The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

Making sure Squirrel can hear me, I tell Kaya I’d like to work on some riding. Kaya smiles and points that that a young black horse with a white star shape on the forehead looks like it wants to work with us. Kaya loops a light rope halter around its head. I see Kaya scratch under the horse’s jaw, so I scratch there, too. The horse stretches her neck out and half-closes her eyes with pleasure. Kaya says the filly knows we’re her friends. There’s something familiar about the focused intensity in Kaya’s face as she gazes at the horse. That’s how I feel when I work with my plants.

Kaya places a rope bit in the horse’s mouth and says we’ll work on mounting first. I take a step back and watch Kaya closely. Kaya runs forward a few steps, grasps the horse’s mane with both hands, throws her leg up, and bellies over her. The horse snorts and dances a bit, but Kaya soothes her and tries again. After about half a dozen mounts, she turns to me and asks if I’d like to try. It’d be good for her to get used to different riders. Suddenly, I am nervous. When did the filly get so big? Kaya can’t know I’ve never done this before.

I take a running step, then stop. Toe-ta has joined us. He steps by the horse’s head and says she’ll feel more secure if someone holds her head at the same time. I run forward the same way Kaya did, but without much conviction. Instead of jumping on the horse’s back, I collide with the side and slither to the ground in a heap. I hear Squirrel’s snicker a little ways away. My face flames. Toe-ta instructs him to gather the wandering herd. Squirrel turns to go, but I see him give one last chuckling look at me. Toe-ta tells me to run with confidence. We are partners with the horse. We love and care for them, and they love and care for us.

I run forward again, more powerfully, and leap just before I reach the filly. This time I reach for her mane and almost scramble up before I fall again. Toe-ta tells me to keep trying. I shouldn’t give up.