The path was laid for me from the age of five as my 11 hh pony played the ever popular game: "Knock the Kid Off With Tree Branches, Run Amok Till She Catches You and Climbs Back On, Repeat as Necessary". I knew then that my life would forever revolve around these magical, powerful, gentle and soulful creatures. Although horses were the constants in my life, I spent some time on the 'Human Hamster Wheel' of passionless jobs and left the horses as a hobby status. Through several in-depth personal growth and alternative healing therapy courses, pointed to by my very wise mare, Mia, I could no longer ignore my passion and set off in earnest down the path to my dreams: Australian Outback Cattle Station work, Guide Outfitting, Spruce Meadows, Professional Farrier and Trimmer, Natural Horsemanship and foundation development on young horses, and helping their people to gain the skills to have at-home success. My true passion and joy is helping to empower both the horse and human to their greatest potential and their own unique path.

I strongly encourage the art of "being" with your horse. Being still, being present, being quiet, being ... aware. This awareness of what they are thinking, perceiving and feeling starts to lead to a better sense of "Feel". Feel to me is SO many things, and in every way you can possibly use it in context to your horse and self, the deeper and stronger your connection. To become such a centred, strong, peaceful leader that your horse finds comfort, safety and confidence is truly one of the greatest gifts we can ask for and empowers us tremendously. I believe that horses have walked throughout history beside us, patiently awaiting the time we can begin to hear their lessons of the soul. All are different, all unique, and tailored to fit where we are on our path, and we find ourselves mirrored in our silk-hided, luminescent-eyed, sweet-smelling, infinitely fascinating friends.


 

 

STEFANIE's HORSES  (click images to enlarge)

INDY

7 yr. old. Bay Roan Quarter Horse Gelding. Came from the Innisfail Auction Mart, Alta, as a byproduct of the Drug Industry...aka PMU baby. He was shipped in to Vancouver Island with 48 fellow foals, having just been weaned and thrown on a cattle liner and trucked 1200 kms. Interesting start! I chose him thinking he was just a brown colt, nice and plain, would hopefully stay smaller, but his most outstanding feature was his bum! hahaha! Imagine my surprise when he shed out roan in spring! He has matured into a 16 hand, super stout rock in every way. So many cowboys have tried to pry him out of my hands, but he is here to stay. He is the pillar of my herd, and a good leader, kind but quietly assertive. He loves cattle work, and will be as fine a bridle horse as I could ever wish for. His absolute FAVORITE thing to do is wing his head and neck as he is trotting down steep hills...just try not to get flung off into the rhubarb!

Buck Brannaman's clinic in Ellensburg, Wa. Indy and I working on that 'Feel' word....

A pause for reflection....can't hardly do too much of that!

Here we are using the rope to steer....in an arena full of 25 horses. This is, er, interesting...and revealing!

Indy is such a long strided travellin' horse, in any gear. Here we cover the arena at a lope in about 6 strides.......:)

This is where I am beginning to think that bucking horses must all be about 14 hh.....Indy at 16 hh. takes some convincing to fit all of his Roan-ness in and shut the gate. Great test...!

 

 

ESPADA

7 yr. old Black Andalusian/Lusitano Mare. She is my Crazy Spanish Lady, that I like to say wears too short a skirt, top just a little bit too low cut and FAR to much red lipstick. That should give you a pretty good idea of  who she is! She is turning into a very sweet and connected girl that still has a flair for the dramatic. I can't wait to see her in the two rein, dancing and twirling, with LOTS of silver to keep her happy!

Espada is Spanish for "sword" and that is exactly what she has on her forehead. It is also the root word for the spade bit..............which I also love, and which she will carry with fitting Grace and Style......

Incredibly athletic, dynamic and very fluent in the expressive languages!

Ah! Espada! I took this from 'Spady's back, and love all the character it shows.....and those wrinkles! (don't tell her I said that!) I also love the softness all over her face. Can you tell? I love this mare........

Espada in Ellensburg, Wa. at Buck Brannaman's clinic. This whole trip was quite a stretch for her, and she did us proud! Here she is showing her other natural talent, collection......and beauty!

Espada looking like the bull-fighting horse she is! Look at that short skirt twirl!

 

 

 

CITA

1 1/2 yr. old Palomino Quarter Horse/ Arab. Her full name is 'La Vida Cita' which is again Spanish and means 'the small life force, fierce and enduring' She is incredibly special to me in so many ways. When I first moved to Merritt, I lost my incredibly special mare, Mia, and my dear friends Terry and Vicki Dugas in Qualicum Beach had bred this little gem, and quietly (as they do everything) conspired to gift her to me. I am blessed beyond words, for their kindness, generosity, and phenomenal ability to breed and raise up stellar babies! She is all I could wish for, great Arab head, cute round 1/4 horse bum ( ok, I have a thing for bums!), that gorgeous color, super Diva attitude, and the way she ruuuunnns everywhere, slids to a stop, spins and ruuuuns the other way....I can't wait to get her going! She is Indy's # 1 sidekick. She also has a full brother....hmmmmmmmm

 

 

 

IVY

4 yr. old Palomino Quater Horse Mare. Oh Ivy! My good friend Lauren helped me out on this one. She spotted her on the 'net, and sent her info to me, knowing my weakness for Palominos and vague thought about a 'project' horse to sell at the end of summer. "she needs meat on her bones, but she's your favourite colour..." was her exact quote....hahahaha! So of course, what could I do? I bought her sight unseen, had her shipped up, gasped a bit when she came off the trailer and into mine at the Merritt Travel Info Centre, and set about feeding her up. She was quite under weight, scruffy and marked up, but oh! Under that dead hair was something very, very cool waiting for a chance to shine....and shine she does! So much so that apparently she is still with me, and I am at a loathe to part with her. She is a firecracker! She is my trashy but sweet girl, smart, quick as anything, cowy like crazy, and I should just never, ever by 'project' horses! Course, my sweet revenge and pay back is Lauren wishes SHE had bought her, not me. So Sad!

I get a kick out of this shot....it is sooooo typical of Ivy - hair all mussed up, but still cute as anything....! Ivy and Becca and I checking out the Rainbow Trails...we are in the camp area, and it is just fabulous. We will plan a trip/camp up here again.

Ivy....registered as 'Skips Major Chiq' -- Lauren turned her onto me as a very unkept 4 year old 'project' to start and sell......hahahahhhhahahahaha! Notice how she is part of my HERD?????????????????? Damn that Lauren........................

Can you tell I am crazy about this girl?

 

MORE HORSE PHOTOS

Becca and I with Indy, Espada, Ivy and Cita. My eternally patient and gifted friend Inet was behind the camera this time, and she deserves the Most Patient, Willing and Highest Blood Donator to Mosquitoes Ever Award. Thanks for the truly amazing series of photos you took, girl! I really like the sense of camaraderie in this photo between horses, dogs and people.....just another day in paradise....

Ah! How could a girl be more blessed? I love every one of these amazing creatures, and their uniqueness: Indy's steadiness and quiet strength; Espada's drama and fire; Cita's spunk and absolute diva-ness; and Ivy for her sweet, bad girl trashiness ..... set against the most amazing feature of the Ranch, the clay banks.

This one's probably even a better shot.......and everything is just teetering on the brink of chaos here.....haha! But happily you can't really tell in this photo.....:)

I simply adore this photo. It has a great casual feel and we are all just aimlessly milling. But of course Indy and Ivy look Fabulous...........