In Buddhism there is the Tibetan word “Shenpa,” that can be translated “something that hooks us,” according to Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron. It is also “the urge.” Shenpa is what drives habitual patterns, motives and addictions. It comes in two parts: the reaction to pain and the escaping of pain. And the reaction to an…
The first Permaculture Design course at our center is finishing today. The participants are showing amazing creativity in designing gardens with natural fences, chicken coups, flowers, food trees and vegetable beds to the benefits of the villagers. Students learn to measure the height of the horizon, number of sun hours, size of shades, distance between…
Once again, I address the thing I’m not all that good at: resolutions for the New Year. I try to make them easy and attainable, otherwise they go the way of crash diets and best laid plans that get forgotten the moment stress or a better offer sets in. This Christmas we had the joy…
On the 17th of September two new horses, Ayiti & Kadoo, joined our herd. On this page you can follow their lives and liberation. Liberation comes in many forms such as liberation from fear, anger, hunger and disease. Ayiti is a young mare of around 7 years and she is the mother of Kadoo who was…
Some people and horses are not patient enough at the gate when moving from one place to another. Moving horses from the pasture to the stable can be a moment of stress instead of pleasure. Here is a lesson I would like to share with you. Let’s say you are moving two horses from a…
by Susan Smith This question comes to me often: When can I ride my horse? How much can I ride my horse? In our society, there is a strong push to get horses back to work after an injury or illness, just as there is with people. If you have a surgery, you can be back…
I have never really been into cricket. It looked like a lot of waiting around for not very much exciting to happen. On the other hand, I enjoyed tennis at school, and a few years ago I even took a refresher course for fun. The effect is, although I can tell the difference between someone…
I was lying on the massage table receiving physical therapy recently and talking about myself as I was asked to do, past injuries, etc., and then I made a switch to talking about one of my horses. My therapist expertly swung me back to the discussion of “me,” which is why I’m there, and I…
I am not one to make a lot of New Year’s resolutions, because I don’t want to get upset with myself for not keeping them. So my “horse-olutions” are ones that can be easily be accomplished and kept in mind during the year. Personally, this year, my holiday was wonderful in that our two…