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| Talking Stick made in memory of Five Sails. |
The Legend Of The Five Horse Talking Stick came about in October 2009 after Jimmy (Five Sails) was put down. Yvonne had admired the work of Colin Partridge, a Tree Spirit Carver from Ontario Canada. Yvonne and Colin met at Gateway 2 Ranch in Kamloops B.C. earlier that summer. Having seen some of Colin's other work Yvonne was highly impressed and asked if Colin would consider to make a talking stick like the one she had seen at Gateway 2 Ranch but to custom make in remembrance of Jimmy. Colin more than happily agreed to do this and we are proud today to share with you not only this interesting piece of art work but the story and symbolic meaning behind it. The special piece of hollow redwood that was selected for this piece has an extra sentiment to it as it joins two branches together which emphasises for this particular talking stick, the joining and connection between horse and human. The talking stick has several natural and noted symbols of communication engraved throughout it and has the entwined tail hair of Jimmy in a separate braid and that of four other horses whom you will read about below in another. It is decorated with a beautiful long feather of a quail found on a long ride that Jimmy and Yvonne were out on one day and also you will find some other native artwork. We hope you enjoy The Legend Of The Five Horse Talking Stick.
Meet the Five Horses Represented in the VFTH Talking Stick
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| Five Sails 1988 ~ 2009 |
Five Sails is the creator and inspiration for The Legend Of The Five Horse Talking Stick. He was a magnificent teacher although the job he was bred for was as a racehorse. This did not pan out for him due to poor quality feet that could not handle the stresses of training let alone racing. Five Sails known as Jimmy by most, was destined for slaughter even though his size and beauty was stunning ~ a 5th generation bred horse from the famous race horse Man O' War and 4th generation War Admiral he was not sound and any hunter jumper or dressage trainer that looked at him after he retired from his racing career, shyed away from him because of this. The life of this horse was saved by a person that put his heart before his injured and broken down body. He also brought other challenges with him, not just his physical issues but emotional. This required extra patience for some but for the heart of his new loved one, she just went with him and loved him past these physical and emotional trials. In time he became the teacher to the one that learned how to read his energy. After many years the lessons became stronger where the student could feel his presence and truth through her very being. With new choices to make in life, her vision became clear and more meaningful lessons were yet to come. And they did. He was the vision that came into her life that would carry his dream and bring to reality. This horse has felt pain and suffering and has felt love and companionship, all of that which we desire but sometimes fumble at finding in our own lives. He is truth and committed to an un-abounding love. He spoke strongly for many, half way through his life. He experienced many things that were not accepted in his earlier days, his transition to becoming a barefooted horse being one of them; highly opposed, almost violently ridiculed and then finally accepted. Many today have followed in these steps. He was able to let go of some of the more traditional medicinal vaccines which he suffered from only to recover fully in his health, as a consequence. He understood the power of a loving hand, the medicinal benefits of herbs and other natural remedies be it for physical or emotional needs. And he loved greatly the one that took him in when he had no other place to go…he was saved unlike so many of his kind.
Five Sails teaches us tolerance and acceptance but also to aspire and chase ones dreams. Never lose your vision, believe in yourself and you will change the world.
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| VFTH Mascot Angel |
Angel carries on the dream of Five Sails. She showed up as a by-product of the pharmaceutical companies. She never wanted to die young and it is believed her strong and dominant spirit saved her from going down this dismal road. Her wild and untrusting nature would not allow her to be easily caught as a young filly prior to being handled by human hands. She was suspicious and her eye, even today, tells you what she is made up of. As much alpha characteristics she exhibits, deep inside she is a soft, gentle and wise old soul. She was all this from her beginning. At times she can be pushy and want her own way but knows better now as she learns from her life’s experiences. She looks for love, an un-endng love that will always be there. She is the committed one who seeks to please once past her own ideas of how things should be. Her extra sense of character indeed can move another’s soul to a place of healing. She knows where the pain is and will help one to be able to let it go. Her wise ways are natural to her, nothing put on at all. Her gaze is often enough to help facilitate the shift that is needed. It is believed that through her kind eye and soft muzzle she is capable of moving stagnant old energy from ones being, be it emotional or physical she knows where to go. Angel is yet a child at heart, even though she is an old soul. She is smart enough to know that to live and see the world through the eyes of a child will only bring on good things, a freshness in life that we all so desire.
Angel teaches us how to find inner strength and to not allow anyone to take it away. She teaches us the art of tranquility and how to be at peace in this world.
