This is the kind of moment that always takes my breath away in equestrian vaulting. Here my daughter is vaulting with sixteen-year-old I. today at the demo we did at the big dressage barn open-house. This was during the warmup. I. is sitting astride Irish Draft Shakespeare's neck with her legs in the cossack straps and J. is standing immediately behind the surcingle.

Each time I see this move, the phrase the wind beneath my wings comes to mind, as one vaulter supports the other.

From a stand, I. supported J. into a modified arabesque.

It always stirs me--this moment in equestrian vaulting when one vaulter supports another in such a profound way. Right now, without I.'s support, my daughter J. simply couldn't do this. But with the kind of confidence and strength this supported exercise stimulates, she will soon be able to soar on her own. And then, she'll be helping the others.

Hmmmmmm.... That's a nice model for living ...