May 5

May 5 THE VOICE OF A MINI HORSE by Dixie Ayala

I dream of having a place where I can run and kick up my heels. The pen I live in is so small it is hard to move around.

Sometimes my humans forget to feed me and provide fresh water. My hooves haven’t been trimmed in a very long time. My feet are sore. I couldn’t run if I wanted to. Often I pace back and forth and forth and back.

A lady came one day to rescue another mini and vowed she would not leave until she could take me with her too. She believed life could be improved for me.

The owners let me go with her. I was scared because I didn’t know where I was going. The lady brought me to a place called a sanctuary and put me in pen for observation until I could be examined by a veterinarian.

Soon I was released into a big corral. Space to roam, wander, and play with others in the herd. I have fresh hay and clean water every morning and night. Humans love me, brush me, and give me a carrot or two. I sometimes try to shove my way forward and steal another mini’s carrot. It is just my nature to be pushy now and then.

My hooves are trimmed regularly and my feet don’t hurt any more. My dream came true, thanks to the lady and her Band of Angels who believed I could have a better life.

I love it here. I can kick up my heels, roll in the dirt, and run like the wind.

Life is good.

Dixie Ayala

I have been writing stories and poetry since 2001. Over the years, I am proud to say I have had a few stories and poems published in Straitjackets Magazine, received Honorable Mention in The Plaid Horse Magazine Equestrian Voices Creative Writing Contest, which was published in the magazine, and did a podcast of the story.

My poem, “Moments and Memories,” won first place at the local Festival of the Arts in 2015 and is recorded on YouTube.

In 2018 I was led to volunteer at a mini horse rescue sanctuary. When some of the horses rescued from abuse and neglect were brought in, it made me wonder what it might be like for them. I started writing a collection of stories called, Voice of the Horse.

My other books include, Fourty Nine Ways to Bee There for Yourself (2001), and A Mini Book about the minis at the So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary. All profits are donated to the Sanctuary.

socalmini.org