For years, I competed in 100-Mile Competitive Trail Rides, enjoying the breath-taking beauty of the Biltmore Estate in the fall, and the tranquility of the immense Ocala National Forest in the spring. Prior to a ride, my horse and I were on the trails six days a week. While conditioning my horse and myself for a ride, a bond developed between the two of us that is beyond description. Riding through the hushed stillness of the North Florida Woodlands in the early morning hours, or when the shadows lengthen before the sun disappears in the late afternoons, gave me a glimpse of what a horse lovers’ Heaven must be like. Those were treasured years, and added a new dimension and depth to my life-long love of horses.
