Is it the idea of the horse that is so mesmerizing, enticing, captivating? Is it the sound of their hooves on the pavement, the feel of their fur under your fingertips, the flare of their nostrils after an honest run?

These surface details are full of sensory beauty and fulfillment, but with some perspective, it's easy to see that these simply make up the silhouette of a life with horses. If you travel deeper, exploring new areas, asking questions, developing lovely relationships, you'll uncover what fills the silhouette.

And this sort of reflection translates seamlessly into the contemplation of really knowing of who we are and what we desire in our lives.

We mustn’t forget to look around. It’s easy to do. To get stuck in routines and petty conversations and the aspects of life that draw us apart. But the Earth, with its mysterious mountains and endless lakes and cavernous valleys, calls for humans to come together. Together, we shall find depth in its beauty, hope in each sunrise, connectedness in its awe, wonder in the exploration.

In my eyes, the horse has the ability to bring us closer to the land — calling for us to respect the soil, the trees, the animals, and the humans who inhabit this time and space.