I had a conversation with a friend who is planning a big riding trip out
west. Over the weekend, she hauled the two horses she’ll be taking to a campground, and she met with others who will be on the same westward adventure. They talked horses, training, gear, trailers and all sort of elements involved in the trip. She had been working on getting her horses in shape, but she was all the more motivated by the gathering.

I mentioned that I admired her doing all that prep work. She laughed and said it was like having company coming – it forced you to get the house ready.

The irony was that, as we spoke, I had company coming, and really didn’t have my house in the shape I’d like it to be in. I rationalized that I’m not trying to impress anyone with my houskeeping skills, but I knew that I’d dropped the ball. So there I was, scurrying around, the way I tell people not to do with their horses. Sometimes it’s not the horses who keep you humble, but just the ironies of life.