I always say that I am about adventures, but the past year has been beyond adventurous in ways few of us ever imagined. Instead of adventures that took us to wonderful places, these adventures challenged our courage, personal integrity, and leadership skills.

This past year, many of us have had to step up at local and community levels to lend a hand and become leaders. We have learned to be brave and strong in our families, among friends, in our riding clubs or religious organizations. Wherever we gather, many of us have had opportunities to reach out to others and do what we can to help, support, and provide guidance.

We will continue to have these opportunities this year as we heal from an insidious, deadly world-wide disease and as we heal a nation filled with racial strife, political upheaval, and darkness.

Anger, confusion, loss, isolation, distrust—these have become common words in our vocabulary in a country where we all were so used to comfort, security, friends, and the luxuries of disposable incomes.

As we go through these coming days and months, let us recall the words of compassionate leaders who remind us that we have more in common than we have differences. Martin Luther King Jr told us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Many around us are hurting in so many ways—food insecurity, pain of isolation, lack of work, lack of shelter, loss of loved ones. Let us challenge ourselves to each do what we can to reach out and help.

Those of us with horses are extremely fortunate to have these beautiful animals as peacekeepers and companions on our life journeys. One look into my horse’s eyes and I see the best of what I could be: peaceful, accepting, loving. Let us all strive to be more like our horses.

Let me know how I can help you. We have online classes to help with your horse keeping and land management issues, as well as a wide variety of resources available here on the Horses for Clean Water website. We have some creative ideas in store for virtual farm tours—which are always inspiring and fun! I love helping people through private consultations, and here at Sweet Pepper Ranch, Matt is teaching lessons and clinics. We also offer haul-ins, so come ride with us! We have great facilities and lots of obstacles to try out.

This summer, our horse motel will be open, along with our cute little glamping tent—personal distancing approved! Plenty of living quarter hook-ups, too. And depending on how things go with the vaccine, we might even be able to offer a Cowgirl Retreat by the end of the summer. Fingers crossed!

Let us each do our best to make this a blessed New Year. Let us share what we can, be respectful of others, take care of Planet Earth, get the vaccine when it’s our turn, and enjoy our horses.

Alayne

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
– Dalai Lama