Now, I try not to rush through my barn chores. Instead I take the time to interact and enjoy the company of my curious horses, even when the “company” makes my task take twice as long.

upper-body strength and strong leg muscles. I also learned that my “good seat” had resulted in “tight hips,” and my posture was not as wonderful as I thought. But even as the yoga classes helped to make my body more supple, balanced and strong, I was learning a much larger lesson: gratitude.

I really love my horses. They have nicknames, they get presents on their birthdays, and they are extremely well cared for and loved. But when you really think about it, what we ask of them is a little crazy. I make them stand still while they get shots, haircuts, hoof trims, shoes nailed to their feet and dewormers pushed into their mouths. Then I attach a saddle to their backs, buckle