Metaphorse

11/20/2024

HORSE OF THE WEEK: Liza

Liza is a 19 year old percheron Quarter Horse cross, flea bitten gray and white Pinto. Yes, very unique coloring! At age 11, she came from a kill lot in Missouri to an auction in Denver where Fantasy Ranch acquired her. When they noticed that her hips were giving her problems on the hills, they brought in a vet to assess. After a vet in Aspen x-rayed her, they decided she should only be riddenon flat ground and was retired to Metaphorse.

We have enjoyed every minute with Liza. She’s a little hard to catch, so you definitely need to know how to ask. She’s a lot of the children’s, and adults', favorite and is a wonderful horse for kids to learn with. She’s a big horse, but she moves out beautifully. She also will show up for our Equine Energy Exchage table sessions. We feel so blessed to have her.

The first photo of Liza happened during the first session of Masterson Massage Method that she ever accepted. It was a really special experience as she relaxed enough during the session to lay down. For a horse like Liza whose hips give her trouble, being able to release tension is especially vital for her quality of life.

If you want to help us support this spectacular sweetheart, please consider the following:

🤍Sign up for the Masterson Method Massage course we are hosting May 12th-14th. That way, you can also offer her some relief when her hips are hurting.
🫶Learn more here: https://mastersonmethod.com/product/montrose-co-mmes-may-2025/

🤍Spend time with her. She is used to most people wanting to approach her to be ridden, so would benefit from more people interacting with her without expectation. She may choose you as someone to go riding with, but if Liza chooses to be near you at all it's quite an honor.

🤍You can also donate towards her care through these options:
VENMO
PAYPAL https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
ZEFFY https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/232c79f4-766b-4e14-b502-19aa508c670c

11/19/2024

💞Who is interested in giving back to the horses?💞

You may have noticed us referring to offering our herd Masterson Method Massage. It is one of our approaches to providing these retired horses the best life that we can and reciprocate the healing they share with us.

This upcoming Spring will be the third time we have hosted a Masterson Method Massage training workshop. It is a gentle technique that helps you and the horse build trust through attunement and respect. We highly recommend this style of bodywork for horses and are thrilled for the return of the instructor, Megan Dushin.

👩‍🏫Megan is an exceptional instructor. She guides the training with confidence, collaboration, calm and clarity.
🐴This technique benefits all horses as it alleviates tension due to working, aging, navigating horse dynamics and emotional stressors. Whether an athelete in their prime or a slowing down steed, they will thank you.
🪪If you are interested in building your credentials, this is the foundational course to develop more qualifications in order to be involved with Equine Assisted Service Programs.

Learn more here: https://mastersonmethod.com/product/montrose-co-mmes-may-2025/

11/17/2024

Last Sunday we had the honor of having a table session with Amy. She shared the following testimonial:

"Working with Jody and her healing horses was honestly one of the most profound healing experiences I have ever had. I have spent 4 years doing deep somatic trauma healing work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Plant Medicine, Yoga, Breathwork, Internal Family Systems therapy & Constellations and today; was a profound experience to follow up to everything I have ‘dug up’ inside and outside of myself in search of understanding, healing and growth.

Today; I got a powerful answer, deep within my body and heart; (visceral and somatic) the answer came through as the horses worked on me with Jody working the magik of the session through her wise interpretation and facilitation for me to see the “Metaphors” coming through vía the horses behaviors.

It’s hard to put into words the whole of this experience but the transformation and healing that happened by the end was being able to see and deeply feel that I am supported, loved, and worthy to receive. I have struggled all of my life to really ‘believe’ that. Consciously I know I am, but deep imprints were made early in my childhood through adverse experiences as a young child and young adult that impacted the way I have moved through my life. I am 46; just shy of 47 and renewed with a new sense of hope and excitement for a new way to move through the next chapter of the rest of my life in a more empowered, deeply embodied way of knowing my worth and enoughness; that it isn’t about the doing; but rather the being - leading from the feminine part of me, rooted in heart. No more proving; just deeply trusting that I am enough just as I am, and worthy to receive all that I allow myself to desire.

Thank you to the horses; all 11. Especially to Amos and Eve who were right by my side; representing the masculine and feminine energy; helping me connect to my heart and reminding me to lead from that place, in love; with healthy boundaries and to keep on my path trusting where I am guided and that it is safe for me to be me; that I am worthy and enough to receive; without doing a damn thing.

