Author: Stefanie

Juego Del Duende

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V Espada     Spanish/Portuguese Andalusian

What happens  when truly special black mare allows her human to 
Internet shop for a date for her? She finds a truly special White stallion
 and create a wondrous palomino Filly. (come on! Everybody knows white and black
makes yellow!  Sheesh)


   
“Saphiro”     Portuguese Luisitano



Meet Juego del Duende…
              

Juego del Duende     Purebred Andalusian S/P

Duende came into this world on a rainy morning, May23 2013. Right from the very first it was clear she had a mind all her
own and things were not to be controlled by the likes of a mere human mortal, such as I. I had so  carefully
planned the time of year so that it would be green, warm and DRY. ( It NEVER rains in Merritt, remember!) 
I had a tidy, safe pen built inside my herds pasture so mom and baby would be safe, yet still a part of the herd
while they got used to everything. Right….


‘spady was due on May 21st….On May 20th, the heavens opened up and it poured rain for three days straight turning all the pens, fields et al into soupy, slippery slimy messes! After a ton of head scratching, calls to my good friends up at Can a Mex farms (foal out a ton of TB’s every year) we decided to leave her in the field with her buddies as a best second.  So I awoke with a start on May 23rd. peered out the rain soaked window and as Erin was working with me at the time, I tossed a bucket of ice water on her and we both bolted out to the field where the herd was inspecting this tiny, damp, scrawny creature. Indy was trying to herd it away from poor ‘Spady and IV was standing guard whilst Cita was standing stock still from the shock of what was transpiring. We got all the potential Baby Tramplers squared away in the Mud Pen (too bad for them:) and scooted mama and Babe into the old barn in the field out of rain and began our inspection.



 Well now! With Saphiro a Cremello, and Espada true black, that left the only color option being Buckskin. Clearly that was not to be the case. We had us a baby palomino…and really? and what else would I have? I knew it was a boy and even sexed it at first that way, so imagine my surprise when he squatted and peed out the back end….What the Heck is going on here? LOL Welcome to the world, little one!

Espada has proven to be the most astonishingly good mother, tolerant, firm, sharing of her filly with visitors whose energy was good, and leading her away when she wasn’t comfortable. Completely at ease with the dogs and Sage in particular was fascinated and in love! Through out the entire process, ‘Spady has been a queen.!



 Choosing a name for the baby a daunting task that finally ended in Duende. Duende is believed to be the hardest word to translate form Spanish into English. Loosely it means ” the power of artist when creating their true souls art and it causes anyone witnessing that art to get goosebumps as a result” Or something like that.Usually linked to the bullfight or Flamenco dancing.  Google it and you will find Lorca’s Essay ” Teoria y Juego del Duende”The Theory and Play of Duende. Simply fascinating and is in the old Spanish/Andalusian dialect.  She so clearly is Duende! 

  We had been scheduled to do a Bridle Horse Demo at the Andalusian Show in July, and were all prepared, but 2 weeks before, Duende came up dead lame on her left hind and after a corse of antibiotics and wrapping, I made the decision to forego the show to not further stress it as it healed. So next year we try again! As you may have noticed, I shaved her mane and forelock off for the show. Spanish horses are presented shaved…even their tails…but I couldn’t make myself do that! It sure grew in thick and curly…its the BEST to ruffle your fingers through…:)

 Its now November and I made yet another decision to not wean until spring. With a single foal who has great manners and a stern mom who is slowly weaning her anyway I thought ” Why add stress?”  She ponies of Espada, leads around the yard by herself, has her feet done, brushes and is learning to tie. All in all….this has been a delight and after losing two foals with my old mare Mia, incredibly healing and rewarding for me. I feel so blessed and excited for our future….and pausing to consider all the “Airs Above the Ground” she now seems to be growing into….:) 

What a delight. What a journey. What a Gift….
 

What if?

Posted on by Stefanie in Blog
Ever had one of those thoughts that you just kinda went…”Nah? Where did that come from?
You know, the ones that sneak out somehow through all those internal chatterbox, gear grinding, regurgative thoughts that sadly we mostly are not even aware that we run as an endless loop tape? Yeah those very cool thoughts. This one that I feel compelled to share tonight came a few years ago, whilst pondering life changes and feeling a certain degree of well, frankly…UTTER CHAOS! Somehow seems apropo for the times….

I suppose I feel the urge to share because we so often forget this simple truth and its inherent freedom and responsibility. 
But interestingly enough, our animals just know this to be true. They don’t stand around in their little herds pondering how to be a snazzier trotter then everyone else. Nor do they harbor small, nasty thoughts about the way so-and-so’s mane is always SUCH a mess! (ok…ok.Maybe I have heard Cita mention IV’s mane to ‘Spady a time or two) 
Nor do they belittle themselves when they missed that lead change. Or secretly wished they were a different color. Agonize over their past. Wish they were taller, slimmer….
 Nope, they simply Live in the Now…where we all do, but us ‘Egocentric’ humans well, we forget, beat ourselves up, compare ourselves favorably or unfavorably to others, second guess ourselves and just generally stop believing in our dreams. Why is that???? 
Oh to be more humble and learn from the Masters…..

 
What If?
   I am so Magnificent,
So Huge, So Powerful,
So Gentle, So Wise.
So Purely Divine?
What If?
What Then………?

The Un-covering….

