My favorite part about coming home (besides seeing the family of course) is getting back in the saddle. There's a strange euphoria in the smell of leather, horses, and dirt that I can't quite explain. There's a comfort in the feeling of horse's mane in hand, and boots in firm stirrups. I could listen to the sound of hooves against pavement and rattling spurs all day without exhaustion. There's a satisfaction in being with a horse that no one has even been able to put into words. There's sense of belonging that can only be felt on the back of a horse. It's a belonging I crave, and one that I can't imagine ever living without. There's no place I'd rather be than in the saddle.

There's a bond between man and horse that cannot be mimicked by any human-and-human relationship. It's a relationship built on mutual understanding and a silent respect. It's based on the bravery to trust one another and the belief that human will protect horse and horse will protect human. It's built, though, a language that is not spoken with words, but through eye contact and body language. It's a relationship that takes years to cultivate, but one that will last until the end of time. There's no better friend than a horse, and no being that I'd rather be with.

I've had my horse, Roxy, since the 7th grade and although we've had our ups and downs (many ups and downs), she's been my best friend for those full six years. She's a larger-than-life bay roan Quarter Horse mare with an attitude to match. She can be as stubborn as a mule, or as loyal as a dog, all depending on the time of day and the probability of you having treats in your pocket. We've trekked many miles with one another, both reluctantly and willingly. She's thrown me off her back more times than I can count, but she always lets me get back on. She's endured every one of my experiments, whether it be cattle sorting or barrel racing, and she never complains about going on a trail ride on a hot summer day. She was my 7th-grade shoulder-to-cry on and high school after school project. She was the true star of my senior photos, and the thing I miss the most. I miss her every day.

Ever since I left home for college, I've felt a new hole in my heart. There's something perpetually missing inside of me, a little bit of home I couldn't take with me. Don't get me wrong, I love college, I'm having the time of my life. But I would take the saddle to my dorm any day. I'd take long rides through dense forests over a 10 am class, I'd take cloud watching on the back of a horse on a warm summer day over studying for next week's exams. I've made life-long friends in college, but none of those relationships can compare to the one that is had with a horse. It's a strange euphoria. A comfort that can't be explained. It's a knowing that no matter where I go, who I meet, or what I end up doing, I will always belong in the saddle. I will always belong with a horse.