Have you ever wondered who owns the three horses that live in the pasture next to the Spirit Rock gate? Rescue horses Billy, Hooch, and Sid have become part of our Spirit Rock extended animal family, and their caretaker is Jessica Lashbrook.
When Jack Kornfield and other founding teachers first organized the purchase of the 411-acre property from the Nature Conservancy in the 1980s, the sales contract came with a stipulation. Bob, an elderly horse, needed caretaking. His owner wanted him to live out the remainder of his life happily on the land he was familiar with. Around the same time, Jessica was looking for a home for her own horse, Sierra. Sierra became the perfect companion for Bob and they shared the pasture land together for many years.
As time passed, Jessica found herself rescuing other horses needing a new home and today, she takes care of three older horses: Hooch, Billy, and Sid. All three are 15-year-old geldings. Spirit Rock leases the pasture land to Jessica.
Billy is a blue roan quarter horse. While great for working cattle, he had been deemed dangerous because he bucked. Jessica found him after he had been passed around to eight different homes in his first eight years.
Hooch is a quarter horse, known as a blood bay, that RT, Jessica’s husband, met on a farm visit. Hooch was swayback due to ill-fitting tack and seemed unsuitable for riding, but when RT tried to leave without him, Hooch pulled away from his owner and followed. RT couldn’t say no after that and brought him home to Jessica.
Sid is a Tennessee Walker liver chestnut who was owned by a friend of Jessica’s and ended up coming to her when her friend passed away.
Billy, Hooch, and Sid.
Over the years, as with the large “spirit” rock and some of our other wildlife companions, the three horses have become symbolic of Spirit Rock. Having also found refuge and sanctuary here, they can often be found standing near the front gate as gentle, silent greeters to arriving practitioners. Retreatants enjoy taking the walk down the road to visit with them, and their quiet, solid presence has felt like a healing balm to many.
Farm dogs Lucy, Django, and Akira are also rescues.
Jessica is also the owner of Marin Tack & Feed, Forest Knolls.