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”It’s impossible” said pride. “It’s risky” said experience. “It’s pointless” said reason. “Give it a try” whispered the heart – Anonymous
On the eve of the Winter Solstice, when its said that the Apocalypse will occur, my musings are certainly of a reflective nature. It’s infinity fascinating that the word Apocalypse is  Ancient Greek for “the un-covering”. I would have to say that has been a theme in my world of late, digging down into my beliefs and patterns, examining my dreams, longings and  aspirations. Those of you that know me, know that for as long as I can remember I have had two Big loves in life, Horses and Art. These two things have filled with both immeasurable Joy and Challenge. I am sifting through big ole belief systems around the fact that neither of them can earn you money and if you do, you will end up hating them. Its kinda cool that I look at that belief  with eyes of ‘now’ and see the fallacy in them,but deep childhood ingrained unconscious beliefs can die a painfully slow death.
 I feel an incredible gratitude for being able to have not only survived, but thrived off daring to believe that I can have a rich and abundant career from my love of of horses and granted I feel I will never tire, nor ease to desire to grow and learn and still find every moment spent with these creatures mind-blowing and humbling, I have (much to my surprise often times)managed to accomplish a solid toe-hold on a Grand Life Lived with Horses. 
But….
 
There is this Other Piece.
My Art. And yep, I know horses are Art. Absolutely. And I have no intention whatsoever to stop that aspect of my souls work………….but….
My Art has laid dormant for years. Well, ok. Its actually gone on some great long train and unicycle journey somewhere far more interesting then hanging out. Looking at it now, Gee, must have been about…’98 was the last real time I created anything along these lines. Yeah. Been awhile.Every year its been the same; something like ” I’ll have all this time in the winter and I’ll do art then” and, oh it just never happens. I have become aware that I am the master of keeping Busy, with a capital B…and this huge denied piece of me goes nu-nurtured. I made a solemn vow this fall that I WOULD sculpt this winter and even enlisted the aid of a Life Coach to keep me accountable. Drastic? Yep, had to be. Horses and Art are who I am and they truly are one and the same in my reality.
Why am I sharing this? Because it scares the ever lovin’ poop outa me to go Public with this. Its a big step, but its where I am going in the future and to be honest? I am so excited! I am learning to surrender and to embrace all that I am and daring to  allow myself to go for the Big Dream.  Lodestar’s meaning is after all…”guiding light, inspiration”. I would be remiss if I was constantly encouraging people to “Live Your Dreams!” and I shirked my own.
So, here is my first clay for bronze sculpture. My inner critic sees all sorts of things wrong with it here, but….I know and see how he will look finished and I have been so so so amazed and immersed in the process……………what a rush! My one only real compliant is IT TO SMALL!!!! Far to hard to get in there with my sticky lil fingers and do what I want, but….patience and learning. The next one will be substantially bigger…yet this one…..this one is special beyond everything. 
                                                                                                He is the my First Born after a very long and trauma and drama ridden pregnancy and as such, deserves much tolerance and my utmost respect.

Santa Ynez Vaquero Days.

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Its now two days since I have returned home to the Great Frozen North after a simply perfect weekend in California at the Santa Ynez Vaquero Show and Sale with Bruce Sandifer being the Honored Vaquero this year and all my “Colorado” sistahs  in attendance as well made for the perfect reason for jumping on a  plane and heading south for a few days…

And what a brilliant time it was! Friday was spent ogling all the trade show vendors with everything from 18th century bits and spurs, turquoise and silver jewelry, hats, new gear and saddle makers, books, music and laughter by the bucket load. Add to that a glass of California wine, great friends and sunshine, the day sped by. The evening gala dinner and auction celebrated Bruce’s enormous contribution to preserving the traditions and passing on Classical Californio Bridle Horsemanship. Truly one of the great ones, and yet humble, humorous and inspiring. 

Saturday was an eclectic mixture of wine tasting in one of the seemingly endless venues for this favored pastime in the picturesque town of Santa Ynez, more shopping, Bruce’s presentation on the gear and its use in the balance/signal system, and then a BIG treat. We were permitted to tour a private collection of Vaquero tack and art and to say it was completely overwhelming was an understatement! Every millimeter of hanging space, standing space, wall space, air space was filled with silver bits, spurs, saddles, artifacts, books and artwork that would fit! To see and touch the beauty and memories held in each of the many thousand pieces was an experience I’ll cherish for ever!


Sunday was back at the show, and I ordered a new felt hat (yay), visited with Bruce about reatas( preferably ones not chewed into seven pieces:), shopped, more wine tasting, and by now it was getting bad! When you are wine tasting in Albertson’s Food Stores, its getting bad…….and then over for dinner to Karen and Wally’s new place for supper. It was Karen and Wally’s place I have ridden with Bruce the last two years and they  recently moved from Colorado to California (the winters are better…or more wine, not sure which) and imagine my surprise when we drive up to a gorgeous property with log homes on it! and Canadian flags on the gate! It was Pioneer Log Homes out of Williams Lake. What a place! Simply stunning and perfectly suited for entertaining all their very cool friends.


Monday. Monday was lesson day. Overlooking the ocean in Santa Barbara. 

Under swaying palm trees and blooming bougainvilleas we once again were treated to Bruce sharing his knowledge and humor with us. I LOVE one of his statements. “Do less, WAAAAAY less. Just do more of it.” Just another piece of subtly, refinement, feel, and awareness. So breathtaking when its right…what a treat! this journey of immersing myself in the exploration of this fine old Art has been so intensely rewarding and never have I felt so at peace and excited to be riding and being with my horses. It just flat feels GOOD!

Linda’s “Magic”, 1/2 Arab, 1/2 Saphiro and the reason Espada is bred…

Then, hugs all around and it was scuttle of to the airport ( even their airport was beautiful!) for the journey home. And even that was very cool, having had an unexpected and thought provoking conversation with another passenger on the joys of this brilliant woven tapestry we call life. I stumbled off the plane full onto midnight West Coast fog and rain, and pointed my faithful Dodge home thru the Canyon and home, home again to my very welcoming Sage and Griffy and horses all. What a trip………….Thank you:)