Morning Stretch Postcard

I have been VERY fortunate in my life, to have had the ability and opportunity to pursue the things that really called out to me. Stock Car racing, flying small airplanes, scuba diving... And during one era, horses. I never owned as many as some acquaintances of mine who are in the business of buying, selling, raising and training barrel racers. But I've had a few. Mine weren't really honed in on any particular discipline: jumping grand prix, cutting cows competitively or win 1st place at the local shows. I much more leaned towards the relaxed, camping, meandering Trail-Riding types of horses over what always appeared to me to the more "formal" English style of riding. HOWEVER, I learned that all riding horses (and riders!) can benefit from dressage principles of riding and training. And so we did a little of that, with several of my horses. None the less, the mere thought of hooking up with ANY horse, and ANY style of riding, has always been an exhilarating experience. I have fond memories of riding in the cooler morning hours. Chilly enough to require a jacket. But as the day begins to warm and the birds begin to sing, the jacket is shed. Horse and rider share a bond and become one functioning unit.