MARCH, the Month of Change

​MARCH. The month that signals the beginning of spring, when seeds emerge into vegetation, plants begin to grow, and babies are born. In my eyes, March is definitely the month of change, not only of the seasons, but truly the start of a new year.

Three years ago this month I lost my equine companion, We had spent 28 years together, growing up and learning from each other. She forgave me in my lack of formal horsemanship training and I benefited from learning about her natural equine behavior. My most favorite memories are of joining her and her herd mates in their 36 acre pasture. This pasture was not all flat grass as one might envision at first. Plenty of open space beautified with running creeks and rolling hills, wooded areas interspersed throughout provided calming trails to wander at leisure. It was my sanctuary, it was her home.

Often I would crawl up on her back and take cat naps. Sometimes all stretched out back to back with my head resting on her rump, sometimes turned over with my legs and arms tangling off her sides and my head resting on her withers. Other times I would reverse direction and lay backwards with my face on her pelvis. I can still feel the warmth of the sun absorbed in her dark bay coat upon my cheek.

As her mobility decreased in her older age, I searched and searched for something that might make her more comfortable, to keep her in her home. She hated to be inside and her happiness was all I cared about. It took awhile to find that something - special thanks goes out to Amy Orris Beck - the gal that helped me find The Masterson Method. That introduction not only helped my horse, it transformed my life too!

Three years ago this month I completed my first official step towards my certification in becoming a bodywork practitioner, the Beyond Horse Massage Weekend Seminar. I flew to Seattle, Washington and met Coralie Hughes, my first and most profound instructor of The Masterson Method. Coralie, who has co-authored The Dressage Horse Optimized with Jim Masterson, was instrumental throughout my field work training, thank you Coralie! While in Seattle, I also completed the 5-Day Advanced Course to further my knowledge of releasing tension and stress in harder to reach (sometimes unreachable) areas of the horse's body. Shortly after my cross country trip, I enrolled in the Field Work program and completed the Coaching Courses in about 2 years time.

One year ago this month I obtained my Masterson Method Practitioner Certification. I drove down to Loxahatchee, Florida to take my final course with Jim, I was so nervous it was absurd...even more nervous than taking my college graduation comprehensive exams! I tried to hide it from Jim, but for someone who reads the body language of horses every day, it was a lost cause. What a tremendous experience, he put me right at ease and I only have one regret, and that is not spending more time with him.

Seattle, Washington 2013

Sunny Florida 2015

So now, even though my Taffy is gone, I think of her everyday and the life she has given me. I also think about the owner's of her home, Mr. and Mrs. Wolford and their daughter Linda, who offered up their facility and their kindness of care for the many years Taffy lived happily with her friends DanDee, Fiddler, Prince, and Pizzazz. I cannot thank them enough for allowing me roam on their property at all hours of the day and night, they are a special kind of people!

Each March is a new beginning, a signal of change, a growth of some sort...what kind of growth will you experience this year?