As a young adult, out on my own finances for the first time, I wondered why anyone would want a horse and not ride it. Who wants to do all that work and not ride? Plus, it was a financial stretch to have a horse back then, but it was worth the struggles.

Now, as a middle aged adult, with all of life’s many pressures, I still love to ride, but I totally get why someone would want a “backyard ornament,” as they’re sometimes called.  As I juggle worries about my husband’s health and simply life in general, I’ve found that the few hours a day I can spend in the barn each day are a lifesaver for me.

Sally’s warm coat and caring eyes give me such a mental lift, as she nuzzles me in a way that says, “Don’t worry so much, Mom. Everything’s going to be just fine.” When she sticks her head over the stall wall, with oats and mash and mush dribbling out all over the floor, her face reflecting complete self-indulgence and total satisfaction, I often laugh out loud. It’s absolutely comical, but it reminds me that indeed, life is good, and that no matter what else goes wrong I’m very lucky to have what I have.

My Papillons lift my spirits with their high energy and determination to do what I ask for as best as they can, and I love our training sessions. Fluffy the barn cat never fails to lift my spirits. His favorite game is to jump out from behind a stall door, bat me on the legs really fast a couple of times—without using his claws—and then take off running to the loft as fast as he can.

But it’s the horses that give me something to steady myself.  I cannot imagine life without Sally and, even if someday I can no longer ride, I plan to still have a “backyard ornament” to help me get through the rough times. The horse has an amazing ability to calm, to heal and to cause you to appreciate the little things in life. The truly important things. Horses are a lifeline for me, surely a gift to all of mankind.