On All Four Hooves...

As you may have heard, I have a slight horse predilection.

It's a fever, People, and it's been far too long since I've let the horsen ways stick in my craw, and gut....and just exactly how do you propose a horse and wagon project without a horse?

I've actually been a little despondent about it lately, truth be told. I mean, here I was, breaking a sweat--if not my back--in a crazy physical job that, while satisfying (and keeping me seriously THIN), was not at all what I'd thought I'd see myself doing.....

But...but....I was near Lancaster county which, by some lore, legends, or nearby gossip, was olden horse country. The Amish lived here, and generation's worth of farmers, and they all had horses, or knew of those who did.

So imagine all the moving, all of the job training, all of the uncertainty, all of the running around--fun as some of it was--but....no horses.  Yes, there are colorful costumes for dance, and drumming, and growing of free and tasty food. But not a hoof in sight.

Oh, I drove by them plenty o' times--darn near crashed the work van just wanting to stop on the highway...but no. Dutifully, I sped right by beautiful pastures and stunningly ancient barns and forgot about the farms, headed to another client in my modern day job. Ahh, life is a jagged little edge some days. 

Who lived on these farms, I wondered? How did they afford these near obsolete giants? Did they still use them to work? The storyteller in me concocted passels of stories, any number of possibilities, for these phantom farmers that I never saw, and their bucolic properties.

Amongst these stories, I'd hoped to add mine but...as with so much lately, the ending isn't certain....or maybe it is??   Finally, finally, I've connected with a farm that actually TEACHES this sort of thing! Right in the heart of Central PA, there is a beautiful farm that works with Percherons...a great sign as they are my favorite breed of large horse (besides the Gypsy horse, but I'd have to marry the King of Prussia to afford one!)

And so, this weekend, I am off on a merry-go-round adventure: a dance audition of Eastern proportions, a cup of tea--or more--with friends, and the big visit with the horse-driving whisperers! Wish me luck!

It's an exciting time---let's hope us all stand on all feet, and all four hooves....