...longing for Heartland Farm Sanctuary.

Sweet Holden.

I really love living in the city of Chicago but, I have a lot of 'country girl' in me.

I took Equestrian for a couple of semesters in college and we were each given a horse to take care of.  We learned all types of riding (English, Western, etc.). The horse that was assigned to you was yours for the term of the classes. I had my horse for 7 months. He was chestnut & his name was Holden. I loved him so much. He was such an affectionate horse and SO FAST!

So every single morning at 6:00am, I would head to the stables, feed him, brush him, bath him and learn how to take care of him w/ an instructor. Class started at 8:00am. And we had to come back in the evenings to take care of them as well (and weekends). It was a gigantic commitment. I spent many evenings leisurely riding him which was my favorite. My least favorite was cleaning his hooves. Let's just say I had a lot of bruises. haha.  Yeah, it was incredibly time consuming but I loved every bit of it. I recall some people not realizing what they got themselves into.

I have always felt comfortable interacting with, befriending and riding horses. It has always came naturally to me. They are so beautiful.

What 'relaxes' a lot of people is a spa massage, yoga or a good nap. What relaxes me is being at a farm sanctuary, the smell of fresh air, surrounded by open fields, cows mooing, pigs sprawled out in hay and horses nuzzling my shoulder w/ their noses.

My friends & I were talking about our 'ideal day' and I realized that my perfect day would be spent without a phone or access to technology, riding horses, picking organic veggies and fruits from the garden and cooking/eating outdoors w/ community.

Heartland Farm Sanctuary is in Verona, WI.. You can read about Heartland 'here.' I can't get there soon enough.