68 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
and healing. And when I was finally called over, at close to 2:30
a.m., I knelt at his feet and felt both electrified and incredibly calm
as he danced over me, singing, snorting, beating the drum right
over my head. I held on to a strand of cotton strips hanging from
his robe or “quyay”, peering up at his second face, an embroidered
mask and feather head dress, wondering if he could really bring
me the answer to that second question: the reason why I had
traveled so far and from such a huge world to this tiny little place:
a twenty meter circle in the middle of nowhere.
Today, I can honestly say that I found what I was looking for.
Whether it was thanks to the healing of the shaman and the spirits
or just the escape from our crazy world for a few weeks, I emerged
with perspective, peace and renewed determination. It is hard not
to be inspired by the enormous, vast and sweeping Mongolian bare
grasslands, sprinkled with colorful ancient volcanic rock. Whereas
in our normal lives there are infinite forms of immediate stimulus
to keep our hyperactive minds occupied, in rural Mongolia there is
only wind and space and moving animals.
I will never forget the day at the end of our trip, when we
emerged from the “wild” into the city of Murun to pick up supplies
and stop at a post office. We sat in a small restaurant and drank
cold Coca Colas, used a flush toilet. I felt somewhat feral, and
very conscious of the fact I was now more agitated and flighty-
eyed. I was grateful to have met the challenge of this trip, but, at
the same time, I was nostalgic of leaving behind a way of living
that was so rare and so personal and that is slowly disappearing
as Mongolia pushes forward to a true free market economy and
rapid urban Westernization.
I hope that one day you get the opportunity to experience, if only
Learning how to milk a
yak, unfortunately for her
.
Bundled with every bit of clothing
I brought – and ready to ride.
for a brief moment, what it feels like to live “off the grid” - without
things or pressure or expectations. And in the same breath, I hope
we can all think a little more about the natural way of living for our
horses - their need for moving, grazing and social bonding. Maybe
the answer to making your horse happier is not to buy him another
stall toy or lunge him longer. Maybe the answer to improving their
quality of life (as well as ours) is much more simple than that.
About the writer: Meg Krueger has found her life passion in horses, business and
travel. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she now resides in Wellington, Florida as the
VP of Sales and Sponsorship for Equestrian Sport Productions.
“My Story” is a first
person account of life in the
equestrian world. Would
you like to write your story
for Sidelines Magazine? To
be considered, send a brief
description of your story to
