A Day With Wild Mustangs

My time visiting Reno continues to be really nurturing and yesterday proved to be a most magickal of days and experiences for me – a dream come true in fact.

One of my favorite things about visiting my parents home is that it is set back at the foot of the Virgina Range with a view of the Sierra Nevada Range and behind some wetlands with a large wash that runs to the left of the house. This idyllic location provides a plethora of beautiful nature vistas and wildlife experiences that are always a treat. One of which are the wild mustangs that roam the Virginia Range and come down to graze in the wetlands. Some of the area they used to roam has been built up with new homes, but they still make their way through the wash, streets and paths to their usual stomping grounds.

Every time I see them it excites me. And all the time I’ve seen them I hadn’t had the idea to connect with them anymore than parking my car next to them and talking to them through my window or standing by my car just being in their presence nearby. I’d always dreamed of being with wild horses in a beautiful and more personally and closely connective way (as horses have always been such a huge, integral, and important part literally and symbolically in my life), but it wasn’t until this trip that I actually tried it. It’s so funny how timing works like that and what you suddenly think to do and are ready for.

http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/ shares:

“Nevada is home to almost half of our nation’s free-roaming wild horses, and many of these elegant animals have decided to make the grazing lands around Reno their neighborhood.

Steeped in the history of the Comstock Lode, the ancestors of today’s Virginia Range herd were the motivation for Velma Johnston in her fight to gain federal protection for wild horses. This diminutive Reno secretary, who became known as “Wild Horse Annie,” is credited with the passage of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. Ironically, the Virginia Range herd was not afforded federal protection because the Virginia Range is primarily private land. Responsibility for managing the herd falls under the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

The historic Virginia Range herd, over 1,400 strong, can be found living wild and free between Virginia City, Reno, Dayton and Carson City. When hiking the desert trails east of Reno or taking shade under a pinyon pine atop the Virginia Range, you’re likely to spot a group of young bachelors play-fighting as they grow to be wild stallions. Listen carefully and you might hear a wild mare calling out to her adventurous foal. Photographic opportunities are endless, especially if you’re lucky enough to find the herd enjoying a hidden watering hole.”

However, these beautiful creatures have needed protection to ensure their freedom and safety from being rounded up, auctioned, and slaughtered. You can read more about that here: American Wild Horse Preservation

So yesterday my mom and dad returned from grocery shopping and shared that 8 young males were down at the wetlands along the street across from their house. It had been a while since a larger group had showed up. So of course I was excited and got in the car with dad to go see them.

And the rest of what took place is captured in the photos you see in this share. It was such a memorable experience that I will cherish always. There are no words to describe the feeling of being with these magnificent beings and what a gift they shared with me. Even dad got in on the love giving and sharing a bit too. 🙂

I didn’t want to leave them, but did say goodbye after lots of love, Reiki, kisses, and “I love you’s” shared between myself and the horses, especially this one in particular you see in the photos.

I had to giggle when I posted the first photo you see at the start of this share on Facebook and my friend Lynne reminded me of the events this year for me. She first mentioned that it was the Year of the Horse and then added, “So far this year you’ve kissed a starfish and a horse.”

LOL! It’s true, if you remember my post, “I Kissed a Starfish“.

I can now add, “I Kissed a Wild Mustang”. 🙂

Another friend mentioned something very symbolic that stood out right away to me as well in that same photo. She shared, “that is a really beautiful archetypal image… so ancient and native feeling.”

As I look at it there is indeed some powerful archetypal symbolism coming through it and again, it reiterates energy I have been working with of recent. No coincidences.

So, I did reluctantly return home and later in the late afternoon my mom and I went out to do some errands and visit the Crystal shop and the 8 of them were still in the same place, so we waved “hi” through the car window. And guess what? They were STILL there a couple of hours later in the early evening, so mom and I got out and connected one more time with them. This time I mostly just sat with them and this one that was laying down to rest. His eyes were closing as I talked with him. So precious!

What a special time!! Still buzzing from it. To be in the presence of such powerful, graceful, wild and free spirits is a blessing and leaves me invigorated and inspired.

Their message is the perfect reflection for me and where my energy has been focused.

I hope you enjoy these captures of the time I spent with my wild mustang friends. I’m grateful beyond words for the experience and significance in meaning for me on many levels.