This past weekend, two old friends came to visit, and it was really a treat. Many years earlier — we figured out that it was 20 — we had worked together on a project, selling products at Rolex, the three-day-event in Kentucky. At that time, Gail and I lived in California and Pat in Minnesota, and we convened in Lexington for the show. We did that for several years — it was our tradition. Here we are so many years later, and they took time to come to North Carolina to visit me. We picked up as if we’d never been separated.

One of the most fun things we did was to go play with my horse, Calvin. We got him from the field, groomed and tacked him up as a team. You’d think he was a high-level competition horse getting ready for a big event. Pat even banged his tail (trimmed the bottom inch or so, so the tail looks straight across at the bottom.) Then we went out to the ring and took turns riding. Gail and I rode on Saturday, and Pat and Gail rode on Sunday. I was thrilled to see how well mannered Calvin was, and how hard he worked at understanding the signals these ladies gave him. Both are quite proficient riders but with different styles, and Calvin just one step up from pet-level activity since having been given the summer off. But he got serious and was a star, loved the attention, and went off bucking when we turned him back into the pasture.

Sunday, another friend took them riding, and they got to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the foothills of the mountains here. Then Sunday night, several other friends came over, and we all talked horses, of course. Each of us told one dog or horse story, and it was truly inspirational. We laughed at each other’s perseverance and the awkward situations we get into when you live with horses and horse lovers. We’d planned to make an early evening of it, but I finally had to nudge all these ladies out the door about 10. Old friends and new, now just friends — all because of the love of horses.