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| Riders in the Okavango Delta of Botswana |
In late July my 25 year old daughter, Isabella, and I will be meeting in southern Africa
to embark on a journey that has called us for many years. While I have often heard that “this is a trip of a lifetime”
whenever I have gone anywhere out of the country, it never felt true
until now. This summer I have
become aware that this endeavor has already stretched me toward personal growth
in ways I couldn’t have imagined when signing up back in January.
We are heading to the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana
(see map), an area that floods every year during the rainy season, and then
slowly dissipates creating islands that animals can gather on in the dry seasons. This
annual progression of advancing and receding water creates a rich tableau of
wildlife as the life cycle continues with mating, birthing, and growing of
babies.
I first read about this adventure immediately after we
returned from southern Africa four years ago. We had spent a
magical and eye-opening two months traveling through the wilder areas of South
Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and even spent a few minutes on the banks of
Angola while visiting the Caprivi Strip. We primarily experienced wildlife
through self-drive safaris in rental vehicles and had many happy hours on the
dirt roads of Kruger National Park, Etosha National Park, the Caprivi Strip of
Namibia, and many other remarkable places. Because Isabella and I are both horse lovers,
the idea of combining elephants, lions, hippos, impala, baboons,wild dogs, and more, with
horses seemed like a truly magical undertaking. We dreamed about
this trip repeatedly over the past four years until last winter. Isabella was home for Christmas and as
we looked at her future schedule as a veterinary student at Colorado State
University (CSU), we realized that this was the last summer she would have
discretionary time for at least two years and possibly longer. We decided to make the fantasy real and
to plunge into our next big adventure, not knowing what we would discover.
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| Close encounter of the elephant kind. |
When we decided to commit to the Big Ride, we learned that we
would be required to sit a posting-trot for six hours a day, and would need to
be skilled at all paces:walk,
trot, canter, and gallop. This felt a little daunting as I had never sat a full-on gallop before not to mention the sheer work it takes to trot hour after hour. When I thought about what we might be running away from;
lions, enraged bull elephants, rhinos, leopards, or a cheetah which is the fastest animal in the world,
I wondered if we were truly
crazy. We had seen first-hand on
our previous trip how a pride of lions could effortlessly crouch in two feet of
waving flaxen grasses and instantly
disappear, nowhere to be seen. We
had faced off with more than one enormous and angry bull elephant and had heard
the stories of those who didn’t
survive. You, like my mother, may be wondering why on earth this scenario is
appealing?
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| Participating with nature, no barriers. |
Isabella and I both find a sense of deep and restorative
peace and serenity when we are immersed in the natural world. We find great enjoyment from learning
about the plants, animals, geology, weather and natural history of a new
area. We are completely energized by
interacting with all wild creatures, great and small, furry or scaly. We are
true nature-women in all senses of the word. And this is what drew us to Africa
four years ago. Returning to experience one of the wildest experiences in
Africa by horseback seemed like a natural fit.
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| Wild horses of Wapio Valley on Big Island, HI 2014 |
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| Felicia riding Dahlea in Colorado using only body language and no tack. |
Additionally, we both have a life-long love affair with all
things equine. Spending time in any
capacity with horses can be life-altering. Horses are unique in the domestic animal world in that they
are completely honest and forthright in all of their dealings with each other,
and with us. While we may never be
quite sure exactly what our cat or dog thinks of us, with a horse there is
never any question. Creating a
relationship with an individual horse requires us to school our emotions
towards calm and confident, and
asks us to become very sensitive and intuitive about reading equine body
language, and to be completely aware of our every movement, breath, and sound,
no matter how small. The horse and
human partnership can be one of the most rewarding relationships possible but
it takes perseverance and patience.
Learning to ride well is more complex than simply jumping on, grabbing
the reins, and giving a kick.
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| Isabella training with Grace in our round pen. |
Because we highly respect our equine partners, whether at
home, at school, or in our vocational or volunteer capacities, we realize that
taking our undertaking seriously is imperative. From December to June we have both ridden many times a week,
wherever and however we can. I
returned to dressage lessons with a favorite riding teacher who lovingly helps
me create the best “seat” possible.
