Horsing around

Are you feeling out of sorts, putting on a little weight, watching too much TV?

Many of us might answer “yes” to one or more of those questions. We’ve just not been getting outdoors enough.

Now that the weather is becoming pleasant once again, let’s stir things up a bit. Get walking shoes on and look for some interesting new trails. Maybe take up bird watching, do some kayaking, horseback riding, play some golf, go fishing, anything to tweak our appetites for the outdoors.

Last column I wrote about Leadership Napa Valley and what a super program it is. For the program, participants form practicum teams to come up with an idea that will benefit our community. Our team’s name is the Rhodes’ Scholars and our idea is to find some way of encouraging Napa folks to get outdoors again, re-educate ourselves on the wonders of nature and find an activity that really excites us.

One surefire winner is Napa Mustang Days, May 15 and 16. This event is put on by the Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association on 1200 Foster Road in Napa. It’s built around the Bureau of Land Management adoption program for wild horses and burros gathered on public lands.

Participants will be able to see how an expert trainer demonstrates her ability to gentle wild horses.

How long has it been since you saw a horse and trainer communicate through body cues and verbal commands, with no ropes or bridles? Most people have never seen this amazing and heartwarming feat, would be my guess.

Folks with once-wild horses that are now gentle, friendly, riding horses will be on hand.

There’ll be arena shows, story time for kids and more, and the event is free.

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting one of the 30 or so healthy young wild horses or burros that will be available, check out www.napamustangdays.com.

Our Leadership Napa Valley team will be staffing one of the booths, so stop by and say hi and pick up some information on outdoor activities. Get behind the idea of fighting Nature Deficit Disorder by getting outside again and encouraging your friends and family to do the same.

Meet you on the trails.

Senior Corner appears every other Monday, alternating in this space with Jim Ford’s Napa As It Was. Betty can be reached at bettyrrhodes@sbcglobal.net.

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