Just being is enough and from that place, I can open like a flower and carry on in joy spreading my own sweet nectar to the world; beautiful, messy and all...

And last, a thanks to Buster; He showed up for me the first visit to the ranch to fill my bucket that day and for showing up again during the session, standing tall behind me and then coming close at the end to fill my bucket...

Endless gratitude Jody; and to the horses that showed up for me today 🐎💗"

If you are interested in scheduling your own Equine Energy Exchange table session, please email us at [email protected].

11/16/2024

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY: Domino & Star

Domino and Star are the eldest Matriachs Mates of our herd while Freckles and Red are the eldest Patriarch Pals. Since ladies go first, this week we will highlight Domino & Star and next week cover the dynamic between Freckles and Red.

Domino is a 26 year old black & white Mustang while Star is a 29 year old buckskin Quarter Horse. Domino joined us from a neighbor after Jody's mom fell in love with her and Star moved with Jody & David from Kremmling when they relocated to Montrose.

Domino and Star are inseparable. They welcome Candy into their crew, but are each others' core connection. They have both been with our family for so long and have had a lot of time to build up such a deep bond. Being on the older end of our aging herd, they are separated to better allow them to access the foods they need and the peace they deserve after a long life.

Domino tends to dominate the access to affection, but when Star really wants to step forward, Domino will share. They are both incredible healers and work as a team. Their friendship is a testament to the power of female friendships. Hopefully, our sweet independent ladies like Chipeta, Liza, and Desiree will draw some inspiration from their example.

🫶Find your heart horse in our herd here: https://metaphorse.com/meet-the-herd

11/13/2024

HORSE OF THE WEEK: Freckles

Freckles is a 37 year old, flea bitten grey Quarter Horse. When he was younger, he worked for Gunnison hunting outfitter. Apparently, he had some training with the activity of reining. Around the age of 15, he went to work at Fantasy Ranch where he was a great kid horse. He was semi-retired, taking just pony rides in Crested Butte for years, before fully retiring from mountain trail rides.

Metaphorse acquired Freckles in 2016. He has since taught countless children how to ride safely and lovingly. Metaphorse also unbridled his unicorn potential! He has been the best unicorn and the star of many birthday parties.

He is fully retired now, only two grinding teeth left, on a mash diet with herbs to support his aging body. He’s living out his best life with his favorite fellow Red. They get their own space separate from the herd because of their lack of teeth they cannot eat through the hay nets.

You will often see Freckles with a mask on. This is because he has a condition called moon blindness. His eyes will swell with the moon phases, so the mask acts as UV protection. Keep in mind that he tends to not enjoy being touched on his face, but otherwise he soaks up some attention!

Want to help us care for Freckles?
🤍As always, you are welcome to swing by to say hi. Give Freckles attention, take him out for a walk, or help with hygeine through brushing and stall maintenance.
💚Donate towards his diet and fresh fly masks~
VENMO
PAYPAL https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
ZEFFY https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/209a7a09-333e-4712-907f-7471e7d4765f

11/09/2024

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Lezah Tabush

Lezah is such a gem! She has been our volunteer extraordinare for years now. She works for the Hippotherapy program as a side walker. Twice a week, Lezah volunteers to help with the Vision Charter Academy lessons. Additionally, she volunteers to help with Madi’s Horse Lessons Kids Camps. We can always rely on Lezah to step up and help, even with the less glamorous chores, like shoveling p**p.

In the Spring, Lezah attended the Masterson Method Massage Training we hosted to help us better care for these horses. She also decided to sponsor Flick's care and is starting to work with him regularly to learn about his "horsenality" so they can bond and build trust with each other. A more recent contribution has come in the form of joining our board. We are so grateful for board members, like Lezah, who are so involved and dedicated to supporting our mission.

Thank you Lezah for all you are and all you do! You are such a delight to have around and we deeply appreciate having you as part of the Metaphorse Herd. 🙏🐴💖

11/08/2024

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY: Wintering Friends

Our horse friends who Winter at Metaphorse have started to join us! This always leads to all sorts of shifts in the herd dynamic.

