This episode gets a little personal, and that’s Helena for you! She is the kind of “girl” who wears her heart on her sleeve, welcoming anyone who is willing to listen to join in on her story.
As a horsewoman who spends a lot of time alone with her horses, Helena has learned so much about herself as a human being. In this short episode, she shares a particularly important observation that many horse lovers will appreciate. Listen in!
This episode is dedicated to American Indians.
Please take a few minutes to read an updated overview of their history and current state of affairs, here.
The American Thanksgiving holiday, in our opinion, should focus on giving thanks to the American Indians who shared, advised, welcomed, and sacrificed so much for the European settlers who came to these lands so long ago. Instead of dwelling on the conflicts, the Stall and Stable family will be spending this holiday giving thanks to our Native American friends for their great gifts to our ancestors.
One of the greatest of all Sioux indians was Chief Sitting Bull, a Hunkapa Lakota leader. If you fancy yourself a “real American”, read the book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Knowing even a little bit about the history of the sacrifices American Indians made will bring you a new appreciation for what it means to live comfortably in this great nation of ours; especially at a time when many American Indians are still suffering on reservations that are rife with poverty and staggering rates of addiction and suicide.
Photo: David F. Barry, Bismarck, Dakota Territory – original period albumen print, Daniel Guggisberg historical photographs collection
One of Sitting Bull’s daughters was Many Horses. Her Lakota name was Tashunke-ota-win, which, when translated literally, means ‘Horses-many-woman’.
Helena’s horse, Siouxsie, is named, in part, in honor of the people of the Great Sioux Nation. Yes, there’s an homage to a special punk rocker as well, which was also born out of admiration for the First Peoples of the Americas.
This special episode is NOT about Indians. It is about the MAGIC of horses; something for which we are very, very grateful.
