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Sharing your passion for horses with the people close to you can be messy and complicated. But don’t let that stop you.

Take a friend to the barn

Isn't it always little bit of a wild card when a friend says she wants to come to the barn with you? I don’t mean the friend with the horse-besotted niece-that’s easy. To a horse-crazy child, you represent the dream. Even if the day is hot and full of flies, the child will have a wonderful time going on a lead-line walk and feeding your horse treats. The sponsoring will swell with pride at her brilliance for thinking of this adventure, and everyone will bask inthe warm light of wish fulfillment.

But when an adult asks to g with you, it's different. First you wonder

someone else’s eyes, and I just can’t do it. Everything is too familiar and dear, tractor to tack room to jump standards. So I just have to wait for the questions and commentary: What’s this one’s name? What do you call the horse that looks like a spotted cow? So that’s what a real hayloft looks like!