Notes from Wild Cove

Gratitude Day 6

11/29/2022

Horses mirror back what they see in us. Grace is a kind, generous spirit that a horse can trust. I’m grateful for all the amazing people Sapphire has introduced me to. Sometimes, visitors to the farm become our friends. 💞🐴#gratitude #wildcovefarm

Gratitude Day 5

11/28/2022

Meet Agnes: A 2022 Graduate of the Fast-track Masterclass for Aspiring Horse Whispers. I hope everyone reading this has a friend like Agnes (if you do, send a text right now and tell them you’re grateful.) Agnes volunteered to farm-sit for a week this summer so I could take my longest vacation in five years. By the way, Agnes had very little experience with horses prior to her offer. The herd was (mostly) well-behaved, and Agnes went above and beyond. Not only did she feed, water, and clean corrals; she brushed, walked, and managed Sis’s boot regime. AND she captured Stella who broke into the green pasture. (Leave it to Stella!) “Agnes, I’m grateful for all your encouragement, support of Wild Cove Farm, care for the horses, and YEARS of friendship.” # gratitude #wildcovefarm

Gratitude Day 4

11/27/2022

I’m grateful for my coaching clients willing to face their struggles and trust the horses and me to support their process; and I’m grateful for this generous testimonial:

“As Erin and I debriefed, she helped me focus on accepting my anxiety and move through it. Stella certainly made me remember that inner peace is still achievable. My nightmares have diminished in frequency, but most of all, when they occur I can recognize them for what they are: fiction. Instead of dwelling on them after I awaken, I find that now they seem more transparent and more easily moved on from. I hope to work with both Erin and Stella at Wild Cove Farm again!” ~Pat

Gratitude Day 3

11/26/2022

Every horse has a story. Stella’s includes chasing cows, a six-inch scar on her forehead, and five owners in four years. She stared me down from inside her small corral for over a year before I did the right thing and called owner #4. Stella isn’t easy. She’s irreverent, stubborn, wicked smart, intuitive, and fiercely loyal. “Stella, I’m forever grateful for you.” #wildcovefarm #gratitude

Gratitude Day 2

11/26/2022

Thanksgiving: Gratitude from all of us at Wild Cove Farm

11/26/2022

Today, I pause with deep gratitude for all the gifts I’ve received being the steward of Wild Cove Farm: generosity of friends, kindness of strangers, courageous clients, hard lessons, and ample laughter! And of course, the horses, who I lean into daily for wisdom and comfort in a difficult world. It’s all humbling. The power of gratitude is no secret, it increases the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin (making us feel happier) builds our capacity for empathy (improving our relationships) and improves our outlook on life (resilience!). With this in mind, I’ve committed to posting a gratitude photo from Wild Cove Farm daily until January 1, 2023. I invite you to share images as well. Let’s pause, and be grateful together. Happy Thanksgiving.

September 2022 Retreats

9/4/2022

Wild Cove Farm's September 2022 Retreats

Partnering with horses to release unprocessed trauma. No prior horse experience necessary; and you don't have to be flexible! Our guest presenter, Roxanne Best, is a 200RYT Yoga Instructor specializing in Trauma Sensitive Yoga. Learn more at:
https://www.wildcovefarm.com/return-to-you-yoga-retreat.html

Partnering with horses to navigate the challenges of life after military service. Free to women veterans, and registration is required due to limited space. Special guest facilitator, Sarah Blum, is a Vietnam Veteran Nurse and author of Women Under Fire: Abuse in the Military.
Learn more about this retreat at: https://www.wildcovefarm.com/women-veterans-retreat.html

Celebrating National Dog Day!

8/26/2022

We definitely celebrate National Dog Day at Wild Cove Farm! (Are there horse people who don't love dogs??? I've never met one.) This is Jill. She's a highly-trained Farm Shitzu (from a long lineage of Farm Shitzus). She's in charge of monitoring deer and rabbit activity. She also keeps an eye on questionable human behavior. Jill keeps a house in town because it's hard to be "on" all the time.

The Fourth of July Fixing the Irrigation and My Embrace of Social Media

7/18/2022

I spent the Fourth of July crouched in a four-foot deep hole trying to align a dresser coupling. Know what a dresser coupling is? I didn’t either, until the main line on the irrigation system broke and water started filling Sis and Stellas’ corral.

Saturday morning, I spent four hours pulling Knapweed out of the pasture (which I’ve learned came in via the irrigation water).

Last year, I paid $200 a ton for hay; this year it’s $380 a ton.

Just over a month ago my insurance company decided not to renew my policy because one of my certifications lapsed during the pandemic.

And my new sprinkler in the upper pasture is psychotic.

My shoulders are sunburnt, my lower back hurts, my hands won’t scrub clean, and my forearms are covered in scrapes that sting in the shower.

And I have less time to ride horses than I did before I owned the farm.

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I recently spent an evening around the Solo Stove with my long-time friend, and owner of Barefoot Ranch in Omak, Clare Painter. We drank wine, watched Manastash Ridge turn golden in the evening light, and talked about what it's going to take to keep our farms and horse-businesses alive through 2022. We’re both skilled at facilitating horse/human experiences, but not so skilled at marketing what we do. Let's face it, we’re more comfortable on horses than on social media. Heavy sigh. We focused on the beauty of the landscape in silence.

Clare spoke first, she told me about seeing one of the girls who’s spent time with the horses at Barefoot Ranch. She came to the ranch at a low time in her life. But as of last week, her hair is a fresh shade of pink (which matches her new girlfriend’s hair) and she was proud to announce she’s no longer homeless.

I shared how a client recently had an ah-ha moment leading a horse through a challenge course when she realized her problem isn’t her ex, but her own boundaries.

And I remain in utter amazement at the Body Talk / Horse Wisdom Workshop when the horses laid down as the clients approached the arena.

The stories continued. A little levity arrived.

Clare and I agreed, this is a rough patch. We can’t control the price of hay, or when breaks in the irrigation system will demand attention. But we also can’t unsee all our clients’ faces when they're mesmerized by the velvet softness of a horse’s muzzle, or when they understand themselves in a new way.
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I often tell clients that life is about growth and stretching ourselves beyond what’s comfortable and easy. I know this is required to live in alignment with my values and life’s purpose. I’m embracing social media and Wild Cove Farm’s online presence because it’s part of bringing people and horses together.

Welcome to Notes from Wild Cove.