Horses are pretty. They come in many pretty colours, like different shades of brown or dappled white or grey. Sometimes their ears are blackish. Sometimes they have glossy manes. They swish their tails a lot.

I like horses. They are strong and sensitive and powerful and fragile. They can also be very silly at times and get scared by plastic bags and pipes. They can be lazy and stubborn and you have to growl at them. They sometimes try to take a mile when you give them an inch. When you pat them, they're warm and supple under your hand. They look at you with deep, liquid eyes.

I am a piddling rider but I still like to ride them anyway. I like to feel the spring of a horses legs under me and the speed whip by when we're going fast. I can feel their muscles work with mine, the coiled energy of the both of us moving in tandem. I like feeling tired after a good half hour's work and I like the excitement you get when you clear a jump. I like to learn new tricks and try to be better.

I want to ride and ride and ride away.