Living And Being With Horses And Nature
Living and Being
Waltzing Horses Wellness Center
Waltzing Horses Wellness Center invites horses in their retirement, resting, and young horses to live with complete care and in harmony with the land. What does that mean? Each horse lives with a unique combination of mind, body, and spirit needs. The climate and weather dictate the environment and needed care. The Morton barn/ indoor arena, outdoor-oversized open dry-lot, and 4 pastures for rotational grazing divided over 40 plus acres provide the living choices. The combination of young and old is fantastic for creating movement and herd order. There are several permanent horses who help set the herd stability. A new horse gets introduced to each horse one at at time, before living with the entire herd. All the fencing is new or in excellent shape. Safe fencing means safe horses. The horses are handled twice a day to come in and out of the barn. Good behavior, safety, and an opportunity for inspection are part of the daily standards. On occasion, they can stay out, but that depends on the multitude of daily decisions.
Inspiration and Standards
Healthy land practices support healthy horse practices.
Horses have access to water, feed, movement, rest, and socialization without being compromised. A heartfelt goal is to care for and respect the land, so it supports the grazing, moving, and socializing nature of horses. Clean, well maintained, and not over used spaces are the basis of the living practice.
Footing and weather influence daily decisions. The indoor arena can double as a turnout in challenging weather with feed stations set-up on the edges, so the horses can eat, roll, and be with their friends. Sensitivity to the land reduces horses living in mud, burdened by bugs, subject to beating sun, and more. The topsoil is fragile, so caring for the land means good grazing too.
As owner of the farm and personal manager of the horses, Sue Eoff finds a freedom for taking right action, ensuring comfort, and care as needed, and not just on a fixed schedule. There is peace of mind working with flexible, full care. The strength of it all working effectively and smoothly is in the attention to details.
Day-To-Day Life
Day-to-day life is a dynamic path which requires many small decisions made throughout a 24 hour period. Horses are designed for movement and friendships. The ideal is for the horses to live as a herd, but individual needs might require different lengths of time in the field according to stages of grass and being where the barn/shelters supports them according to weather.
Managing a "pasture" horse requires the same attention to detail as a working horse. When the horses come in, it is into a clean, well-bedded stall with abundant forage and hand filled water buckets. The bedding and feed are according to what each horse needs to be comfortable and properly fed. There are different hay choices to compliment the stages of grass development.
During winter, horses are usually out during the day and in at night and during hot summer months, horses are often in during the day and out at night.
The house is adjacent to the barn and fields, so the horses are part of the family. They are observed and interacted with throughout the day. Plus, Sue is the grounds caretaker, so she has a daily and ongoing interaction with the care of the stable and land. It all creates a mindful tapestry.
ASPects
Retirement
Kentucky Grass
Kentucky Grass
All horses are welcome, but often horses living in retirement are use to full care and require transitioning back to being a herd horse. Horses that are use to stalls need time to adjust to extended turnout. They learn to go with the flow of the herd and not a strict schedule. Young horses might need to learn about being in a stall. All aspects and ranges of living requirements are covered--turnout and barn time.
Kentucky Grass
Kentucky Grass
Kentucky Grass
Kentucky is famous for its' grass and abundance of it. Horses with or without special metabolic needs require seasonal observation as the grass changes intensity. The grass at Horse Woods Haven is made up of orchard, fescue, and a mixture of clover. Each field has a combination. Pesticides are not used on the fields or any other part of the farm. Weed management is by hand and mowing.
The Woods
Kentucky Grass
Wood Labyrinth
While visiting, feel the vibration of the vortex, woods, and meadows by going for a walk on beautiful fields and trails. A perfect chance to self reflect with nature. The woods surround the periphery of the 88 acre farm, so it acts as a fantastic wind block. Living in Kentucky includes four seasons. The barn help with the management of the four seasons. The complete fencing does separate the horses from the woods.
Wood Labyrinth
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Wood Labyrinth
The beauty of nature surrounds the installation of a wood labyrinth that can be walked in with or without a horse. When the horses are in the field with the wood labyrinth, they walk and graze in and around it by themselves.
Drinking Tea With Horses
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Whether you own a horse or not, come experience being in the presence of these sensitive beings. The haven is designed for all beings, two and four legged to find inner peace. No hunting is allowed, so wildlife is welcome in the flow of daily life too.
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Awakened Horsemanship/Selfseeds
Awakened Horsemanship is the root program that operates at Waltzing Horses Wellness Center. The template of Selfseeds supports the self-awareness aspect of the program. Offered for a personalized experience at the Center. http://Selfseeds.com