All weekend I’ve been thinking about the horses that live here, on the farm we bought for them.
Blue stands out in such beautiful ways, even though they all contribute something and some do more than the others just by being who they are.
This is a picture of Blue a few moments before she was taken from her beautiful mom. Blue was born to fill a contract with Japan where at two yrs old she would be slaughtered for her meat.
My intention from the beginning was to show by raising her and her sisters that her value is far more than somebody’s quick dinner. They have proved that beyond what we even imagined. Blue and her sisters Star and Maize can do just about anything you ask of them to do and they have.
In this past year Blue became the surrogate mother to another orphan with the same destiny as hers, born to sold for her meat, our little Elspeth.
Elspeth is over a year old now and well on her way to becoming everything her kind, the Clydesdale, can be.
Productive partners and friends to humans through time, helping us build the worlds we dream of. They shouldn’t be forgotten or left behind and thanks to what we have been able to do with the ones with us they won’t be … at least to the people that get to meet them.
Blue is giving Elspeth all the qualities and gifts that retired or working horses gave her that raised her on this farm.
We have not made much progress in our struggle to stabilize our farm, after one challenge after another.
Please continue to share our GoFundMe and our store while we figure out our next bold moves.
https://www.gofundme.com/support-our-draft-horse-sanctuary-and-work-in-the-community
https://equiculture.company.site
https://www.paypal.me/StardustOrganics/
https://account.venmo.com/u/Pamela-Rickenbach
I think this is what is meant by “a class of his own”! #dreamkeeper #sophisticatedskills #realhorsehumanpower
Blue spends a lot of her time with Joker teaching him how to take care of her itchy spots! #bossmarelove
I love movie scenes that recreate our lives with horses. The details are so perfectly captured, it’s easy to suspend the belief that you’re not there. #equiculture
George Part 1
I was busy inside the house cleaning when I noticed George out there laying in the middle of what is considered a sacred site by the horses here. They love love love love their hay islands, probably because through so much change in their lives and in the land and spaces they have known this is the spot they can always depend on to be theirs, consistent and soft and life affirming. They protect these hay islands with a kind of ownership that newcomers don’t dare mess with. Every area has one and every horse knows which one belongs to them.
The cows sometimes come and rest there almost in defiance of those rules, but in a good way.
This is sweet George saying “you guys aren’t needing this spot, I would like to use it for a while so that I can ponder life from this powerful perspective and because I need a nap and right here in the middle of your world seems as good as any”
The horses are nearby napping too, in the barn or close to it because they like to mind meld in their own dreamworlds this way.
Foxy and his new stocks. I took a few pictures of this moment yesterday when we went to visit Homer next door to see the custom stocks he built for our bigger than average draft horses. He took incredible care to measure and build these this extra strong piece taking into account how they really need to be in order to hold and comfort horses while they feel so vulnerable. Especially Foxy.
Foxy hates the stocks but loved his farrier so Ken didn’t need them to do his hooves. After moving so far away from Ken and now his recovery from shoulder surgery we had to figure it out. Finding farriers to deal with someone like Foxy who has never liked picking up his legs due to his fused hips is nearly impossible. Forcing Foxy to fit in something he feels trapped in to begin with not only worries him but true to his spirit makes him very very mad.
I wrote to Homer a while ago and simply said “Homer we need your help!” We’ve called on Homer for a few really hard things, like getting our horses up or helping bury them when they pass. His natural love for them is obvious so I knew he was the man for the job!
Having someone like Homer for a neighbor whose ancestors owned the farm we are on is one of those things that has made moving to Maine one of the best decisions we have ever made for the herd…those stocks say more than I can for sure.
Thank you Homer.. you’re amazing and we know the whole herd agrees. Mario,who followed us up there, came trotting right over as if his family lives there, because they do.
#realhorsepower #neighborlylove #lovelivetheshires #rarerthanasnowleopard #tallesthorsesintheWorld @atwoodcliff @homers33.hs
#higherlove #naturalinteliigence #peacdfulplaces
I didn’t know it but I really needed this about now… #respectfully
You don’t have to be a tracker to know what this means!
#justsaying
#coyotetown #farmlife #mainelife
RIP amazing urban friend. We will never forget you.
#realhorsepower
Pam's Healing Journey - Check In 1
Here is an update on Pam's healing journey! Thank you community, for your support emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Pamela has been living with a serious brain injury since childhood. After the death of her husband, Paul, the symptoms become far more intense. Nature, horses, and animals have always been her medicine. Recently, she surrendered to the medical treatment necessary to ensure more years to the life life she wants to live- a life making a difference for horses, humans, and mother earth. 🌍
Right vs. Left Brain: Horse Edition
Join our Patreon to get the full episode on the right vs. left brain of the horses. Patreon.com/equicultureonline
$3/month is all it takes! Every cent matters. Your generosity helps our sanctuary for retired, disabled, and homeless work horses.
To our Patrons: WE LOVE YOU! Stay tuned for Episode 2 of our educational series coming next week on Patreon!
Pamela Rickenbach
Hannah Gavagan
I think we can get 20 new Patrons TODAY! Patrons keep our herd together. Join us!
Patreon.com/EquicultureOnline
Join the herd and our other beautiful Patrons including:
Ben Feldman Carole Wiley Linda Viehweg Cliff Atwood Kelly Gavagan Yvonne Rothstein Dylan Scheerer Leslie A. Pressey Linda Kramer Douglas John Farmer Mary Sheehan Winn Dineen Meabon Stolar Christina Salvini Vicki Alfano Rosanne McClaflin Margaret Towner Smith Marchel Kelley
And 11 others I couldn't figure out how to tag!
Let's add your name to the list! 💙⭐️
Join Equiculture's Patreon
Next priority: Join our Patreon!
Patreon.com/EquicultureOnline
This video breaks down our monthly expenses and how you can help us gain financial stability.
Y'all better watch because I mathed so hard I even made pie charts. ;)
Sending all the love and gratitude! - Hannah
Pamela Rickenbach
Cliff Atwood
Help Equiculture's Horses get Hay!
HAY IS FOR HORSES!
It is #GivingTuesday, y'all! Any amount you can give is a blessing!
Venmo: @Equiculture
PayPal: @StardustOrganics
WE GOT THIS!!!!
Please like and share with everyone! <3
Pamela Rickenbach
Hannah Gavagan
