
But she came and put her hands on me, and she knew about what happened. She showed me pictures in her mind, the way horses silently communicate; I showed her more pictures. Would you like to know what we saw? Here is my story.
"I was born in what men call Nevada on a spring night, wild and free. My mama was the Lead Mare of a band, my father's favorite. The other mares stood watch for her, and the Stallion guarded, lest predators find a new foal on the ground. 'Up! up!' said my mama. Newly in this world, I already knew the importance of what she said. She nuzzled me, then pushed me up toward her udder, full of life-giving milk. I'll never forget that first taste, surrounded by love. 'You must be ready to run from danger soon,' said Mama. Already I knew she was ready to lead our band to safety if a predator threatened. But that night was quiet. My father watched as Mama and I slept peacefully.


The Time of Terror

A trainer adopted the horse in Pauls Valley for a client, Susan, who wanted to help mustangs. He put 60 days training on him, naming him Nevada for the place he was born. His new owner had him delivered to a nice stable in Dallas, where he is cared for. Her friend Mike asked if he might look out for Nevada, as Susan lives in another state. Nevada was stalled next to his horse Gunner; he knew he needed help. Mike is my Liberty Foundations student at Spirit Horse Ranch near Oklahoma City. I went to Dallas for 2 days to get acquainted with Gunner and Nevada, and advise/teach Mike the best course of action for them. The first afternoon Nevada went into a large corral to get acquainted with me, as did Gunner. I handled them using the language of body, mind and spirit, communicating Liberty Foundations in their own language.

What happened the next day, however, was one of the more amazing experiences of my life. It was a sunny morning, so my general plan was to take the horses to the corral. They are in individual stalls with turn-outs at night. I entered the barn and paused, clearing my mind, exhaling and creating space for the horses. What I received was a clear message from Mike's gelding Gunner, stalled next to Nevada. "Breathe with me," he said. Every horse in the barn leaned over the half-doors of their stalls, watching.
I stepped to Gunner's door as he extended his muzzle. He moved his nostril toward my nose, inhaling, inviting my breath. As I exhaled, he inhaled, then exhaled into me. And then he moved his head away, pointing toward Nevada, clearly asking that I breathe with Nevada. The mustang extended his muzzle toward me as I walked to his door. I don't know how long I breathed with him. It could have been 10 minutes, 10 hours. My watch told me later I was in the barn with the horses 90 minutes, mostly with Nevada. Please share the magic with me:
Both horses were at the fence with necks/muzzles extended upward, their nostrils touching, quietly breathing together. Nevada had a family again, and found comfort with his brother Gunner, a domestic horse who found a way to help a frightened off-range mustang.
The magic is real.

Join us on Facebook at Spirit Horse Ranch Liberty Foundations, where you'll find daily reasons to love horses!
Small coaching groups are forming, as well as private coaching by appointment at Spirit Horse Ranch near Oklahoma City; if you’d like to learn, we’d love to welcome you.
Several Liberty Foundations Clinics are planned for 2014, and online classes and coaching will be available soon. Telephone and email coaching is available now. May I help you and your horse? Let me know in comments below, or by email, please.
(c) Ruella Yates, 2013