The Cosmic Conciousness

Sometimes when you put things out there, things happen. My dad always called it the "cosmic consciousness", meaning that what one person thinks is passed to the other humans around them on a large scale. Think about that, how many times does this happen when thoughts or ideas spread like wildfire, even if no one spoke about it? More often than you think ;)

Anyway, when I was feeling at the edge of despair about what to do with Ace, and feeling I was coming close to an impossible decision I was not prepared to make, the phone rang. Just like that. I answered it to find the voice of Stefanie Travers who I had not heard the voice of for several years. She was the only farrier that stuck wih Ace through his training of "foot handling", and had long since moved away to start her own career in horse training.

"I have an empty spot in my horse trailer and I am heading back home. Can I take Ace? It is time, lets get him going."

WOW. I have to decide NOW? Umm, Umm, Okay! Do it. There is no one else I would trust, who had the same style of training I wanted to persue, and who I trusted to treat him properly. It felt "right". He was taken while I was at work and went off to sleepaway camp for one month as agreed.

At the end of the month the little scoundrel was not quite out of his stubborn, set WELL into his ways lifestyle that he had been accustomed to. Stef wanted him to stay another 2 months. I couldn't. Money was too tight, and taking this money from my family was already difficult at this time in our life, as I am about to begin my schooling. I had doubts, "did I waste the money to send him? Was this a mistake?" Stef said to come out and do a "Trail Riding with confidence" camp. Huh?? I have no confidence, I doubt I can even ride him, she is crazy! The negative talk was pulling me, but Stefanie gave me the extra push and I made it happen. I took out "death and dismemberment by horse" insurance and started to pack.

If you have not done a camp with Stefanie Travers you need to stop reading now, get onto http://www.lodestarhorsemanship.ca/ and sign up NOW! Yes, it was mind blowing for me since I made the great leap to finally riding my horse, but aside from that Stefanie has a gift. Now, there are plenty of very gifted horse trainers, but not many have the gift with the people as well. She is able to meet you where you are, in a completely non-judgemental way, that relaxed both horse and handler. She is at home with professional horse people and backyard pony people, she has no pretense, aside from the desire to see people and horses happliy working together. Anyway, I digress...

So I go to Merritt for this camp and arrive around midnight through the backroads and darkness. I find the place, horses in fields, mobile home, horse trailer, yup... I am here. I quietly sneak up to the house with my extension cord, hoping to find a place to plug in my power cooler, to no avail. Hmmm... funny the dogs aren't barking. I can't find an outlet anywhere! I am so tired from working all day then driving all night, I crawl into the back of the van, saddle as a pillow, and sleep, only waking every so often to plug the cooler in to the van to cool it a bit, but not drain the battery! Morning comes. I wake to the sound of footsteps outside may van. I peek up to see a strange man walking by and looking at the van confused. I watch him feed horses. He wanders back to the house, passing the van. I bravely come out. "Um, is this Stefanie Traver's place?" He replies, "nope, she is at the next farm down!" Completely embarrased I quickly collect my outstretched extension cord and scurry out with many appologies and excuses for my mistake! How embarrasing!

The bonus of this little side trip was during the drive up the road to the right place, in the wee hours of the morning, I see a blur of fur racing through the field from the river to the trees. I recognize the stretched out body posture and the distinct tail as a cougar! Cool! I round the corner where the cougar disappeared and arrive at the correct farm, Dot Ranch.

I slip in, unannounced and set up my van for camping, "mom style". No one up yet, hmm. I see Ace in a paddock, so I try to figure out how to get to him, and find my way through the barn and into his paddock. Oh how nice to see him after a month away! I look around to find a brush, and find the tackroom. I brush him down and go put the brush back. A strange man approaches as I put the brush back in it's bin. "Hi." "Hello?" (OH please GOD, tell me I am in the right place, yes, Ace is here. Who is this guy and why is he looking at me like I shouldn't be here??) I scurry back to my van. Stef comes out with a big welcoming hug, boy did I need THAT! I tell her my adventures and it turnes out the other woman at the camp this week stopped at the same farm down the road and unloaded her horse, much to the fellows dismay. He then directed her to the next ranch up. Poor guy, one day I will send him a new sign for his ranch, maybe we chould call it "Ranch before Stefanie's Ranch" or something more witty ;) It also turns out the fella at the barn owns the property and it was HIS tack room I was borrowing things from. Ah, that explains it!

I settle in, have some breakfast and prepare for what lie ahead in 3 days of "Trail riding with confidence" horse camp.