Dancer:  Paola Styron with Capprichio ridden by Brandi Rivera in FLIGHT; Photo:  Jeff Anderson

What I love about this photograph is the way that Polly, Capprichio and Brandi are lifting off together, keeping up with each other, syncing up.  I spend a lot of time with horses.  A lot of that time is spent looking for that kind of attunement.  What I find is that what is often missing is the loft and thrust of this picture.  Maybe too much earth and flesh, and not enough air and wing.

My prayer for myself in this year of the horse is that I keep lifting, keep flying, catching the air, winging and hoofing as I move through my days.  I believe that horses love that exuberant dance when we allow them to be fully themselves.  When we are riding, if we want to experience that kind of expressivity, I believe we have to discover it in ourselves first.  What does it mean to be an expressive rider?  Here is the beginning of a list:  breathing, playful, light, smiling, opening, balanced, enthusiastic.

The year of the horse feels like a huge portal, a great opportunity to channel and relish all the gifts of horse magic and love.  Where will you find it?