saoirse77

Training

2009-09-08T18:37:25Z

Ok ok, so I have been really lax in writing like I said I would. Things have progressed very well and I am floating on cloud 9 =) She is now officially mine and residing at Dianne McClary's place!!! I am sooooo happy and more than pleased with her progress. There are times I really questioned my own sanity with taking her on. She was such a complete mess at times but I am really glad I stuck with it. I promised her I wouldnt give up on her. We still have allot of work to do tho.

I have been so busy I really havent had time to post anyhow. Today is the first day I have been home and I should be cleaning house because there are a ton of things I need to do, Anyhow on Friday I was able to get her moved which was the hard part. It took 3 tries to get her on the trailer with 3 of us helping. She likes to back up at what seems like 30 miles an hour pulling at the same time which she did to me on the first try getting her in. My muscles were sore for two days after that just trying to keep ahold of her. She seems so happy there at Diannes, she has made friends with the Morab there named Brat, they get along well. Her disposition is so different. I dont have to use the chain on her at all, she follows me around nice and calmly on a regular lead line and likes to much at the grass.

I have been able to longe her everyday and keep her nicely groomed. She has a few scrapes on her I had cleaned up and applied some salve to them. Alex has been out 3 times now to ride her and she has been really really good. She is stiff in the canter and wants to buck still a little, she also picks up the wrong lead from time to time so that is going to take some work but will get there I should be riding her soon myself. Alex has been riding Diannes horses too, just exercising them which they really need. He is trying to build up a clientele for exercising peoples horses for them. Boy I am really glad he is my cousin, he has been so helpful =)

I have some video of him riding her except I cannot figure out how to upload it to this site. Video quality is poor anyhow since it was taken on my cell phone.

Oh yeah, I have decided to call her Amber. Saoirse just didnt seem to work right.

8/27

2009-08-27T17:28:17Z

WHOOOOHOOOOO!!! Its official, I can keep her at Diannes. Now I just have to talk to Jon and let him know I will be moving her. We have some re-arranging to do over Diannes to make an extra stall for her. I will probably spend the weekend doing that, maybe I can get some help from Donald and some of my family.

I will be working extra for a bit. Heather a good friend of Juliets and me are splitting doing evenings and weekends so Jon doesnt have to worry about anything. So I have to go back over there this evening to feed and turn out and a few times over the weekend, which is no big deal really. I will have Sunday to sleep in a little.

Today was basically the same. Juliets to Diannes for riding and cleaning than back to Juliets to finish up. One problem I am having with Saoirse is getting her to give me her feet to clean her hoofs. Today I had her in the cross ties and went for her back foot. She swung her let out in an arc, basically trying to kick me. I had a pretty good hold on her let tho so she didnt get me but somehow I have to get her to stop being such a pain when it comes to cleaning her feet. We will get it figured out.

Also going to be attending a clinic on Retired Racehorse Training by Steuart Pittman. A local competetor and trainer. I am pretty excited about it. We will be riding before too long. I can feel it.

www.dodonfarm.com/index.html

08/26

2009-08-26T18:53:06Z

I didnt get a chance to post yesterday so I am catching up for these two days.

Yesterday was a good but busy day. I got to the barn a little late due to new school scheduling. I was supposed to meet Dianne early for riding so I went to the barn and let them in to feed them. Ran into Sara and got out of there as soon as I could. Me and Dianne rode for a bit but it started getting pretty hot and muggie and I was sweating bad having to wear my jeans and half chaps didnt help. I havent ridden Besame in a while and used to have a few problems with her behaving. Well my confidence is much higher now since I have been working with Saoirse. I am sore today not having done much riding in the past month. I helped Dianne clean her barn when we were finished and had some lunch with her and headed back to Juliets to change out their water and watever mess they had made in my absence. I spent about a half an hour with Saoirse after I took her out and groomed her just hanging out with her. She will put her face down by mine and ill just rub on her nose for a while. She has the softest muzzle, I love just hanging out with her. She was so sweet. I decided the next day I would take her out and walk her since she has been so good. I was going to go back to Juliets in the evening to help some people who were getting together to help clean up Juliets yard a bit but got too tired. After cleaning two barns and riding I was done.

