would be beautiful. I couldn’t imagine how special it would be.
I have seen horses in stables and barns. I have watched them train. I have ridden a handful of times, usually on dull and doddering rented trail horses and a few frightening times on animals with enough spirit to know they had an idiot on their backs. I am fascinated by the beauty, grace, and power of horses. They also scare me.
So yesterday morning Pam and I met at 7:00 and drove through Tilden Park. We walked up a hill and along a muddy trail for about twenty minutes. We saw a deer and heard wild turkeys in the distance. Then we entered the pasture — a few miles from my home and in another world. The horses weren’t bothered by our approach. Many of them ignored us, but some came up to Pam in the hope of treats. She knew all their names and personalities and showed me how to pet and scratch the ones who would appreciate it. Even though it was a gray, cloudy morning it felt like Spring and some of the horses just had to play. Pam said they knew I had a camera.
I really can’t describe what it felt like to be in the middle of this. It was like Pam gave me a magic pass to a sensory experience that leaves me speechless. You can see the rest of my pictures here.
Thank you, Pam! I’ll never forget it.