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| VFTH Mascot Mischief |
Mischief is full of fun, laughter, joy, delight and innocence…even though he came from the same place as his adopted sister Angel, he comes with a very different energy which compliments her greatly, for she invited and accepted Mischief into her world, most likely because of his pure and light simplistic energy. Mischief aspires to live life out fully and to never say never, no questions asked. Mischief has the potential to be a Mozart or even a Picaso as he knows no limits to his creative abilities. He does not require discipline so to speak but understands when he is out line and fast. He has a sense of keenness to learn and is witty enough to find his way out of a mouse hole if he had to! He is one to stop and admire his shadow or reflection, not in a vain way but one of self-pride and esteem, he knows how wonderful he is from the inside out and never self doubts. He is one to not buy into another’s dreams unless they are in alignment with his own. Mischief does not take things personally, as is most obvious when Angel repeatedly pins her ears at him to say enough is enough and butt checks him to reinforce her statement. He will only set out to find the other way to get what it is he is after in life, even if just in the moment.
Mischief teaches us to find our joy in life and to go after what you wish to achieve. He asks that we seek the creative artist within our own selves and for us to remember the need to find time to play, no matter how old you think you are.
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| Ian ~ learned the art of forgiveness. |
Ian experienced two fun years of life growing up with others of his own kind, naïve to what was going to befall him; an uncaring person called a horse trainer who tied him up short with a thinly designed rope halter where he was left tied up and alone. This is where Ian met his first resistance in life, where no one cared nor knew about the trauma he was about to endure. When he realized he could not get away from this place he was tied, scared and alone his efforts to flee only caused him pain which began to escalate more and more as the results of this thinly woven halter left severe rope burns on the soft fur and skin behind his ears, with cuts across the front of his nose, one of the most sensitive places to be found on a horse. The musculature of his neck and withers was bruised and inflamed due to the fight with this halter attached to his head, with no chance of finding a release. The spirit of this innocent young horse had been broken and he would never allow another to touch his neck after he was found distraught and released by the caring heart of another human who discovered him alone and in a shock like state. In time though he came to trust again, it was hard because he had continual flash backs of this traumatic experience but he did manage to overcome this. He has never again trusted another human until they proved themselves right to him.
Ian teaches us that we can heal and even forgive another, not to say we forget the suffering and pain but to be conscious where we put ourselves in life thereafter. He asks us to pick our company wisely as we grow up in this world as it is they, that will become our center of influence. Respect the ones you trust in that you know will not do you wrong.
Shasta is one that may not be fully revealed although her energy is entwined in The Legend Of The Five Horse Talking Stick. This beautiful paint mare was witty and smart enough to self load onto a trailer bound south to the Interior of B.C. How often does one see a supposedly herd bound and feral mare leave the ones she has known all her life only to walk away with intention, and not look back? She had no issue with self loading herself, the decision had been made; she was leaving her Dodge Town! The other horses enroute fussed abit but ultimately they all traveled well together. Shasta went through a series of ownership concerns upon her leaving and found herself abandoned, like a child running away from home. She was eventually taken in by a loving family who claimed her care which she is forever thankful for, I am sure. The why she left her herd amazed many; perhaps insights of the difficulties she would endure in the winter ahead as we learned, gave her the wisdom to make this choice to leave as she did.
Shasta teaches us to recognize our intuitive selves and to follow through on our gut feelings. Our mind and intuitive abilities knows how to best serve and protect us.
To represent Shasta and to complete The Legend Of The Five Horse Talking Stick we invite you to meet…
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| Fraser ~ accepts his healing of love. |
Fraser came to us loved but was broken down physically, no one knew how to help him. Each step he walked equaled pain but Fraser had to keep moving forward because of his willingness to endure and not allowing himself to give up, even under these most uncomfortable circumstances. His calm disposition makes him easy to love which attracted to him many new friends. He seems old to some because he can not move well although he is only 12 years of age. Many would double this number upon seeing him for the first time. Fraser still has the zest and youth within to know he can get better, especially in the hands of those that love and care for him. He is open to receiving and takes not one stroke along his neck or soft kiss upon his muzzle for granted, for energetically, this is helping him to heal. He was at one time in the ranks of a world champion in his sport, admired by many for his well bred beauty. But this beauty was not enough to sustain the problems he would endure and there have been many. Needless to say he has found home; one where his condition is being addressed on a wholistic level which he is responding to beautifully. Fraser dreams of being able to fully buck again and carry the young girl on his back that his care has been entrusted to; for it is to her he owes his life; for committing to take him on as he was, a broken down soul, never fully understood.
Fraser teaches us to accept gifts in life and to know that we deserve them. He reminds us to seek out the good even though we may only be able to see the dark and dismal around us, there is always light on the other side.
To emphasise further the horse human relationhip we invite you to read
Two Souls With But A Single Thought ~ Two Hearts That Beat As One
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