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Horse & Her Retreats
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23.01.2022 Today was a day filled with soo much LOVE. I was up at 4am feeding puppies and with a clear sky the stars were just magical. After breakfast my partner, son and Bessie dog started a fire out in the paddock for us to cook our lunch on. More puppy feeding and cuddling, nap time for Rueben and a phone catch up with the gorgeous Niki Wells to fuel passion, purpose and future plans for Horses and Her Retreats. My mum, son, cousin and I had a social distance style Pony Picnic ...lunch (that is that you BYO pony or two). We rode horses, chatted away, had cups of tea, cupcakes and played trucks in the dirt. As the sun started setting we were joined by my nieces who with Reuben enjoyed riding Sweety, sitting by the fire and running around pretending to be horses. I still need to feed the pups again before I go to bed . The washing from yesterday is just hanging out on the line and the kettle that broke a week ago is yet to be replaced. Today though was just one of those lovely sunny Winter days where we got to simply be outdoors soaking in all the brilliance of family, connection, animals, nature and LOvE !
23.01.2022 It’s amazing when we open our soul to ‘more than meets the eye’, the simple joys that are awaiting us in everyday experiences. I have been feeling a lot lately, like keeping my house clean is such an arduous task, like a price I must pay for being a mother. It is a feeling that I despise. I have been fighting against it like a disappointed toddler resulting in outbursts of rage and fury at those who dare to mess. Today though, I recognised what had gone astray. What had cha...Continue reading
22.01.2022 Hello my lovely ladies. I've been in a little cocoon the last few months filling up my own vessel with love while navigating these changes. My heart and soul is now overflowing and busting to share the wisdom of the divine feminine and horses with you all. Get excited for some BIG MAGIC!!! Xx Jess, Jorge, Digby, Bessie and her bundling puppies
19.01.2022 We are just BUSTING to start seeing our women again!! But we know it's a little while away yet so Jess and I will be catching up online with YOU! During this FB Live we will be chatting about our unique experiences of the last couple of months and we would LOVE you to get involved by messaging us your answers to the questions that can be found on the event page below. This Thursday at 7.30pm. Grab your favy-fav ISO companion (a glass of wine, a cup of chai or a tea - what ever has been floating your boat during lock down!) and get involved!
17.01.2022 Sometimes the sun is shinning, the birds are chirping, the kids are playing and we are still just not feeling it. I think that is Bessie today. She absolutely loves going for big walks and leaving the kids at home . Sound familiar? Like us, dogs also need to be able to fill their own cups to give to their families. Mothers or not we all have these days and sometimes sharing the realness of it with friends and family can lighten the load. Bessie you are awesome and we simply love you so very much .
17.01.2022 "Revealed in the light of the distant stars Destiny and faith guide me from afar When the path forward seems unclear I will embrace my faith by releasing fear... The essence of Horse is ever my muse A symbol of vitality, his strength renews My burdens feel lighter, my visions align I remember to claim what is already mine O’ benevolent one I kneel before your grace As you so gently breathe upon my face I accept the blessing and remember the day I beheld the free spirit that is your way It seems long ago, but a moment has been With a beat of my heart I can feel you again. Your beautiful form is a work of art And your spirit carries a regal heart" ~ Kim McElroy Prints Available https://spiritofhorse.com/portfolio-item/regal-heart/ Check out my new Regal Heart eCard https://spiritofhorsecards.com/ I met Wouter in 2009 when his owner Kris of Starry Knight Friesians asked me to visit her farm in Wisconsin and photograph some of her horses. It took time for the right mix of inspirations to come together for his portrait. Wouter is an incredibly beautiful and inspiring horse to paint. But how to select from the hundreds of breathtaking photos she had taken off him in addition to the ones I captured? Time and again we kept looking for what Kris wrote in an email Wouter is so regal, but so incredibly loving and sweet. That became our barometer for choosing the right images. Part of the inspiration came to me in a meditation, that of Wouter running in a field of dandelions. Kris confirmed my inspiration and told me that dandelions are called paardbloomen (horse flowers) in the Netherlands. If you look closely you’ll see that the dandelion seeds are rising up to turn into stars. Finally the right combination of elements came together, and I’m sure you’ll agree Wouter is breathtaking, and that his portrait expresses Wouter’s Regal Heart
17.01.2022 I heard this story years ago and have been thinking about it each day lately not knowing who wrote it and then the gorgeous Valeria D’agostino shared it.
