When you give a girl a horse, you give her the responsibility of caring for something other than herself. You make her life bigger and more vibrant. You give her confidence in herself, and teach her the importance of hard work. You'll teach her to think for herself and make her own decisions. You'll give her independence.

When you give a girl a horse, you'll give her sleepless nights too. You'll show her the sides of life that are sometimes sad and sorrowful. You'll expose her to the ugly side of things- the fear sickness brings and the bittersweetness of old age. She'll cry and sing and shout over horses and she'll be a better person because of it. She'll grow stronger through it all.

Because you gave a girl a horse, she has the tools to face the difficulties of life. She has the grit to withstand the bad days, and the joy in her soul to brighten the lives of those around her. She knows the value of a kind word, a simple smile and the satisfaction of a hard day's work. She's no stranger to disappointment and stands brazen in the face of fear.