Fidalgo and the Zen Elm

 

Yesterday was a fine October afternoon - so fine that I took a perch on a rock in the middle of the preserve to sit and read.  There I received an investigative visit from one of the wild stallions of Ravenseyrie, with the godhead of the Zen Elm benevolently watching.

How dreamy the sounds!

How magical the light!

Late Summer Scenes at Ravenseyrie

All is well at Ravenseyrie!

Now that I have finally replaced my broken camera, perhaps I will get back into the habit of more regular posts here on this wonderful old blog.

We've got some scenes with Capaz, Fidalgo, Altamiro, Kevin and our beloved Sandhill Cranes.

Enjoy!

 

When Spring Comes to Ravenseyrie

 

When it has become awkward to use words, one is thankful for digital video.

The Mediator and the Gods

 

Original Paleolithic-style rock painting by Lynne Gerard

A new rock painting inspired by some of the fantastic males in my life.

Reposted here from my Instagram account @gerard.lynne

And so here it is! The 11” x28” Paleozoic dolostone plaquette painting of Kevin and two of our stallions, now completed!

I’m giving this rock painting the title: The Mediator and the Gods

Our lives here at the Ravenseyrie Sorraia Mustang Preserve are ruled by the wild stallions and we happily (most of the time) have devoted ourselves to doing what we can to placate them and assure that all is well in their mythic realm here on Manitoulin Island.

When they were younger, they were more like drinking buddies and their internal fights were playful games. But now these primal-type wild stallions are mature studs and while they are not aggressive with either Kevin or me - they are, by default it seems, prone to petty arguments and pitched battles amongst themselves. Despite there being no mares to fight for (our mares now live an hour’s drive from the home range on land owned by @twinravens2000 ) these guys are like gang members and are always looking to flex their muscles for some type of supremacy - and I think they delight in just how exquisite their capable bodies are.

When we are not mingled in the thick of these impressive bachelors (7 stallions, 2 geldings) they are allowed to conduct their affairs and resolve conflicts as they see fit for the most part. But when they erupt in violent outbursts while we are distributing supplementary forage for them we intercede and quell the storm “Boys! BOYS! That’s enough!” and marvellously they seem to listen to us and set their differences aside (momentarily) and get back to enjoying the offerings their human subjects have present to them.

I’m delighted with how the rock painting turned out! I think it well captures the moment when a few stern words and intense glare from my mortal man, Kev, were able to diffuse a potentially volatile situation between two stallions - err, two gods.

First Day of January and Last Day of January

 

Out on a walkabout on New Year’s Day, I was delighted to be met on the fringe of the forest by my old friend, the Sorraia stallion, Altamiro.

It had been my intention to angle myself back to where I had seen the horses and stop to hand out some alfalfa cube “cookies” I had in a pouch I was wearing.  Altamiro must have read my mind because he met me before I had even gotten back across the preserve to where the horses were keeping on that afternoon.  But, much as I would like to think that this handsome gent came to see me because he likes me and wanted to have a one-on-one visit apart from the others, I know that he really came because he knew I was packing treats.  Even still, a starstruck groupie of such a rock star of an equine can pretend otherwise!

And today, on the last day of January - some of Altamiro’s sons can be seen soaking up the warm sunshine after many days of deep chill here on the Ravenseyrie Sorraia Mustang Preserve.  All is well!