About halfway through this video is a few pics of her Grandsire "Seeking the Gold" she looks just like him =)

Today I went in thinking I would get some work done with Saoirse. Well she was in a mood today. Damn Mares!! She was spraying out in the paddock before she came in so I knew than. I took her into her stall and she was a bit lively, I went to move out of her way and stepped back and into her water container. Soaking my shoe and one side of my shorts.....lol. She started pacing in her stall again and was totally unfocused Something outside was bothering her. I knew I wouldnt be able to get anything done with her. She was just too unfocused. I put her back out in her paddock and she just stared off into the woods like something was out there. I went about my business around the barn getting things done. I looked out later and saw her running around with her tail up and she was also snorting so I went to see if I could tell what was bothering her. Well it was the barn cat. What a scardy horse, jesh. I went out into the paddock with her at the end where the cat was and started petting it. I even opened the gate at the other end where there is another small paddock to see if she would come out but no way. She would walk up about halfway, stop than hightail it back to her safezone tail in the air again. Granted she does look quite amazing when she runs around. She did calm down after a while when she figured out the cat wasnt going to pounce on her. I went back to my business and she was waiting by the gate to come in. I guess she figured out she was all alone and it was hot out there. I sprayed her down with the hose to cool her off since she was a bit sweaty and turned her fan on for her. She seemed happy enough about that. I also did some extra things around the barn today to help out. Teka the white mare was really really dirty and I gave her a good bath. She should look nice. I will be mad if I go back in the morning and she is dirty again.

I stopped by Diannes to get Barry's phone number and collect my things that I left the other day (I am always leaving my stuff everywhere) she had a few horse people over helping her with her trailriding competition flyer. We spoke about Juliet and various other things and she mentioned that Jaimy was mostly convinced to let me keep Saoirse there =) I am very happy about that. The arguement being that she needs someone there with her and so do I when we are working with the horses. Anything can happen, Juliet for an example. I will be so glad to have her there. I think she will be much happier and easier to work with.

Keeping the candles lit for Juliet.

New Hope

2009-08-24T17:17:04Z

Well today went rather well. I am a little more hopeful at the present. Juliet has been hurt rather badly, she was kicked by her horse accidentally and her pancreas is bruised. She was in Baltimore Shock Trauma for two weeks and just came home yesterday. She still has some major internal bleeding and they may have to remove some of her pancreas. Things arent looking good and the mood around the barn is sad.

I brushed Saoirse down but she was soooo dirty and she smelled really bad too. She is turned out in a really muddy field and it has allot of manure in it so I decided to spray her down. She did rather well but was looking a bit nervous always like the boogieman is going to jump from around the corner just to get her. She is nice and clean now. I am sure she wont stay that way tho, at least she will be for the day.

I really dont want to do any work with her right now because it just feels wrong with Juliet up at the house very sick from a horse related accident. So I am pondering to myself while I am there about what to do. I really hate having her turned out in that muddy paddock. Also, I think a fresh start at a new place is what she needs. I feel like that barn just holds bad memories for her and she just isnt comfortable there. I decided to talk to my good friend Dianne McClary who lives just up the road and has been a mentor to me from the start. She had mentioned me having her there temporarily but never gave me an answer so I always assumed it was no. Well, I went by her house as I usually do when I am done at Juliets to have a cup of coffee and horse talk. We discussed what I should do and she mentioned again keeping her there. She thinks she can convince Jaimi, her husband, that he wont have any extra work to do because I will be there to clean. I really think the reason she is being positive about this now is because she is tired of cleaning and wants me there so she has someone around to ride with and clean up. Which really works out well for both of us because her place is set up nicely, she has nice grass for them to graze on and a round pen where I can do my training with her so keep your fingers crossed for me, she will be asking Jaimi tonight than I will know if I can take her over there. I really really hope so!!

Her Story

2009-08-24T12:39:26Z

Crown Proof also known as Chloe and now Saoirse is an ex racer and rescue horse residing at my current barn where I work as barn manager. When I first met her she didn't strike me as much different from any other horse there. Juliet the owner of the farm had me walking out the horses to their paddocks the first day to get used to where they were to go. So I slapped a lead rope on Saoirse and off we went. once we got out of the barn she tensed up and spun right into me in a circle almost knocking me down. Well after she spun on me again I called to Juliet to come and get her, she was acting in ways I had never dealt with before and being a bit new to horses in general didn't know how to handle. Juliet kinda threw me to the fire as well by not telling me how this horse normally reacts. I started calling her Wild Thing thereafter and refused to walk her out. She would stay in her stall pacing until Juliet would come down to take her out. I didn't pay her much attention then. Juliet always says "Want a horse you can have Chloe", I would just laugh and comment that she would be the last horse I would ever own. I would spend some time petting her at the fence and she seemed really sweet. She liked to be rubbed on which for most horses they could care less.

