This photo was taken prior to COVID-19, but I’m still finding time to connect with Happy and others. | Photo: Stephanie L. Church

We’re all adapting to a striking new reality right now. As horse owners, we’ve seen the COVID-19 pandemic upend our “normal” when spring recreational and competition riding was just getting started. As humans, we’ve seen it transform the way we go about our daily lives, being more mindful of friends, family, strangers, the risks we might pose to them, and vice versa.

We’re in a time where these changes, while uncomfortable for us, are crucial for halting the outbreak.

Aside from virtual communications with coworkers, family, friends, and my gym buddies, one thing has been vital to my wellness right now: time with my horse, Happy. I spend most of the day looking forward to my permitted time slot with him at the Lexington, Kentucky, farm where I board—even though it means rushing around while taking critical biosecurity steps to keep the barn staff and other boarders healthy. Being around Happy calms and distracts me for a bit. It keeps me grounded