Scooter (lighter pinto) and Junior (darker pinto) were brought to Winter with us by Kristen Anderson. She has taken on their care after their previous person died. It's just been the two of them for a while, so adjusting to herd life has been quite a journey for them to navigate.

Interestingly, Artemis has been quite grumpy about their arrival. She will shoo them away from feeders and everytime they catch her eye her ears pin back. The last time she showed this much sass was towards Terrance, a fellow mustang. It seems that the horses most like her, in breed or markings, are the ones that inspire her to stand up for her place in the herd.

They certainly could all benefit from a little extra reassurance during this transition that there's plenty of love (and food!) to go around.

💖Swing by and say hi!
🌾Donate towards hay bales, oats, and herbs for the herd:
VENMO
PAYPAL https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
ZEFFY https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/021369fd-ba7c-4c04-9d0e-d2d4e078a77d

11/07/2024

HORSE OF THE WEEK: Flick

Flick is a 26 year old dark bay Quarter Horse. He is sporting three short socks and a flick of white up his nose. Originally, Flick was Sheriff Martinezof Gunnison's roping horse. When he retired as a roping horse, he went to live with Kathy Marsh and family. After the children grew up, Flick and his pal Gitano (who has since passed) came to live with us.

When riding, it feels like Flick is reading your mind. He has such a gentle and laid back demeanor. He's not the horse that will push his way to get access to food or attention. With his best buddy Zipper by his side, he benefits from Zipper's more extroverted and assertive ways. This leads to him feeding off the more coveted hay piles or finding himself following Zipper over to people to say hi.

Our volunteer Lezah Tabush chose this hidden gem in the herd to sponsor. She will be working with him, and Jody, regularly to learn more about Parelli Natural Horsemanship. Through the Seven Games she will get to know his "horsenality" so they can bond and build trust with each other.

Many of our horses are still waiting for a Sponsor to contribute towards their care and prioritize building a relationship with. They all benefit from individualized attention and we deeply appreciate the support of helping cover the costs of feeding them.

FIND YOUR HEART HORSE HERE:
💖https://metaphorse.com/meet-the-herd

11/06/2024

Amen!

11/06/2024

🌟Star hopes everyone is staying warm out there!🌟

With the seasons changing, so are the horses' coats. For some, that involves a little extra layer of support with horse blankets. When you swing by, check in to see who you can help dress for the weather.

For all off them, some extra brushing to help the itchy transition would be appreciated!

Drifter & Amos are already doing their part to help.🪮

11/04/2024

Our boss

Instructor debrief after class featuring Mighty Max

11/02/2024

🎉NEXT WEEKEND🎉

November 2nd & 3rd from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

We are looking forward to this workshop! Nonviolent Communication is needed now more than ever. From self-talk, to personal interactions and beyond, we can all benefit from communicating more clearly while prioritizing connection, respect, and understanding. 🗣💞✨

Please reach out to Jack with any questions about the workshop itself, such as availability and funding support.
📧[email protected]
☎️505-9885464

Let us know if you have any questions about the space, such as parking and ammenities!

11/01/2024

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY: Amos & Company

Amos is our passive leader, versus the current dominant leader Geronimo who is leading by force. A passive leader in a horse herd is a horse that leads by example and is usually chosen by the other horses in the herd. Passive leaders tend ot be older horses that are consistent and quiet. They also don't seem to want to move up the pecking order. Amos inspires loyalty since he is uniting the herd within by making choices that are in the best interest of the whole herd. This leaves the task of protecting from outside dangers to the dominant leader.

For Amos, a major part of this role is de-escalating and releasing tension. This is for social situations and also lending support for horses receiving Masterson Method Massage. While some horses approaching during a session can be looking to cut in line, Amos is more likely lending a helping hoof (though watch out for them he has a hard time stopping quickly!). This can look like nudging the horse who needs to move (or reminding you to give them a little space to process), modeling to lick/chew/yawn as a way to release, standing guard so they feel more secure, or being there for the horse to nuzzle, bump their nose against and rest their head on.

While you can find almost anyone from the herd around Amos, some of his most consistent crew these days are...

🤨Often referred to as Grumpy Rico, Rico is likely found glued to Amos's side. He seems to soak up Amos's calm and comfort. Amos has been showing him how to let go of conflict and just be.

😌Apache seems to be an Amos in training as he also shows up to support his pals when they are working through an especially sticky release.

