Aw, that was beautiful.

It reminds me of my friend with cerebral palsy I grew up with. Throughout our childhood, I talked her ear off over my love for horses and competing in horse shows. She was happy I was happy, and she was always out there in the audience cheering for me.

It didn't dawn on me until I was an adult how much that must have hurt her - knowing she'd never be able to feel the wonder and thrill of riding a horse. She has little to no control of her legs.

Fortunately, stables started offering "handicapped riding" around then. Like me, she fell completely in love with horses. She's been competing for years now, and I am the one cheering her on in the audience. I'm usually spotted pretty easily. I'm the one who breaks down and sobs tears of joy when I see her in the saddle and waves frantically whenever she passes by the crowd. At the last show she cantered all by herself on an English saddle!!! I wanted to run out into the arena and give her a big hug. It's probably a good thing my legs don't work very well anymore.