Photo © 2022 Sasha Hoffman ~ Edited with Prisma app Chapter 23 One day in June, I was chatting with one of my co-workers at the feed store about Raven and how I knew nothing of her history. My co-worker mentioned an animal communicator that she had enlisted to help with her dogs, and how the over-the-phone … Continue reading The past lives of Max & Raven
Raven’s Story
An offer of help
Photo © 2022 Sasha Hoffman ~ Edited with Prisma app Chapter 22 I had come to Rendezvous Ranch to attend a women's horse camping clinic, but instead ended up on an unexpected horse camping trip with the owner of the ranch and her friend. It didn't even enter my mind to be disappointed; I thought of it … Continue reading An offer of help
After the fall
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ Edited with Prisma app Chapter 21 So, we had a setback. Raven was not ready to be ridden without some more communication work on my part. She was not confident with me on her back, just as she was still not quite confident with me on the ground. I had pushed … Continue reading After the fall
Wake up call
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ Edited with Prisma app Chapter 20 One day I asked one of the barn owners if she would be willing to take her old, experienced gelding out with me and Raven for a ride around the grassy track. I had not ridden Raven outside yet, just a few very … Continue reading Wake up call
Fire-breathing dragon
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ Edited with Prisma app Chapter 19 At the end of March, Simone and I asked the barn owners if we could move Ryker to another pen. We needed to be able to work with our horses without the separation anxiety they experienced when one or the other was taken out of … Continue reading Fire-breathing dragon
The conversation
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman Chapter 18 One Friday afternoon at the end of March, I had been working with Raven in her paddock, just as the hay truck was delivering the horses' evening meal. She was in her halter with a long lead rope attached, and as soon as the flakes of hay hit the … Continue reading The conversation
My year of finding magic
My hopes for 2019 © 2021 Sasha Hoffman Chapter 17 At the beginning of 2019, I bought a little wall calendar. In January, I wrote at the top: My year of finding magic in the world & in my life - and making magic happen. Plant the seed, care for it, and it will grow. I … Continue reading My year of finding magic
Moving forward
Dirty ponies after a roll in the arena © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ edited with Prisma app Chapter 16 The first week of December, Simone and I tried something new - our ponies would get pretty upset if one or the other left their pen to go down to the barn, as demonstrated by my fraught … Continue reading Moving forward
Finding our way in the dark
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ edited with Prisma app Chapter 15 Fall was transitioning into winter, and Raven was growing in a thick winter coat. Her ribs had started filling in, and she was looking healthier. She had just settled into her big new pen a few days prior with her buddy Ryker in the … Continue reading Finding our way in the dark
A moment of quiet magic
Photo © 2021 Sasha Hoffman ~ edited with Prisma app Chapter 14 I started keeping a new journal about my time with Raven, for a purpose. That first week of November, after she had moved to her new home at the barn, I wrote: In writing down our journey here, I hope to keep myself accountable … Continue reading A moment of quiet magic
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