Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand
Many people from around the globe have been e-mailing both Donna and I about the recent earthquake near Christchurch. We thank you all for your concern and kind thoughts at this very unsettling time. Fortunately we have been very lucky in North Canterbury. . . and although the earthquake was very full on and extremely scary, the damage is only minor here. We live forty five minutes north of Christchurch City. Donna, her home and horses are all okay, as are our family and friends.
Autumn Montage
(So many of you have asked for updates on the horses I thought you might enjoy this Autumn Montage...)
Dear Friends,
Autumn is here in New Zealand, a wondrous time of changing colour, cold morning frosts and gentle breezes under the bowl of a clear blue sky. The last of the summer vegetables are being harvested, pumpkins are coming off the vines and all the excess is being cooked up in vats to produce flavoursome preserves to brighten up the culinary doldrums of winter. Precious pottles of quince paste are being coveted away and inky rich tomato chilli jam jars lined up in the pantry.
   
All the horses are being prepared for their journey south to stay at Catherine Smith's farm, where they are lovingly tended under her expert hands.  Ambrosia is coming along wonderfully with her training having learned to come to call, wear a halter, lead, back-up, stand and to lift her feet to be picked out and trimmed by the farrier. She is now learning how to go into the horse trailer so that Liberty and she can ride safely side-by-side.
She has an insatiable appetite for being scratched, stroked and brushed and thinks herself quite the little horse now that she has learned to wear a winter canvas cover.
Like her mother, she has grown a very sensible bear-like coat to keep her warm (check out the Mohawk mane!) while Numen being of Arabian origin remains chillingly sleek. This, however, is no problem as he is outfitted with the latest winter fashion accessory: a blue tartan fully quilted winter cover which by winter's end will be a filthy mud brown. Enjoy it while it lasts. 
Numen has become completely besotted with Ambrosia, (and she with he), and they can be sighted spending long hours at the gate grooming, nibbling and licking each other. Although he is very gentle when he is with her and extremely protective of both mare and baby, the few times I have attempted to integrate them into the same paddock he has become so excited that it was not safe for anyone!  It seems he thinks he is a stallion alerting any other horses within a hundred mile radius that "This is his herd and woe betide any self-preserving horse that dares come near." This message is conducted at lightening speed with stallion-like roars, wild rears and kicks and mad dashes that look uncomfortably close to breaking gates and fences. Hopefully, when Ambrosia is weaned they will all be able to be safely together once again.
Numen and I completed the summer dressage series, where we did two tests at each monthly competition over three rounds. We won the competition with a huge lead, taking three 1sts, two 2nds, and one 4th. Strangely, I found winning discomforting because I sensed that the focus on competing had compromised the quality of his training, so we are taking a respite until later this year, still training earnestly, but going a little slower to consolidate our understanding.  
It has been an absolute pleasure to train in my new specially surfaced dressage arena, seen from this photograph from the house.
Autumn is also a slightly wistful time for me, foreboding as it always does the need to leave my farm and friends in New Zealand and take to the road. Although each year I do a little less kicking and screaming in the lead-up, every time I travel to share the teachings of Yoga I am immediately reminded as to why I continue to do what I do. The very warm and supportive Yoga sangha that has grown out of this work and the lifelong friendships that have formed continue to touch and inspire me. I am looking forward to the coming tour that takes me to three new cities: Beijing, Helsinki and Amsterdam as well as some long time favorites, London, Manchester and Dublin. May this autumn missive find you safe and may your Yoga practice always nourish and enliven you.
Blessings,
Donna
New Page on website: 'Find a teacher in your area'
We have recently added a teachers directory to this website. If you are interested in studying Yoga with a teacher who has completed a teacher training with Donna then please visit the 'workshop & intensives' page where you will find a link to 'find a teacher in your area'.
If you are interested in being listed as a teacher on this page, then please get in touch with
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. This directory will be updated with new listings once a year during the month of September.
Insight Column
Donna's latest insight column 'The Courage to Give Birth' is now available for your perusal by clicking on the following link: The Courage to Give Birth
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