Considering Freedom

Those of you who have come to the HEAL Ranch, and especially those of you who know me well, also know Tankha, the young gelding who is my mare Frieda's son. He was raised by Freida and me and by the other horses within our small band. This picture is of Tankha on his first day of life, enjoying a lei put on him by my friend Nina! He was affectionate and not frightened of anything, right out of the womb!

From the beginning of Tankha's life, he was somewhat a public figure and his future open to speculation. Many people assumed that he would have a lifetime home with me, but I was skeptical. "Horses live a long time," I mused every time the subject came up. "It seems to me that each horse deserves his own destiny." But of course, Tankha was a child (colt) as well as a horse, so we would have to wait and see. In the meantime, he needed boundaries, training and direction.

Horses are individuals with their own personality, and we often called Tankha "the boundary-less one".   A bold colt from day one, he also had survived the illness of his dam (mother) which resulted in being bottle-supplemented. I even slept with the little guy in the hay on one night when he was dangerously cold. He thrived, and his tendency toward strength of character and certain mischievousness meant that boundaries were frequently the topic as his first years passed.

Is it anthropomorphic of me to feel that I share a bond with him? Maybe with certain animals we do enjoy a special ability to see into them, and them into us. Tankha seemed to thrive on a close and clear relationship with one person, especially as his training progressed. He was slow to mature physically but suddenly when he was five, he shot up another hand (a horse term meaning 4 inches in height). Now he was six, and ready for a grown up horse's job in the world. My heart ached, for I knew that I did not have time to ride this strong young horse for the hours and miles he clearly enjoyed, deserved and needed. Who would understand his complex personality? Who would be bold enough themselves to match his daring and playful spirit? (Forget anthropomorphic, let's get grandiose and narcissistic!)

And almost as suddenly as I "knew" it was time, the right person was there. She called on a Friday, during a week when we had an important program going at HEAL. She was a pilot, and she could fly in to the Chehalis airport the next day to come see him. She sent a picture of a horse she loved and recently lost to death by colic. A chill came over me as I saw that Tankha did indeed look like her former horse friend. Their eyes shared an identical mix of soulfulness, little boy impishness and the look of eagles. An adventurous pilot... a pilot would be bold enough for my lion-hearted young horse!

And so it came to be that Tankha met Summer, and as much love as I felt between Tankha and me, suddenly a new love was meant to unfold for them.   We could all see and feel the "chemistry" and when it was time for Tankha to move he was literally standing at the trailer unaided, as if he were waiting for us to get it in gear!   We've now witnessed the first several weeks of a great human-horse friendship between these two strong, creative, adventurous, funny and loving souls. In my profound gratitude and awe, I felt a bit like the mother of a human son who is now grown and finding their lifetime mate. My heart swelled when she wrote to me "I shall feel like a queen as I see the world from his back." When I found out that she and I love some of the same books, I knew I had not lost my young horse, I had indeed gained a friend. (Well actually at least 3... but that is another story!)

Is there an affinity in the universe that enables kindred spirits to find each other? Prayerfully I hope this may be so, that my perception of a blessed partnership is also the reality that unfolds to be even more wonderful.   Thanks to all of our friends who have loved and supported Tankha as he grew up!   He sends a great, proud head toss!