The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

I am determined that we’ll both get this, the horse and me. I continue to try to mount the horse. When we stop to rest, Kaya admires that I’m a hard worker. My face, legs, and arms are caked with dust and I’m panting. Kaya’s world is full of hard, physical work. Kaya seems used to it, but I’m hot and tired! I’d love a cool shower in an air-conditioned bathroom.

I tell Kaya that I really want to train the horse. Kaya says I haven’t given up yet. Kautsa says Kaya would be better at some tasks if she was more patient. I confess that sometimes I feel impatient. But if I try to focus on what I’m doing and not think about anything else, the impatience goes away. Kaya responds that her thoughts seem to fly around like swallows. I show Kaya that when I need to calm down, I close my eyes and take five long, slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling evenly. Kaya tries it while the herd stamps and shifts around her. When she opens her eyes, she says it worked.

I smile. It feels good to be able to help Kaya—I’m glad she needs me, too. And I’m glad I wasn’t afraid to work with the horses. I turn around to see if Squirrel has noticed. But I can’t find him. Kaya can’t find him either. Where has he disappeared to?

Kaya calls out for Squirrel, but there is no answer. And no one else is close enough to realize he’s gone. Then, I see a stand of juniper trees mysteriously shaking. We let the black-and-white filly go back to the herd and creep over to the branches. Squirrel is there behind the trees with a gray horse. The gray horse has a rope halter on. Squirrel is yanking on it and saying something in a very angry voice to the horse.

Kaya says it seems like the horse refuses to move. Squirrel yanks at the halter, but the gray sets her feet and raises her head high. Kaya winces. They’re not supposed to touch the horses disrespectfully. Squirrel tugs her head back and forth, and the horse snorts and flattens her ears. Dark rivulets of sweat track down her shoulders to her chest.

Squirrel demands her to move and slaps the horse on the shoulder with the loose end of the rope. I tell Kaya we need to get Toe-ta. Kaya says no. She’ll try to talk to Squirrel first.