15.01.2022 While we don't share many photos of Reuben online I do absolutely love being able to share some of the joys from my childhood with him. Reuben who is just two years old loves to dink his Mum on our pony Sweety. He giggles while we bounce a long at the trott and happily canters along while singing songs we make up. How lucky am I to have these memories and to be able to make countless more magical ones with my own little family! This photo is of my sister and I while camping... as a family (of course that includes bringing our horses too) at Lake Albacutya. X Jess
15.01.2022 Today we have remembered the Men, Women and horses who sacrificed soo much for us. 136,000 horses were sent to war and only one came home. My little family spe...nt this Anzac Day at home reflecting with our War horse Waler Digby. It was lovely to honour our shared history together giving Digby carrots, fresh grass and pats as we took our time to remember all those who fought to create a better future for all of us. This time last year Digby was still in the outback Northern Territory likely searching for food and water under the harsh Australian drought conditions. In less than twelve months he has adapted to a new world of supporting humans. Lucky for Digby his work is much gentler than the work of his ancestors; yet still a powerful way of supporting humans to develop in their capacity of connection, integrity, trust and courage. Pre-Coronavirus Digby had been booked to attend Anzac Day at Flemington Race Course today. Many families would have been able to meet one of the last remaining Old Blood Line War Horses and learn about the incredible bond between man and horse that helped save our Nation. The last few weeks Digby would have been working as a leadership coach at Collingwood Children’s Farm with children and adults as well as teaching in the Farm’s new initiative of True Courage Leadership programs. This initiative is where each Corporate Organisation or Sporting Team that participates in the program also provides a Non-For-Profit organisation with a gift of the same powerful and transformative program. Just before Lockdown Digby and our horses ran their first True Courage program with Oakley Charges War Horses Footy Club. Watching these young men being guided by each other to walk up to Digby with their eyes closed was immensely moving for each of us. Leaning into vulnerability, building authentic trust and honouring the integrity of the team was something each young man did in a manner that our Anzac’s could only be proud of. May we continue to love big, be true to ourselves, our loved ones and honour the Anzac Spirit. Lest We Forget.
12.01.2022 The best thing you will see today!
08.01.2022 An update on beautiful Digby
07.01.2022 Just sharing these pictures from today. I grew up with a golden retriever called Molly and she was such a big part of our family. I remember finding her Christmas Day. My siblings and I had been doubting that Santa was true but seeing this gorgeous pup we just knew Santa was real as when Mum and Dad said no they really meant no and there was just no way they would get us a puppy for Christmas. Molly would come for big rides with me on my pony around the Farm. If she caught ...a rabbit she would never hurt it, although on occasions she would head for a swim in the damn with one. When she finished her swim she would place the wet and confused rabbit on the damn bank as we watched it slowly begin to hop away. I taught Molly how to find kittens and she really could smell out kittens instead of just cats. We would go hunting in the timber and she would bark when she smelt kittens. I would lift up all the old logs and check how old the kittens looked. When they were old enough to leave their Mum my siblings and I would catch them and tame them. One year we re-homed 46 wild kittens. When we got them home she would just want to love them and when they hissed at her, she would whimper yet still stay close. When Molly had pups she would shift them to warmer or cooler places during the day depending on the temperature. She would carry the first one to where she wanted them and then bark and wait for us kids to follow her orders. I am super grateful to have our own family golden retriever that my son is growing up with (we got Bessie a month before I had Reuben). Reuben and Bessie get along great and he loves playing with the pups too (what toddler wouldn’t?). When he is inside he is usually still pretending to feed the puppies and horses. All the pups have great homes to go to and I am excited for them and their new families to share a dogs life time of love, support and friendship.
07.01.2022 Ah ha! A memory and a reminder to enter the 4 rooms of my being each day to feel the best I can right now. Sending huge amounts of love to each of you Niki
07.01.2022 When was the last time that you closed your eyes and soaked in all of the sounds around you? When I’m outside with children I often play a game of how many different bird sounds can you here. Usually we all get different numbers but each time it surprises me just how many there actually are! Each call is so unique and I always find it hard to pick my favourite. If you haven’t been taking time lately to pause then maybe you could put a simple reminder in your phone. This is Digby pausing with me on Mother’s Day just before we headed out for a ride with Jorge and my Mum.
03.01.2022 I wonder if there will be any moments you can seize on your Sunday to do a little meditation? I wonder if you will find yourself in nature today... This could be the perfect chance to take 5 and check in with your breath and body
02.01.2022 hello from Jess & Reuben