So one day Barry Clark comes riding down to use the riding area for a new horse he was working on some issues with. He mentioned how he liked to ride the difficult ones. I say "Well....than I have one for you." I mentioned how Saoirse was even difficult to walk. He spoke with Juliet and she okay-ed him to come over and ride her. Well I missed out on being able to watch but heard that she gave him a bit of a rodeo show than calmed down. She was broke to ride, I mean she was a racehorse so she had been ridden quite often it had just been a long time, probably two years since anyone was on her. I never did get a chance to see him ride her although I heard she was doing well with him, he was even starting to trail ride her. He decided to take her down to his place which is within walking distance of Juliets. So I went down to visit her and see how she was doing. She was looking great. He had her groomed up nicely and she was calmer than I had ever seen her. Wow, there was some real potential for this horse. Juliet asked if I would keep an eye on her so I went down a few days later to check on her again. Barry Clark and a bunch of his buddies were out on his front porch laughing and joking about how he and a buddy of his rode the horses down 214 which is a small highway that goes straight into DC. They rode them down there to a block party and than later on to a strip club where they had dancers come out and sit on the horses. I checked her out and she seemed a bit sore. The next day I went to check on her again and she could hardly walk. I called Juliet and told her. She immediately went down and walked her back to her barn. Than came the process of nursing her back to health. During this time I felt so sorry for her and saw a whole other side to her that I never did see before. She was so calm, let us tend to everything without a problem and so super sweet. Really she is the sweetest horse I have ever met. She would put her face down on me while i was rubbing her. It breaks your heart really because you can tell she so wants to be loved but no one has ever cared for her before and when they did it was only to ride her so hard they made her lame. That's when I decided to take her, the last horse on earth I would want I was ready to take. Even though I couldn't ride her. Even if she wasn't the right horse for me, I loved her. Because she needed to be loved and I took on the role of her protector. Once someone has my loyalty its there forever unless you find a reason to break it.

All racehorse have a vin number tattooed on their upper lip. I wanted to check her stats and see how she did as a racehorse. Her racing name was Crown Proof. I looked up her info on a thoroughbred pedigree website and found that she did rather well racing. Her pedigree is quite impressive. Her Grand Sire is a horse named "Seeking the Gold" who is out of one of the best breeding farms in Kentucky. His stud fee was somewhere around 125,000 dollars. She won several races winning 14,000.00 in purses but fractured her knee at 3 years where she recovered and went back to race at 5 years. Looks like she must have been injured again because she just disappears from the records. That's when Juliet found her. Charelstown Racetrack in West Va is renown for being the "ghetto track" and this is where she was. She was on the way to the meat man along with another horse when Juliet took them in. This is a pretty common thing in the racing world, when a horse is retired from racing they may end up as meat. There are allot of programs out there now taking in horses to retrain them for other jobs and life's but not enough of them to save them all.

So this is her background. I will update this in a few days to catch up to speed the training I have done with her myself. Than everyday that I get to do something with her I will add it to this journal.

My Girl

2009-08-22T17:35:40Z

So I have decided to use this journal to keep an update of my horse Saoirse. This here is a pic of her coming out for her daily walk. Its not the best pic but the only full body shot of her I have that fully shows how lovely she is. Alex is my cousin and he worked with allot of racehorses up at the Bowie track and has a better understanding of how they react to changes. Here you can see how rigid her body is, when she leaves the stable area she gets rather nervous and thats why I am walking her everyday to allieve those fears before we can move onto other areas of training. Things are at a bit of a standstill for now with Juliet being injured and me having been on vacation for most of the month of August, not to mention the aweful muggie hot days which makes you want to do nothing.

So here is a start of her journal. I will imput some history soon than add to it evertime we get some training days in. Lets see how this journey plays out =)

Me in the background with Alex and Saoirse walking out of the barn.