🐯Soulon started to spend more time with Amos and company when Apache helped him during a session when his laminitis was making his hooves particularly painful.

🎯Bullseye followed Soulon along and is certainly benefitting from this supportive crew.

If you want to benefit from this healing herd's support, learn more about our offerings here: https://metaphorse.com/programs

11/01/2024

Max has to be in on everything!!

Instructor debrief after class featuring Mighty Max

10/31/2024

Can you guess who Louie is pretending to be for Halloween?

HINT: He is definitely saying "please, sir, can I have some more?"

For a donkey who used to get all you can eat Olive Garden breadsticks, our offerings of hay and grains must seem limited and boring.😅

If you want to donate towards the treat of appropriate nutrition for Louie and the rest of the herd, you can choose from the following options:
🍭VENMO:
🍬PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
🍫ZEFFY: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/021369fd-ba7c-4c04-9d0e-d2d4e078a77d

*A reminder that $25/week (or $100 for a bale of hay to cover a month) can help us feed one horse (or donkey)!🙏

10/30/2024

HORSE OF THE WEEK: Flash

Flash is a 22 year old black Draft/Quarter Horse mix with a fun *flash* of white down her nose. Another feature that helps her stand out amongst the black/dark bay horses is that her coat has white hairs subtly speckling throughout. In the sunlight it really shines! She also is rocking some white socks on her hind feet.

She moved to Colorado from Iowa as a 3-year-old. For many years, she spent the Spring and Fall in Denver then the Summer and Winter in Crested Butte. She was a favorite guide and guest horse. At age 21, she developed some arthritis in her hips that made hills difficult. Now, she is retired to Metaphorse.

Flash's best pal is Shooter. They are rarely apart. Both are wonderful horses for our kids programs as they are gentle and patient. When it comes to Masterson Method Massage, Flash has been one of the horses who hangs back a bit. She has recently become more curious about it, though!

If you want to help this sweet, lovable mare live her best life consider donating towards her care:
⚡️VENMO -
⚡️PAYPAL - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
⚡️ZEFFY - https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/63d30f86-33b6-4062-9b95-572a70ea1349

10/27/2024

Yesterday we had Girl Scouts of Colorado, Troop 15064, out so they could earn their horseback riding badge. They learned the chores that are involved with horses, such as how to brush them. They also learned how to lead. Then they got to ride! We did some confidence building with the "Around the World" exercise and standing on our horses.

10/27/2024

HAPPY BELATED FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY: Our Newest Friends!

About a month ago, we brought home these three when their owner passed away. His daughters had limited knowledge about them and were unable to care for them moving forward. They have made quite the splash since intergrating with the Metaphorse herd!
🪂Geronimo is a man of mystery and the only male of the trio. His original name was unknown and our best guess is that he's a bay Quarter Horse. He's believed to be 24 years old.
🍯Becky's Daughter (officially), who is now affectionately referred to as Honey, is a line back dunn Quarter Horse. She is belived to be 21 years old.
🌩Beauty (was unnamed) is a 5 year old off the track dark bay Thoroughbred.

Gironamo and Honey are the most bonded of the trio having been pack horses for their previous person. They certainly count Beauty, who was purchased for breeding purposes, as part of their core crew here. Gironamo is very protective of Honey around the other horses. He has made quick work of making Drifter's reign as head of herd short and sweet. We noticed his approach leading to Drifter, Amos and others walking away from piles of hay they were eating at.

Interestingly, Geronimo has also been spotted eating at the same feeder as Zipper, the previous head of herd. At one point, Zipper kicked everyone off a feed area and seemed to target Beauty a bit. Meanwhile, Gerinomo was left munching away as if he didn't even notice. It appears as though Zipper is re-establishing his place higher up in the herd, but not necessarily challenging Gerinomo directly - yet? An added layer of intrigue to this shift in dynamics is spotting Earl back by Eve's side rather than lending his support to Drifter.

Come meet these new friends and observe the fascinating ripples of change they have created! You can also donate towards their care by choosing an option below and identifying who you are sponsoring.
🫶VENMO:
🫶PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=USHD3ZK2X8J7Q
🫶ZEFFY: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/021369fd-ba7c-4c04-9d0e-d2d4e078a77d

*To feed them, the most consistent cost needed, is about $25/week/horse*