I hope that the possibility to dream is still alive for that little girl or boy sitting at the edge of a dressage ring; the one who is not building castles with moats, but instead fixated on their favorite international-level horse and rider combination, secretly hoping for a chance to meet and obtain an autograph and then perhaps one day finds them self in similar stirrups. (Cindy Ishoy: I still have my framed, signed poster of you & Dynasty from the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair).

April is a birthday month for us! My beautiful mare had her birthday on April 1st. She savored some delectable banana cake treats made especially for horses. My birthday is April 19th. As a child I would sing with great gusto (many months in advance) “April the 19th soon will be here," to remind anyone who might have been within earshot, of this momentous occasion.

I find myself surrounded by colorful hand written checklists of the post-it-note variety. A new checklist seems to self-generate as my trip preparations multiply themselves. Clearly, what I need right now is a designated starting point, so I’ve decided to ‘start’ with the purchase of a new suitcase with ample wheel rotation for those planes, trains and subways.