Gallop

The Doctor of Confidence was unflappable; he was cool; he was the hepcat wearing shades, playing bass with the jazz combo. Once, while Woody was curing Jody of the horse-riding yips, they were at a show in the big indoor arena at Lexington’s Virginia Horse Center. It was a large field, maybe 20 horses. Waiting to go into the ring, 19 of them were heads up, prancing, pacing, eyes wide, ears flicking. Not Woody. He looked like a guy on a Barcalounger. His nose drooped to the floor; I swear his eyes were closed.