We love having a horse, but they are a lot of work and can cost a lot of money. We take the responsibility of animals seriously here. Maria tends to the pony every day. She cleans the mud out of his hooves, trims mane and tail, brushes his coat. As willful as Chloe can be, she seems to love getting groomed. She seems to love Maria.

When I first went to New York City to look at the New York Carriage Horses, I was struck by how responsible the owners and drivers were when it came to caring for their horses. They are brushed and groomed daily, given fresh hay and water, their stables are cleaned frequently. They get treats, attention, good work to do.

Chloe and the other animals on the farm teach me that we need a broader understanding of animals than  simply  rescuing them and saving them from abusive people.That is too narrow a prism through which to understand animals. In some ways, it is too easy for people to acquire animals, in other ways it is too difficult.

Chloe has enriched our lives and given Maria strength and grounding. In return, she gets faithful and loving care, every day of her life. I think the same is true four our dogs and for all of our animals.