I love horses, as I’ve said before on Camping with Five Kids. I always wanted a horse. I feel a connection to them. I talk to them. And they respond. So when we had the opportunity to go horseback riding with real cowgirls in Montana, up the side of a mountain, we jumped at the chance.
A bright and beautiful morning greeted us in Kalispell at the Montana Horse Works, a ranch located in the valley, for our two-hour guided ride. We got to meet our horses, and our guides encouraged us to talk to them. Never one to refrain from telling a thousand-pound Mustang I was about to ride for two hours what I expected of him, I began.
“Hi, Yoke.” I stroked his nose, his cheek and neck.
He nuzzled his forehead against my shoulder.
“Just you and me, kid.” I patted his neck. “Remember, I have knees sticking out around your stomach.”
He nuzzled me again.
“I love you too, Yoke.”
His head rose and fell and rose and fell, as if he were agreeing with me.
We led our horses into the paddock to mount. The cowgirls brought out mounting stairs to help us into the saddle. My heart soared. I felt Yoke and I understood each other. My daughters felt they had a connection with their horses, Nevada and Dude, as well. We were eager to begin our adventure in the foothills of the mountain.
The cowgirls split up, just as my husband and I did when hiking with the five children. One guide in front of our party, one guide at the end. Up and up the side of the mountain, we climbed, bordering a pine forest. Douglas fir, lodgepole, ponderosa, and mountain hemlock filled my senses with Christmas and the pines we decorate in our home. Hardwoods dotted the landscape as well. Black cottonwood, paper birch, and quaking aspen offered definition to the green backdrop of the mountain.
We lumbered, or rather our horses lumbered up well-worn and rutted trails. I reminded Yoke, gently, to remember my knees as he came too close to a few pines in the forest. He was attuned with me and the ride was leisurely. Enjoyable.
As I rocked left and right in my saddle, I asked one of the cowgirls how much snow they get in one winter. In this area of Montana, the snow can start in late September or October. In one season, they usually get about six feet of snow. It’s the drifting that’s a problem, she said. Some areas can become eight feet deep. The winds are wicked here by the mountain. The temperatures last year made it impossible to keep the horses’ drinking water from freezing. The cowgirl said they had to evacuate the ranch and take the horses to a lower elevation.
Both guides said they “grew up with horses.” They boarded their horses here at the ranch. Horses are intelligent and connect with their humans. I felt this to be true. Yoke showed me he understood me. He watched out for me on the trail.
As we returned to the paddock and dismounted, the cowgirls gave us treats to give to the horses. As I walked back to Yoke to give him his treat, I thanked him for a great ride.
“Thanks for remembering I was on your back. And at your sides.”
Yoke nuzzled me again after his treat. One of the cowgirls noticed and smiled at me.
“He loves me,” I told her.
“Actually,” she said. “He’s just scratching his head against you.”
Nuts! All this time I thought Yoke and I had an understanding.
“At least he chose you to scratch against instead of the paddock fence,” the cowgirl said.
With a mournful face, I nodded.
I still like to think of my interaction with Yoke in the vein of affection. Possibly horses have a different method of showing affection to humans. It’s called usefulness. Humans use horses for work, enjoyment, or to get places. So, why can’t a horse feel comfortable enough around us to scratch that itch. It’s like when you ask a family member or friend to scratch a place that you can’t reach. You feel safe enough with that person to ask them to help you. It’s a positive feeling.
Do you talk to horses? Or any animal really? I talk to animals all the time. Even if I misunderstand their actions, I still enjoy the conversation. And the nuzzling. Please share any experience you may have of talking to animals in the comments section of Camping with Five Kids. Then go outside to get a bit of fresh air. Talk to the birds. The deer or the dogs. Enjoy the interaction!