One year ago today, Crossbo came to live with me. It's been a wonderful year. There's really not much to say that hasn't already been said, but I felt like I couldn't let the anniversary go completely unnoticed.

When I first met him, it was basically love at first sight for me, a reaction that occurs far too frequently for me. Like many of the women who have that effect on me, Crossbo may not have felt the same immediate intense attraction. Unlike them, he didn't have the opportunity to say No.

The first few weeks of our union, I did some serious soul-searching. I had some serious doubts, not for my sake, but for his. Shadowfax and Arthur didn't exactly give him a warm welcome, and fresh bite marks on his hide were a common occurrence. Somehow he managed to injure a foot, requiring treatment which definitely didn't make him happy to see me. He was definitely not a happy camper at first. If he could have divorced me, he probably would have. I had some serious guilt feelings about bringing him into an environment where he wasn't happy.

Gradually, the situation improved. His foot healed. Arthur and Shadowfax began to accept him. He began to seem happier, which made me happier.

Our first hunt season was wonderful. I can't quite say perfect, but far better than I've had on horses with more experience.

And today, as I watched all three of them tearing around the pasture like yearlings, there was no doubt. He belongs here. We were meant for each other. It's been a good year.