I have to say that it is really difficult to “sum up” the life of a very special being in a 2 part story! He was the one who opened the space for me to go out and help so many people with their horses for the past 17 years. He was curious, kind, amazingly friendly as well as beautiful. If I rehabbed your horse, or you became a regular client and I showed up on time every time, or helped you to send your horse to the Sky World in a good way, Sage was the touchstone of that outreach.
So many children took their first “pony ride” on Sage. He was game for anything new I wanted to try over time. At first he was afraid to walk into any kind of water. On his own or even on a ride. He watched other horses do it, and eventually, trusting me as I reciprocated… he kept going. We ditched the shoes, stalls, shavings, blankets, poor fitting saddles, conventional feed and human agendas. Then, one day I even ditched the Buckaroo Bitless bridle in the round pen and out on our property. Yup- just a rope around his neck. It’s amazing what we can do when fear is extinguished and trust is what’s left.
He introduced himself to every new horse that showed up here, out on rides and when he had to live away from home for a time after Hurricane Irene.
Sage welcoming Dash, a 2 year old Appaloosa on his first day here New Years Eve 2010
I bought a very used Kingston 2 horse trailer so we could go out on group rides on the beautiful riding trails all around our area. We built a great relationship as well as 20 years of great memories. The most memorable rides were the Pancake Breakfast ride in Charlotte Valley (thanks Leisha). And a ride in Summit (thanks Betty), where we took an “unplanned” turn that changed the ride into a 4 hour tour as opposed to 2! Sometimes we just walked through the trails surrounding the corn fields to the Schoharie Creek enjoying the sounds of nature.
As a Field Instructor for the Equine Sciences Academy, and Mentor for the Progressive Hoof Care Practitioners, I have had many students come to do their Field Training with me. Sage was always very patient with everyone honing their fledgling skills. Standing without a halter or lead with a hay net to nibble on.
In 2010, we were in the crosshairs of Hurricane Irene. We had to evacuate and brought the horses, dog, cats and camper to higher ground up the road. The damage was great to our home as well as the rest of the farm. A client, who became a dear friend (as many do), offered to care for my 4 horses at their farm while we began the process of recovery and rebuilding. Sage was given the nick name, “The Mayor”, while he was there as he welcomed everyone who came to their farm.
It was such a special day when they all came back home. Sage, Khubie, Maizie and Dash were home again! They all went into the front field and rolled in the dirt, ran around their Paddock Paradise track system, down to the water hole to drink and then to the barn. It was a good day for us all! Together again.
We welcomed a new horse, Bojangles, to the herd the following year from Rosemary Farm Sanctuary. Of course Sage was the official greeter. My herd of five were very happy for quite a few years. Time always brings change though. Maize, 34 and Khubie, 33 crossed over a year apart from each other. Then we welcomed Josie. You can read her story here.
One morning, Sage came walking towards me favoring his left hind. It didn’t appear to be anything hoof related. To me, it seemed that he may have pulled or injured a muscle on the inside of his left leg above the stifle. I had a Vet come to look at him and she did some acupuncture and chiropractic work, and gave him some pain meds which helped a lot. I treated it with DMSO and a PBM light, and the swelling came down, but over time, pulling the limb forward was becoming more difficult. He was getting around with the others and didn’t seem bothered by it at all. Kind of like Maizie when her carpal bones began to fuse from an old injury. I watched him lay down and get up many times, but he had to be on his right side to do it. I’m sure he knew that. I was cognizant of how he would navigate the winter if it didn’t heal. At the same time I was taking care of my Mother and arranging Hospice Care for her.
*Kleenex Alert* In the afternoon on August 26, 2023, three of the horses were standing under a maple tree up front and Sage was laying down, which was generally normal…but something didn’t look right when I looked out the window. He was laying on the left side. The side that was injured, which he never did. I went out to see if I could help him up and though he tried, he couldn’t do it. Tom brought the tractor over and we put a blanket on it to protect him as we tried to help lift him up enough so he could right himself. We tried a few times. He couldn’t do it. I’ve been here in my heart before. I knew what was next. That feeling in my chest and my throat when I knew what I had to do. Fighting tears, I called the Vet. As I waited, I knelt down beside him to comfort him. I smudged him with sage smoke and sprinkled tobacco on him as I prayed in Cherokee for his journey. The Vet arrived and we released him from his Earth Walk to the Spirit World.
"No heaven can heaven be, if my horse isn’t there to welcome me” Author Unknown
I will have quite the herd waiting for me! and I know who will be first to greet me… My beautiful Sage
I have had the honor of knowing Geri for twelve years. (Oh wow!) Now that I see this in writing I am overcome with what Geri has brought into my life beyond horses; gratitude, abundance, honor, blessings and a forever friendship. This passage hit me hard as I have experienced all of this with Geri and so much more,
"If I rehabbed your horse, or you became a regular client and I showed up on time every time, or helped you to send your horse to the Sky World in a good way, Sage was the touchstone of that outreach."
I consider Geri my mentor. Her work goes well beyond horses and if you are blessed like I am to have Geri in your life, you know how much that means. Geri's work in the energy world has helped me and the horses in my life in immeasurable ways.
Thank you, Geri, for all that you do to make this world the best it can be for each of us who take the journey with you.
Much love to you, my dear friend,
Michelle
💙So beautiful - thank you for sharing!