Wind in my hair, the solid and heavy, steady beat of hooves on the ground. I throw my head back laughing in joy. This is how to live. The sound of leather stirrups rubbing against a large saddle is one of my favorites, along with the happy breathing of a horse being given its head to run free. The feeling of reins in hand and a hard saddle under you, making your everything ache after a successful and long day, is to die for. The smell of sweat and dirt, mixed with the feeling of success, is what one wants. Seeing the ground bob up and down, more than five feet below you, and not being afraid, is quite a sight. There is no other bond quite like horse and rider. To be able to stay up on such a large magnificent creature, and know it
