Well, with a helicopter flying overhead daily putting out implanted fires, the cold solid granite of this stable speaks of other times. values and a sustaining perspective - despite the present nihilism - termed materialism -  what a contradiction in terms - this little foal knows the solution - a simple kick in the head!

So yes, I have just created this empty space at the cost of a row of vines. You see, the horses need a space to train in, to learn precision.  What I have created are two straight lines at the edge (or hedge), which once crossed represent a figure 4, a rectangle. Within the rectangle, there are two posts, identifying the mid-points of two circles, which, by following the circumferences, together form an '8'. So now I just need to spend some time in this space to fulfill my dream of exercising the horses with a sense of precision. You see, a sense of freedom is only achieved by identifying strengths within limits - limits that can then be extended progressively so that the dream may unfold.

Yes, as you read in the previous post, she was born on April 1 - so here is a flashback to that amazing April day!

Spring has come and our foal, Frida, was born on 1 April, so today she is six weeks old. And has she grown in so many different ways! Yesterday, I noted how she has extended her boundaries. Clearly, her reference point is still her mother, but now she will gallop at top speed up and down and around a big field, dancing, kicking, changing directions at the drop of a leaf. It is easy to see how we associate horses with flying: little Frida dances on air. But MUCH more than that – she already leads and inspires us to follow HER! How wonderful to recognise youth at its best – with a little help from 'her' friends.

Yesterday turned out to be one of surprises... it was the last day of the local Camellia Show, but, because of it, we had a number of visitors here. Graça, Manuela and a couple from Louçada. Graça did us proud by purchasing three of our camellias. With exhibitors from far and wide and so much to choose from, her act was a great vote of confidence for the local grower. You see, conditions here are hard and every plant requires much love attention and the best organic 'food' possible – supplied by our horses. Thank you, Graça.

When I was a little boy, my father would ask me to help and, like most little boys, there were occasions when I would hesitate and make a face but this didn't last long. He said, quite simply,




'Come with a goodwill or not at all.'




And that was the end of the matter. Or rather the beginning. To be out of favor with those we love makes life meaningless, leaves no life. The choice we all face is that simple; come with a goodwill or not at all.




Now, imagine that I was to discover that this principle is how a lead horse maintains harmony and success for a herd of horses. That is the option he gives to any horse and, given the other horse needs to be part of a community to survive, it must accept it or perish. It is no wonder horses fitted in here so well: we were brothers and sisters all the time, sharing the same vision and rule of life!