I've heard of horse whisperers, and having family in Boulder, Colo., I've heard of a lot stranger things than that.

But until a friend of mine returned from a horse show this weekend, I'd never heard of a "Medicine Horse."

But Natalie is one special mare, according to the brochure offered by her owner, a Mary Marshall, of central Indiana. (Marshall practices "animal communication," which she says "is to animals what sign language is to the hearing impaired. It is a nonverbal form of expression .... It is not a special gift given to a few but rather an ability to have an open mind and a willingness to learn to hear with the heart and see with the mind's eye.")

Born in 1986, "Natalie is a gifted healer and intuitive horse who provides guidance on health, nutrition, and spiritual and personal matters for humans. She is a mentor to individuals in the healing arts and willingly helps anyone sincerely seeking her counsel. Natalie is available for private readings by phone or at the farm."

Something tells me "sincerely seeking her counsel" is the rub: "If you would just open your heart and listen, you'd realize that when Natalie flaps her lips, that means you should go for the fixed interest rate on your second mortgage ...."