They call it lunging, you tie a long lead to the horse and they walk in circles around you, somethings trotting or galloping. It helps with bonding, it exercises the horse, it hones the skills of the rider and animal. Fate joins in sometimes, she likes to sit in the middle and watch, Chloe steps around her. These two have no unease with one another. That is the mark of a good farm dog.

Maria loves working with her pony, and I can see it has been good for her, as training a dog is always good for me. It is true that animals make us better, it is true that training animals force us to look at ourselves. I am excited that lunging is now a part of our landscape.