Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 7 78 "A STORE AS UNIQUE AS MISSOULA." 301 N. Higgins Missoula, MT Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm Sunday: 12pm - 4pm 406-541-0080 greenlightmt.com Our goal for the Holistic Animal Wellness Week is to create an on-going dialogue with experts and animal own- ers on how we can support our animals in all aspects of their being—their physical, emotional, mental, and social health. We recognize all of these aspects are connected and integral to every animal's wellness, including our own. is is a perfect time of year for such an event. It is when we begin to think of the next year and how we might want to change things based on this year's experiences. What went right? What went wrong? While the season is still fresh in our minds, we can examine both the challenges and opportunities we encountered with our animals, enlist assistance from professionals, and make ready for a new year by learning and trying new approaches. And, indeed, that is exactly what we accomplished last year as we incorporated new rehabilitation techniques, zoopharmcognoscy (animals knowing how to medicate themselves) medicinal herbs, and animal Reiki into our ongoing program. October is punctuated by the Montana School Teacher's Confer- ence (Oct. 19-20) when schools close and kids are looking for some fun. Dunrovin obliges with a two-day kids' camp. At times, we collaborate with the University of Montana's Native American Kyiyo Club to put on a cross- cultural camp with Indian games, constructing a tipi, and demonstrations of the superb horsemanship that is traditional to Montana's tribes. Happy for any excuse to dress up and host a party, Dunrovin gives free horseback and car- riage rides to any child arriv- ing in costume on Halloween. Naturally, our Donkey Divas vie for center stage with children in outrageous purple and red out- fits. Sometimes the donkeys resort to loud brays. Some kids paint any horse naked of adornments. S'mores and cocoa around the fire pit and lots of active lawn games keep everyone warm. As fall begins to fade and anksgiving draws near, Dunrovin anticipates the first major snowfall. is is when playing in the snow with horses is safe and fun. Ice has not yet formed to cause the horses to slip, so those first blankets of snow are likely to be churned by horses hooves. Snowflakes rise and fall with each foot step. We break out singing "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go." What a wonderful way to say good- bye to autumn and hello to winter. TAMAR KASBERG Halloween fun

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