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Category Archives: animal communication
Harper’s Lessons
Although we knew for months that sweet Moondo would not be with us much longer, I couldn’t face the prospect of looking for a new horse while he was alive. I had no regrets about spending focused time with Moody … Continue reading
On Not Riding
At a writing workshop I attended back in 1998, our instructor, Marita Golden, urged vigilance against opening a door in an essay if we didn’t intend to lead readers through it at some point. In other words, don’t distract your … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, horses, writing
Tagged Chekhov’s gun, dressage, horseback riding, horses, Marita Golden, writing advice
7 Comments
Winter Pasture
There’s a distinct pleasure in being able to make someone else happy. Sometimes their pleasure persists even as your own memories of the effort involved in said happy-making fade, tipping the scales of your satisfaction even further toward the positive. … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, horses, winter
Tagged Colorado, feeding horses, horses, winter
6 Comments
Not an Owl
Having fresh snowfall is a bit like getting a local newspaper delivery: I learn about things going on in the neighborhood I wouldn’t otherwise know. Tracks on the fresh sheet of snow spread across the arena last month were like … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, birds, ravens, wildlife encounters
Tagged raven tracks, ravens
8 Comments
Thought About
I thought about writing about these fall days: the glossy blue skies, the serene air, the landscape golden and splashed with umber and gilt. The temperature hovers in that curious cool-mild zone, so you go out wearing a jacket but … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, birds, fall, gardening, horses, procrastination
Tagged Colorado autumn, fall foliage, horses, juncos, late season gardening
11 Comments
Turkey (Photo) Shoot
Wild turkeys are always in motion. Their persistent mobility has been brought home to me (literally) this winter by a flock of about a dozen that frequented the district around our house. The big dark birds would show up every … Continue reading
Still Learning from Horses
Moondo, my little red horse, is a complicated character. I wrote about his personality and opinions in the “Horse Lessons” chapter of Between Urban and Wild the book. A number of years have passed since then, and I can report … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, horses, observation
Tagged animal communication, equine communication, horse behavior
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Moondo’s Project
Moondo, my little bay horse, is the most opinionated equine I’ve ever met. This isn’t to say that he’s mean or obstinate or flighty, just that he has strong ideas about how his universe should operate. Ego and a dainty … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, horses
Tagged horse behavior, Moondo
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On Being Watched
For the most part, the wildlife around our place regards me with either fear or wariness. Birds flutter, squirrels scurry, deer bound. The latter, admittedly, only retreat to their calculated safe distance before turning to assess my intentions, but all … Continue reading
Posted in animal communication, humans and wildlife, observation, ravens, rodents
Tagged Bernd Heinrich, corvid communication, ravens
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