Why do I ride?

I ride because:

• I enjoy being outside.
• I love animals.
• I am good at it (I think).
• I enjoy the challenge of influencing such a huge animal in a positive way.
• when I'm on a horse, I am not able to think of anything but him and me and what we are doing at that exact moment.
• it teaches me things about myself I wouldn't have realized otherwise.
• it humbles me when I need a reality check.
• it gives me confidence in myself.
• it makes me think and analyze and use my brain.
• it is an excellent lesson in patience (something I need more of in my non-horsey world).
• the sense of harmony is inspiring and special to me.
• when we both get it right, even for a single stride I get an amazing sense of accomplishment. 
• I love learning new things and there is always something new to learn.
• horses smell good.
• it makes me happy.
• it makes me whole.
• every once in a while my horse does something that makes me crack up.
• my horses often do something that makes me grateful they allow me to share part of their world.
• it gives me a sense of purpose.
• the devotion between horse and rider is unique and hard to find anywhere else.
• somewhere along the way it became who I am.... I ride because I ride.