A Longing for Horses

How many of us have longed to be with horses? Or still do? When I was little and the opportunity arose to be around a horse, I was in absolute heaven. Many times I leaned on a fence, just watching them, breathing in that wonderful horsey scent, and wishing, wishing, wishing that I had one of my own.

A lot like this.

That's Pony Pal Mila yesterday at the Tippecanoe County 4H Fair. She's standing outside an exercise arena and watching the 4H kids work their horses. (The fairgrounds are undergoing major improvements and construction that were not completed before the fair, hence the temporary chain link fences.)

Vanessa snapped the photo and texted it to me, and I felt an immediate connection - I recognized that pose at the fence because that little girl was me many years ago. The text said simply, "Mila's loving the horses so much."

I may never know why that horsey pull, that longing for horses, is so strong, but I can recognize it when it happens. 

It happened last night.