Horses represent so many things: they are our pets, our recreational friends, our competitive partners, our working companions. What began as a childhood fantasy (literally! - I had read all the horse books I could by the time I was 12 years old, and there were still a few years to wait before I even saw a horse in real life) turned into a 'lifestyle' in my adulthood years. And through the years, the horses did in fact teach me all about 'real'  life: its ups and downs, and the nuances that serve to complete and fulfill desires, expectations, worldviews and so much more....