My 10-year-old daughter J. and her 15-year-old Andalusian horse Caprichosa. J. has known Caprichosa all of her life. Isn't that amazing?

Cap is recovering from an injury on her left hind leg. The vet's been out twice to look at her and says it now time for some gentle longing and other exercise. I'm no massage therapist, but I've been giving her the massage treatment too as best I can. We just pulled her shoes recently, so she's a bit tender too. This mare could live on air, and all of this just sitting around stuff has got her a little on the zatfig side.

Caprichosa is a belligerent, opinionated mare who also has a generous and kind streak a mile long. A year ago, she would have been chasing J. around this round pen the moment I walked out, I guarantee you. She wouldn't have hurt J. intentionally, mind you. She's just full of buggers sometimes. You either have this horse's love and respect, or you don't. And her love for J. is pretty deep. It works both ways.

I don't mean to brag here, but that's an awful lot of longe line, whip, and horse for a 10-year-old girl. And I think she's doing pretty darn well.

This summer, Caprichosa took J. on some adventures up in the Pecos mountains.

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