The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

I don’t want to get Squirrel into trouble, but I believe he won’t listen to me or Kaya. So I remind Kaya that he’ll listen to an elder. We make our way back out of the bushes and find Toe-ta mounted on a powerful white stallion who is dancing in a circle. Calmly, he brings the horse to a stop and pats its neck. When Kaya points to the juniper trees where Squirrel is and says he needs Toe-ta’s help, Toe-ta’s brow creases with concern and he dismounts immediately.

Toe-ta passes through the branches to see Squirrel slapping the gray horse with the rope. The horse is trying to rear now. At the sound of Toe-ta’s voice, Squirrel’s head snaps around. Toe-ta reminds Squirrel that Nimìipuu treat all animals with respect. He explains that maybe the horse wouldn’t come because Squirrel wasn’t asking in a way the horse could understand. Squirrel was thinking about himself, not the horse. Toe-ta instructs Squirrel to go home to the village.

Squirrel stormily pushes past us, scowling. I expected him to talk back, but he didn’t. Toe-ta easily guides the horse back to the others. He says that Kaya and I did what was best for the horse, even if Squirrel had to learn a hard lesson. It was good we asked for help. Now it’s time for riding.

Kaya suggests I get on a large black-and-white spotted horse. I gulp. I’m going to ride the horse alone?

I try to stall for time, but I can’t tell Kaya I’ve never ridden before. She thinks I’m Nimíiipuu, and Nimíipuu grow up on horses. I touch the scrape on my forehead and say I’m not sure how well I’ll ride today. Kaya assures me we’ll work slowly and Toe-ta says Kaya is a strong rider, and she’ll stay with me.

Kaya helps me mount the spotted horse. I clutch the mane with both hands until Toe-ta hands me the rope reins, which I clutch as well. I feel the power in the horse’s muscles. He tosses his head and I grab more mane, giggling nervously.

The horse steps forward when Kaya moves him forward a step. I lurch and almost plant my face in his mane. I quickly push myself up, hanging onto the reins. Toe-ta reminds me to relax my hands so I can feel what he wants through the bit in his mouth. I look down and see I’m clutching the reins so tightly my knuckles are white. I loosen my fingers and Toe-ta nods approval. Kaya leads us around in a circle and I realize I can feel my abdomen moving with the horse. I can start to feel the tension of the bit through the reins.

Toe-ta calls for me to start riding on my own.