Hace un Año

Today marks 365 days with my beloved Icelandic horse, Fjóla. Her love and devotion absolutely blow me away. She drops everything to come tolting to the gate when she hears me call for her. She loves to be brushed just as much as I love to groom her. I ride Fjóla bareback and bridleless: no reins, no bit. I steer her with my legs and occasionally a small crop for when she "forgets" my leg cues. When I put her back in her field, she stays by my side until I leave. My pony loves me and, wow, do I love her!

Tonight, because I was feeling so sick from my Lyme disease, I had to park my little 13.1 hands high "low-rider" horsie right next to a chair so I could climb on her back. Icelandic horses are very small and generally, even on "bad" days, I can still manage to clamber my way up. I didn't even have the oomph to try tonight. My health has been steadily going downhill over the past few months, and it has been taking a huge toll on me. As badly as I felt, I knew that I mentally needed to ride my horse tonight. 

Fjóla and I have begun practicing steering (with my leg aids) during the tolt (her fast past). She is generally very poky and takes plenty of coaxing to get moving (we like to joke that her quarter ran out). Tonight, however, she gave me a beautiful fast (but not too fast) tolt. Round and round we went, her mane dancing in the breeze, with my little ponytail floating out behind us. It dawned on me that not only did I have a giant smile plastered on my face, but for that fleeting moment, my pain was completely gone.

I can't explain why even though there are times when I can barely walk, I can still somehow ride my horse. Magic and healing can be found upon a horse's back, and so, then, can I. My pony carries me away from pain and sickness and while I am on her back, I am free of Lyme disease.