A simple, yet lovely essay that connects you to the beautiful, rainy, landscape of Iceland. Pam Houston respects the horses she rides—even the stroppy mares—and her words are full of gratitude towards them.

Anna, our German guide, tall, strong, magnificently beautiful in her muck boots and men’s overalls, her thick blond hair tied in a mane-ish knot atop her head, is the horse girl we all wish we’d had the courage to be. She gathers us, says yes, that in spite of the gale and the worsening prediction (50 mph, gusting to 75), we need to saddle up and get ready to go.

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