This means working at all paces in her arena, sometimes on a longe line
while I walk, trot, and canter with no hands, no stirrups, and often eyes
closed. Learning to ride
using only my weight, balance and intention has improved my abilities 100%. My
Morgan/Arab mare Grace, and I have ridden 100’s of miles through the washes,
dirt-roads, and national park trails near my home. Isabella was fortunate to ride a friend’s horse on the beautiful
trails of Horsetooth Reservoir outside of Ft. Collins, Co where she attends
veterinary school.
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| Grace choosing a trail for our ride in Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ. |
Tucson has knocked us down with debilitating heat for the
time being so I am able to ride less and for shorter times. Meanwhile, Isabella, on a research
assignment in Tasmania, is riding far less there due to short days, rain, and
lack of transportation. We wonder
now, can we really do this? Will
our bodies possible hold up for this sort of intense activity in an environment
that requires full physical engagement and complete mental attention every
moment?
The most peaceful moments I have ever experienced in this
life have been from the back of a horse companion, in the company of wild ones
in beautiful natural settings. During these times I am held quietly and
perfectly in the present moment, aware of each breath, mine and my horse, each
exquisite mountain peak, tree,
flower, bird, mammal, reptile, all
in sharp relief, all held in the
ease of relaxed meditative concentration. Because riding easily creates
mindfulness for me, I believe that this big ride, will only make it
easier. What greater joy to
participate fully in the great unfolding drama of one of nature’s grandest
theaters.
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| Bayfawn and Grace, as we ride into another glorious Tucson sunset. |
Is it hyperbolic to imagine that we will be singing “The
hills are alive with the sound of music” as we ride in ecstastic communion with
our mounts amongst all creatures great and small through the great Okavango
Delta? Hopefully! We’ll be
bringing a lot of ibuprofen just in case!
And I hear that the safari
camp has a good bar too. So even if we are battered and tired, help will be at hand. Stay tuned and we'll be sure to let you know.
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| Felicia on Bayfawn, the mare that came to me 22 years ago. We're still going strong! |
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| Isabella riding Grace, a horse that formerly worked as a therapy horse at TROT |
If you have a hankering to become more acquainted with
horses and the healing and hope they can bring, I would like to recommend
connecting with a therapeutic riding center near you. Locally, Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT) has been a home
away from home for me, and truly is a happy place for many. I have volunteered as a horse-handler
there regularly for the past five years which is a great job if you have
previous horse experience. If not,
being trained as a side-walker can be a wonderful experience too. TROT, as well as other centers around the
country, works with individuals who are developmentally delayed, physically
disabled, adults with head trauma and PTSD, and veterans. I have seen the
difficult and the amazing, the miraculous power of horses to be present in
challenging situations and to facilitate healing of the highest degree in everyone they encounter. In observing therapeutic riding
situations as a volunteer horse-handler I have been privy to some pretty
stunning exchanges. This is a fine
way to make a difference for a child, an adult, a horse, yourself.
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| Miniature Horses during a round-pen lesson at TROT |
There are also horse rescue organizations that often need
volunteers in many capacities. As
with other companion animals, there are far more horses bred each year than there
are homes for. The options for
unwanted horses are bleak. Being
sent to a cruel and inhumane death at a slaughter house in Mexico, being turned out in the
desert to fend for themselves (a hopeless situation), or living with poor and
substandard care is fairly common in the USA. It is harder to
rescue a horse than a smaller animal, many go to food markets in Japan and elsewhere. Volunteering to care for and to help re-home
abandoned horses is a worthy calling.
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| Look into the eyes of a horse and watch your life change. |
Becoming friends with a horse can change your life and your
outlook and I recommend it highly.
Shalom, Shanti, Peace,
Felicia
Blog Links:
Felicia and Isabella's 2012 Africa experience: http://feliciainafrica.travellerspoint.com
Therapeutic Riding of Tucson:
http://www.trotarizona.org
The Desert Leaf: Read Tucson author and photographer Robin Stancliff's account of her horse safari in Botswana in 2008. Many great photos!
http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=107838
Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary in Green Valley, AZ. This rescue group works to save mares and foals from the Premarin (PMU) industry. To learn more or to donate and volunteer:
http://www.equinevoices.org/horses/
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| Bayfawn contemplating the labyrinth. It was an interesting ride! |
Vaya con Dios. :)
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