While we're on horse stories... As I've said, I've ridden for therapy for a long time.

For those who can't walk, there is a special kind of mounting block which allows the rider to wheel a chair (or walk up a flight of shallow steps) right to the hieght of the saddle...

Anyway, one time, I was riding independently around the indoor ring and just happened to slip from the saddle (into a nice, deep, mixture of sawdust and composted manure). The two volunteers who were there rushed over and helped me to my feet, and dusted me off... then looked around for the horse.

On his own, while the humans were making all the fuss, he'd gone over to the mounting block, and was standing in the perfect spot for me to mount him again.

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Of course, not all horses are so sensible, and some are silly -- just like human people. And just like human people, good sense seems to come with age. As I understand it, Rosie was not that old... Sadly...

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For those who put stock in these kinds of comparisons, btw, I've heard it said that horses' intelligence falls between the range of a 4-6 year-old human child...