ìStable Relationî opens with Anna Blake singing along to the ìgolden oldiesî as she cruises down I-25 on her way to a horse show. At the time, she was a goldsmith in Denver who suddenly found herself consumed by a mid-life crisis. Follow her adventure, as this incredibly strong woman finds her true purpose in life on the dusty plains of Falcon, Colorado. At age 45, Anna faced a string of crises: Her parents had recently died, her marriage ended and she was living in an apartment in Denver with two loud dogs, Spam and Hero. Then the final axe fell — her landlord decided to sell the workshop where she created and sold jewelry. With little left to lose, Anna set out to discover somewhere ìthe dogs could barkî and she would have room for her two horses, which she kept in a ìboarding barn.î Many people are lured to the eastern plains of Colorado because of the solitude and inexpensive real estate. They often stand before a dilapidated home and believe they can make something better out of the forlorn house and collection of hodgepodge outbuildings. But, after facing a few harsh winters and what sometimes seems like never-ending wind, many find it easier to resell the property than to actually turn their dream into reality. Thatís why I found ìStable Relationî so inspiring, because a single woman was able to excel, where so many before her pulled up stakes and ran. But never fear, this is not some sugar-coated fairy tale! Annaís memoir gives us the full lowdown of what she faced in the fall of 1999, while still attempting to keep her jewelry business afloat. And with the exception of the sunrises and sunsets — it isnít pretty. Major house problems included faulty electricity, a garage built over the septic tank and varmints. The yard and outbuildings were the dumping grounds for generations of trash and junk. Anna faced the daunting task of turning these buildings into an adequate shelter for her horses. In addition, she needed to convert a section of hard-packed ground into a riding arena suitable for practicing dressage. Dressage is a French term meaning ìtraining,î wherein the rider and horse work as a team through numerous fancy-footwork maneuvers. Itís meant to develop the horseís natural ability. But, as Anna explains, itís often the person who learns more from the experience than the horse, forming an unbreakable bond between rider and steed. Anna describes it as ìdoing self-therapy astride a thousand-pound sentient animal with emotions, opinions, and a willingness to negotiate.î Although she lived on a farm in North Dakota as a child, much of her adult life was spent in the city; so transitioning to living in a rural area full-time required a psychological adjustment. Going from socially interacting with friends and customers daily to ìnot knowing anyoneî and being wary of some of the characters who stopped by her farm left her wondering if eastern El Paso County was a good fit for her. Her recollections of the first Christmas in Falcon reveal her mental state at the time, and is an illustration of her descriptive prose. ìSometimes this holiday is like a shoe that doesnít fit, but year after year, like Cinderellaís ugly step sisters, we try our best to force ourselves into it.î But it was then she noticed what her new environment had to offer. ìNature set a smooth rolling pattern, sunset to sunset, between chores and financial drama there was moonlight and abundance.î With the horses secure in their barn, that Christmas she was finally home. More animals were quickly added to Annaís ìfarm family.î The menagerie came in both domesticated and wild form, each with their own unique personalities. Half of this book can be described as a study in animal behavior, as Anna explains the interactions between the horses, dogs, cats, llamas, goats and Ernest the donkey. Wild ducks, barn swallows, coyotes, and migrating birds are all part of the scene. Learn about a goat who wanted to be a llama, and which animal acts as the ìmoral compassî for the entire brood. Interspersed throughout this memoir, Anna reveals her relationship with her parents and siblings. As children, we must all play the hand we are dealt; birth doesnít come with the guarantee of a loving family. Perhaps the kindest thing her parents ever did was to employ a horse as a babysitter for her, because the connection with a four-legged beast allowed Anna to blossom into a caring, responsible adult. ìSince before horses were first immortalized in cave painting down through time until today, humans have been in awe of their beauty and power,î Anna writes. So, too, did the horses provide the perfect conduit through which Anna became a part of the community. See how a group of senior citizens came to life while visiting Annaís farm. Observe how she gained the self-confidence to train other riders. And discover how a wind-blown landscape became a little piece of heaven for a well-deserving woman. All culminating in the creation of an excellent memoir, ìStable Relation.î
