Near the end of the trail

feelings Lynne “The 490) Most about Next Carpenter’s of of Journey” us loss being can expressed unable empathize touching (True to Tale, in continue essay, Mary with EQUUS the the enjoyed riding for adventures so long, all she due and to changes Bear had in Bear’s physical status. She notes that the years of working together to increase their skills and improve their relationship are now behind them. I would like to suggest she look into liberty work and/or equine agility training with Bear. I, too, had been a lifelong rider until I discovered these amazing modalities of interacting with my horse. Unlike riding, both of these are unmounted, allowing human and horse to see each other eye to eye, which I believe provides an opportunity for relationship building that goes beyond that of horse and rider. I have learned more about horses in general as well as my horse’s individual personality in these interactions than I have in over 30 years of riding. My horse gets to choose what he would like to do, and as I have become more adept at learning what he is telling me, we have two-way “conversations” in which he will keep communicating as long as I am listening! It has opened up a whole new, wonderful world for me, and my horse seems to love it---he is so enthusiastic when I come to see him. While I still miss riding, and these activities do require a shift in thinking, I find I think less and less about riding as I see how much my horse enjoys this new partnership and I enjoy enhanced communication with another species! Danielle Y. Clark Erie, Pennsylvania

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