horses for courses

On Betty's walk this morning we met the woman who runs the hardware shop in the village riding her horse down the road. Normally she is nice but a bit stern, and slightly sarcastic. Today, on her horse, she looked ecstatic. She greeted us enthusiastically, and smiled broadly, something I have never seen her do in the shop. I realised at that moment that being on her horse is the thing she loves the most in the world. It made me happy to know that.
Then me and Betty passed this horse in the field by the track we walk on. It came over and I talked to it for a bit. It was solemn and dignified and beautiful.