Spirits and Will

2008-03-11T13:51:19Z

Ok, I am coming back to this subject after some time. I like to think things out, give them some time to whirl about in my mind. I have done some more reading on Wyrd, and also have gotten some other opinions from other Crafters on what it means.

Trying to rationalize why or how I am able to control where or what I am doing at the time my spirit leaves is just over analyzing. What I am doing at that time is being guided by unseen forces and being steered in the right direction (hopefully) so I see now how this has nothing to do with free will.

What I am pondering now is Ancestral Sprits. My own form of Craft has always involved working with land spirits. I was very tied to the land where I grew up. There were lower spirits and one higher spirit who's presence was great. I always looked at this being as the "Horned God".

Peter Paddon has said the path of the Crafter is to cheat fate. If you cannot change fate.....whats the point of working magick? So, I agree with Peter's assesment. The magicians driving factor in working magic is putting his "will" into it. So, while we may not have "free will" is it possible to have "will"?

These Paragraph from Witching Way of the Hallow Hill is one that speaks to me.

"The spirits of the unseen world and the dead themselves act as guardians of certian places, certian experiences, certian powers; some of them can even act as guides and initiators into Wisdom. Whether you see working with spirits and the unseen as dealing with your "deep self", or another world, you are right.

But you should believe both, for both are true- you are dealing with real spirits that have their own existance- and you are dealing with the common reality that unites all, and which holds the contents of what you call "yourself". For the sake of sanity and tradition, you must realize that both are true- spirits are not simply "parts of your mind" - they are also individual beings with motivations and powers, and not all are friendly. It just so happens that the reality we call "our minds", on the deepest level, shares a singular reality with the essence of all places and things."

Is it a form of will on the Ancestral Sprits part....or lower Spirits...whatever it may be. Does will still factor in? Or is it the will of the Gods-Fates, whatever you may call it. Or is it just the ebb and flow....putting ourselves in tune with those forces and realities that make up this world, working in usison. The letting go of the self and becoming a part of the whole, instead of being a seperate unit, is that what makes us Crafters....this ability to be able to do this?

Free Will

2008-01-08T13:36:01Z

I had an experience I would like to share, a sort of out of body experience. I dont think it was a complete one but it was enough to give me an epiphany about the spirit and free will.

Whats makes up the spirit? Thats the first question. Its the life force, the energy that surrounds you, how do you control this energy after your body is gone from it for you have no brain power to control it. Wyrd tells us, we have no free will, every action we take is already pre ordained. I am no expert on Wyrd, I have done some reading on it from Robin Artissons work and a few other Traditional Crafters. So allot of this is presumption, please correct me. If this is true than how do you explain ghosts....spirits, ancestors? Only free will can control your own spirit, once you loose your body this is the only way to command yourself or to keep your ego together. Will is your vehicle. Once you die and you move on to the spirit world, the strength of your own Will shall determine where your spirit will go. You can move on to the Summerland and can be called on as an Ancestor, you can linger on with the ones you love to wait for them and give them comfort, or in some unfortunate cases, you cannot realize your dead and become a malignant spirit......ghost.....and potetially become a lesser demon, poltergeist ect. So, how can this tie into the belief in Wyrd? Wow, what strange thoughts to have right before bed.

The Mystery of the Horned One / Master of the Wood

2006-11-16T19:48:42Z

The Horned God; dark, mysterious, ferocious, he is that dark masculine fear that is within all of us. His presence is strong right now for he rules the winter and is the heart of the depth of the wood. He is in the dark wood wetted and damp from fall showers, the smell of the decaying leaves and the enchanting mists that rise from the barren fields once ripe with corn.

He is inspiring to those who have his blessing but terrifying to all who do not pay him homage. One must learn to overcome this fear if one is to be blessed by him. He is every where there is forest, his presence is always felt, the great and all mighty Spirit of the Wood.

There is much lore and many names associated with the Horned One but what is the root of the worship? How do you establish a link with this overwhelming presence? It comes from your connection with the land. You must find a place suitable to establish this connection. This is a place you will have to be completely comfortable in and somewhere you can visit often. There should be an area where you can be completely alone and able to meditate without outside distractions.

Every place has its lower land spirits. First, you must establish a relationship with them. They are going to put in a good word to the big guy so don’t do anything that may upset them. The best way to gain their favor is by making them offerings. They like sweet things so honey works well, wine, incense, whatever you feel suitable. I have found that speaking with them works, speak gently though, you are their friend and you need to approach them as such. Visit them often and you will feel their presence immediately.

