See them at the starting-gate: br impatient horses tossing their bridled heads, br rearing, backing, snorting; br silk-bright riders patient; br how have they attained this race? br br they’ve shared a fortitude, horse and rider together: br out at dawn in all weathers, focussed, thundering br down and round the beaten, scuffed-soil track; br never a slack training session; br br they share – without a common language br save that of the heart – their discipline; br share that rare sense of unity br once forged in battle, now in peaceful excellence; br br ‘they’re off! ’ – the race begun; br all around, the watchers shouting, jumping, waving race-cards; br the rider, in the camera’s eye, br so calm; invisibly controlling; br br amidst all this excited noise, br they are the quietest; br amidst all this galloping, br they are the stillest in their mind; br br yet who knows a horse’s mind, br to say what’s patiently endured, br the daily training, bridle, bit and whip; br or what’s sheer exultation for a horse? br or where the discipline and freedom meet? br br who knows what may be horse’s sheer contentment? br knows what contentment may exceed br that of horse being horse? … br as rider knows, that, win or lose, he’s done his best, br for himself and for the horse.. br br what do horse and rider share br between themselves, that’s br never spoken? For, see: each, br a clear and shining eye..