Starting as I mean to go on

Lance and I brought the new year in right – together, on a ride. We warmed up in the arena, where I took the above photo, then went through the neighbor's to the lane in the woods as the clouds turned golden from the setting sun. It was quiet, save for Lance's hoofbeats, the babbling brook, and a distant hooting owl. Lance was a little owly himself at first; it's been awhile since we've ridden that way and he was looking for the deer we flushed from next to the arena. But he eventually settled without incident – also a good precedent for the year.  ;-)