horses and women as spiritual path
by melissa stanz

It’s a crisp fall day in the WNC mountains—a perfect day for a ride, and my Arabian gelding Booker and I are on our own. As we enter the Colman Boundary in Barnardsville, NC, Booker shakes his head, as if to say, “Let’s go mom.” And so we do. As we begin the climb on a gravel road to Corner Rock at a fast trot, the cool breeze burns my cheeks, and red and gold leaves swirl by us. The cadence of his metal shoes provides percussion and my heart sings the melody. We are one, a woman-horse unit, focused on the here and now, the pure pleasure of riding free. It is my favorite spiritual path.

As a child, I believed I could grow up to be a horse. This is true—ask my parents. So when I found out it didn’t work that way, I consoled myself with anything that related to horses. I played make believe; I was always the horse—the Arabian black stallion, prancing, proud, a great jumper. I played with the boy next door, let him put a rope in my mouth and lead me around, jumping oil barrels, whinnying and free spirited. I rode all the ponies at the fair. I petted horses any chance I got, I made friends with any little girl who had a horse. I pleaded with my parents—to no avail—to buy me a horse, having no idea of the financial impact, let alone the time it took to care for one.

It took some 35 years and a move to the mountains of Western North Carolina in 1995 to realize my childhood dream and awaken this spiritual path. There are many spiritual paths, but to me, none are as sacred, as real, as this woman-horse-nature connection. When I ride in the mountains, I know the Divine. I know joy. I find the sacred pleasure of an open heart. I rediscover my gratitude.
Booker is my friend, my teacher, my bratty kid, and my spiritual guide. He teaches me to stay present, to laugh, to practice, to be more patient.

My connection with horses opened many doors for me. In addition to my connection with these noble creatures and nature, I am now a part of a wonderful community of women equestrian friends—an unexpected and beautiful gift.

These women embraced and nurtured me from the moment I met them—our connection was immediate. We all had a passion for horses. Grace Campbell, Sharyn McDonald Groh, and Ann Stuart (equine vet extraordinaire) spent countless hours teaching me, loaning me horses, helping me quiet my beginner’s fear and encouraging my desire to have my own horse. We rode for hours, climbing the narrow trails in the Colman Boundary and other areas around Barnardsville, NC. Their frequent looks back to check on me, their caring attitudes and slow pace (for them!) helped build my confidence and my passion.

When my initial experience with having two horses at my home ended (a story for another time), these women supported me, lending me their horses, introducing me to the fantastic sport of endurance riding, including me in their circle. They helped keep my dream alive.

My circle of women with horses continues to expand. These days, I keep Booker in a co-op barn, sharing horse care responsibilities with five wonderful women. This arrangement allows each of us to feed and care for our horses one day a week, leaving enough time for all of us to ride and fulfill other obligations in our lives. Each of us cares for all the horses as if they were our own and once again, I am blessed to be in the community of women and horses.

From this barn next door to the Colman Boundary, I ride frequently in the mountains, most often with my friend Nancy Clark and her horse Takhi (Mongolian for Spirit). Our rides help us remember who we are, to be grateful, to stay present. We share our love of horses and the bond of women with horses—refreshing our spirits and healing us.

No matter where I ride in these mountains, I encounter women and horses. On these encounters, we smile knowingly, instinctively acknowledging the bond. Thank you Spirit, for horses and their women. We are blessed.

Melissa Stanz, MA, is a freelance writer, editor, and marketing communications professional in Asheville, NC. She creates communications plans, and writes copy for newsletters, web sites, ads, press releases, brochures, and feature articles for regional and national clients. When she¹s not writing, she loves to be outside walking with her husband and chocolate lab, or riding her horse in these magical mountains. Contact her at melissastanz@bellsouth.net.