There is one task that many horse riders are loath to do–cleaning tack. Over time, saddles, bridles, and blankets accumulate grime and muck. The salt of sweat leaves behind a slightly acidic residue, and without cleaning and conditioning, the leather becomes dry and prone to cracking. Critical pieces need to be replaced if they are too dried out to save, and you find that out when you break everything down. It is even possible to discover a damaged saddle tree during this maintenance period....

“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson In the mornings, I go out and feed horses before heading to work. Since I do it before 7 o’clock, the chore has afforded me many opportunities to see the sun rise, so most days I do not mind the early start. As much as I enjoy a gorgeous sunrise, time and again I am amazed at how quickly the day breaks. A perfectly painted sky emerges at first light, but moments later it is gone and the pastels fade fast as the day overtakes the night. One must...

When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest. – Henry David Thoreau I stood in a rather small room with about thirty strangers. The group included men and women from a wide range of ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. I had no idea where any of them were from or what their names were. We just happened to be on the same tour of RCA Studio B. Suddenly, the Everly Brothers began to play over the speakers. The music...