Okay, I know it’s controversial in some parts, but it sure is a blast. I rode a borrowed horse, a lovely bay mare named Barbie who was a lot tougher than her name implies. As I got on her (in Virginia, this was, at the height of the fall colors), the trainer noted that “she tends to bounce around a bit at the beginning.”

Okay, so that might have been a bit of understatement. Barbie bounced, and galloped, and bucked and tossed her head in protest. Miraculously, I passed Barbie’s tests by jamming my heels down, down, down. I finally got her message about 20 minutes into the ride: LET GO! I KNOW MY JOB! I admit I was anxious, so maybe I kept her on too tight a rein for her tastes (us dressage riders always have too much contact). But once the lines of communication between us opened up, things were just dandy. I let go and she did her job admirably, which really just required cruising along in the 2nd group (or “flight” as it is called), keeping up a nice trot and sometimes a canter and occasionally a good strong gallop and then standing quietly.

Even though it rained (quite hard at times), you could not help but enjoy yourself. There was trotting and cantering, and going through streams and tree lined paths. There was the sound of the hunting horn and the dogs braying. I felt as if I might be riding in a postcard. The landscape was beyond stunning. The company was interesting and fun and the horses great sports. I would, and will, do it again.