My Transformative Journey: From Baltimore to Idaho on My Quest to Become a Cow Girl
It’s been 8 months since my last nature fix. And after a traumatizing experience on our trip to Nicaragua, my husband and I were long overdue to feel some relief from the day-to-day. Not only was I going to get a full 2 weeks out West (with one week completely on my own), I was going to reunite with my Cowgirl Mentor, Chyenne to continue on my Quest to Become a Cowgirl!
In case you didn’t notice by the title, this is the on-going story of my life-long quest to become a Cowgirl. I’ve had this inner-calling since I was about 3, when I was exposed to the idea of it as a young girl.
My great uncle lived on a beautiful ranch in Idaho and I started visiting when I was very young. He had been a cowboy and, naturally, had horses. My first visit out west was also the first time I was up close with live horses – and they were even more magical than my favorite My Little Ponies on TV. My mother still tells stories of how I had no fear of those horses. I would walk under and between them, loving every moment of their majestic presence.
Ever since building my bonds with Chyenne (loving referred to as Chy) that spark I had for horses has been fanned into a full bonfire! So, back home in Baltimore, I’ve been taking riding lessons, preparing myself for some of the big dream moments I had hoped would come into reality on this summer’s retreat.
Specifically, there are 4 things I’ve wanted to experience in my Cowgirl dreams for a very long time:
- Cross the Salmon River on horseback
- Ride our property and experience a new perspective
- Learn the right to wear a true Cowgirl hat
- Help move cattle across the highway and up into the mountains
And boy oh boy, did I get to cross off my TOP TWO from this list!
Chy called and asked if James (my husband) and I wanted to come help with vaccinations for the calves on their ranch and then take a ride together after. Given that I want to do anything that she invites me to, I eagerly joined and brought my hubby along for the ride, literally.
To my surprise, when the vaccinations were complete (which were done in a humane and low-stress environment) Chy drops the BIG question, “Do you want to ride across the river this afternoon?”
YES, YES, YES, YES!!! I felt like I had won the lottery – this dream was actually going to come true! We saddled up and made our way out. My eyes were overwhelmed by the beauty and my heart beat heavy and hard building up to the moment.
The surreal experience of the first hoof splashing in the river felt like it happened in slow motion. The water was clear and moving fairly fast, and to my delight, I had no fear. Pure joy pumped through my veins and immense gratitude and love for being afforded this experience in life.
And to my unexpected pleasure, my hubby was right there alongside me. Having only been on a horse a few times – this was definitely not a beginners trail. But Chyenne’s calm mentorship, the dog’s panting with glee at our hooves, the horses’ steady demeanor, and the beauty of the space – it was hard to have any other feeling than love. Nothing bad could happen in this magical moment, so all the fear was taken away through that love.
We had a sensory overload when we ran into a heard of elk, bald eagles and a view that could just about make you faint from its beauty. It was a complete honor that after this mind-altering experience, I still had three more big steps into my Cowgirl education: learning to plow a field on a tractor, taking cows up to the top of a mountain AND riding horses on our land – the 2nd dream coming true! And those experiences deserve their own post, which I’ll share later on.
Chyenne and her husband Jay were people I would call my friends after our first visit together but now I call them family. My Idaho family which continues to bless me in ways that are truly impossible anywhere else. The gifts I have received of friendship, mentorship, curiosity, connection, and growth have been nothing short of profound for me in my life.
When saying goodbye to Chy after our trail ride across our land, I had a full ugly cry. Tears of gratitude, love and true friendship. It’s rare to add members to your soul tribe but it was quickly apparent that was the case.
Which makes this quest all the richer. I am now on it in an accelerated path and bathed in love on each step. Looking back on part 1 of this series, I mentioned that I wasn’t ready to quit my day job. On this trip, I was beginning to think otherwise.
When you connect with people through your values and a loving hearts, it’s amazing how quickly you can form strong bonds. One of the greatest gifts of my life is the uniqueness of each of the people I hold close in life. Their cultures, stories, perspectives, and lifestyles all bring a great richness to mine. Out west, it’s a rare culture that you can’t compare.
My cowgirl quest has inspired me in life and is keeping me more engaged in my work in Baltimore. Having the extremes of city and country living only opens it up further to know the beauty of life and the endless possibilities of how to live it.
