A day in the Life of Lily - Winter Addition

No one knows what winter is like until they've lived in Northern Michigan - or anywhere above the 45th parallel for that matter. During these long, cold winters, our older horses take off from riding or training of any kind. There isn't much for them to do accept one incredibly important task.

Just like our grandmothers and grandfathers, older horses know the ropes and how to navigate short days and long nights. They know how to handle the winter storms, the chaos that wind and ice can bring, how to navigate slippery footing and less than ideal conditions.

Lily is now 18 years old and without a doubt, the matriarch of our small herd. I enjoy keeping them all together out in the big field where they can have the most important conversations over flicked ears and tails, quiet moments that speak louder than any amount of chatting that humans do during the day. At night, they are kept in pairs or in their own stall with a small paddock to go out to. Lily's presence is the most important for our younger mares. They look to her for decisions about where to go, when to move, and how to react to deer, trees breaking off, or big snow plows shaving the ice of our road. She enjoys keeping an eye on everyone, including Magic and Javi. Believe it or not, if she cannot see where they are at, she will call for Javi, waiting to here his shrill whinny that states, "I'm here, over here, mom." No matter where the herd is, there is really only one horse I need to bring into the stable and that horse is Lily. All the others will follow like baby ducklings headed back to the barn.

During this month of LOVE, there is one other fact that is important to mention about Lily. As much as she doesn't seem to care about her little knight in shining armor, Caesar truly is in love with her. From the moment they met, 8 years ago, Caesar has wanted nothing more than to be by her side. There is only one other horse that he actually enjoys the company of, and that is Raven. I find it fascinating how horses, just like humans are so particular about their chosen buddies, and yet, it is obvious to anyone who quietly observes a herd of horses over time. Lily brings Caesar comfort, and even a reason for being. During these last few weeks, he has struggled with winter laminitis. And just like a loved one who is holed up in the hospital, we had to place him in a quiet stall that could be filled with bedding, a foot deep for his little hooves. He couldn't go out in the other pastures with Lily for a bit. During those days, Caesar fell into somewhat of a depression. He truly wasn't happy - number one because of the pain he was in, but also because he couldn't have his girl by his side. Lily gives him a sense of comfort like she does with every client she chooses to work with. There is something about her energy - and almost everyone who works with her uses that same word over and over... Lily has a stillness that is grounding, motherly, safe and anchoring. The irony is that she is a Paso Fino, a breed known for being hot and overly sensitive. If only they met Lily in a coaching session. I will admit, she is a ball of energy out on the trail. She's all fire when we're riding, but when she is at home, with her herd, she is a calming presence that slows everyone down, into the moment, holding stillness as a gift just waiting to be shared. Every horse and human that comes to our farm feels the peace that Lily offers so willingly. When we have a winter like this one, we are forever grateful for horses like Lily that always greet us with a soft whinny, are kind and patient during those winter storms and keep everyone comforted. She knows spring will come sooner than we think. Horses don't worry about tomorrow. We are here for today and that's all that matters.