Once you have established your connection you will start to feel the presence of the Master of the wood. At times you may feel as though someone is watching you, and they are. If you speak with the Horned One, always do so in reverence, he will take offense if not. Make him offerings but make them suitable for him. Grains work well, beer, rods. You may feel very intimidated but if you do you will know he is there. Trust in him and do not fear, for your fear he will feed off of. In doing this you have established your link, you may advance this relationship by taking it to another level and performing a symbolic Wild Hunt.

f you get the nerve to go this road be forewarned, it’s not anything to play with, you can easily offend these forces and be forever haunted by them. This is a symbolic gesture of giving yourself to the service of the Horned One and in essence being at one with him to gain from his wisdom and protection, to become one of his flock, once you have been accepted, you can work your magick and to ask favors of the land Spirits because you have become a part of their “family”.

Saoirse Re’

(Note: This has been written by Saoirse Re’ and is from her personal experience, take it as you will.)

Life Is A Song

2006-11-04T20:00:32Z

I have noticed that through out my life most moments or time periods can be defined by a song. I go through periods with music where a song may not be more than just one you liked to jam to. Then something changes and that song resonates with what’s going on at the time and the words make total sense. I have this terrible habit of latching onto a specific song or album and playing it all the time. It makes the people around me crazy but this becomes the memory for that time period and anytime later I listen to that song or album and that feeling comes back very strong. The soundtrack of my life… :) Anyhow, this is just a rant I thought I would put to the pen…or laptop….

Honoring the dead

2006-10-31T14:39:49Z

Blessings to all this Samhain season, may your days be filled with the remembrances of the ones passed. To those who marked your life with their presence. I am honoring my late Uncle who passed in early March. He was one of the best men I ever knew who was like a father to me. You are sorely missed and your departure from this world is greatly felt. I know you will be there in the spirit to help us just as much as you were there for us in life. Always know that I love you and that my life was better for having you in it. Thank you for everything you did for me, you were always selfless and kind. I toast to you and your life, until we meet again on the other side of the veil. Slainte’

Memories of the Land

2006-10-16T15:43:01Z

This time of year is the time to really remeber our Ancestors and beloved ones who have passed the veil. The feeling is everywhere, you can feel it in the Autumn breezes, in the cool misty mornings when the fog rolls off the land and the leaves that swirl almost with spirit breath. They whisper to us and if we listen close you can hear their words. Every living thing has a story to tell. I used to do allot of reading on the paranormal. One of my favorites is "Ghosts" by Hanz Holzer. His work on the paranormal was extensive and being of the Craft he was not biased by Scietific thinking. Sybil Leek was an amazing phsychic medium. She and Hanz did much work together. He would take her to the place of the supposed hauntings, not knowing where she was going, she would let the spirits take over. He then would go back and do research on the place and find that much of what she said under her trance was true. He mentions rememberances, not necessarily hauntings but how a place can keep a memory of its past. A home or structure is made of wood. Every piece of land, tree, glade, bush, rock, ect has a story to tell. I have sat by enormous trees and felt overwhelmed at their size and age. No wonder the mighty Oak was such a revered tree among the ancients, as well as many others. What a story each one has to tell. To just place your hands on it and feel a part of it, of its story. As this season is apon us, the veil grows thinner, the anciens stir, listen to their words and the words of the land. For every chance we get to hear them, be quiet enough to listen, because soon the veil will close again and their whispers will be too far away to hear.

Samhain Salutations,
Saoirse Re'

Mabon Blessing

2006-09-20T19:02:25Z

Blessings to you oh Lady of the land
We rejoice in praise and joy of the fruits of your womb
We sing and dance in your name, of whom needs no name
Thanks be to you who have filled our plates
and warmed our hearts
Our cups are raised in salute
May you continue to bless us as we have blessed you
May our hearts be filled always with joy as this winter comes apon us
May our hearths stay filled with the sustenance you give
So be it done

Written by Saoirse

Green / Written by me back in the day

2006-09-11T23:14:02Z

The world is a sparkling jewl
and should be cherished,
but green is immortal
Unless the hungry dogs devour it.

Written by Saoirse