"He used all his charm like fine horses". I read that line somewhere the other day and saw a real life example not too long ago. However, charm can be deceptive and so can horses.

According to some scientists, the first horse, Sifrhippus sandrae, was the size of a house cat. One theory is that when the earth heats up, mammals become smaller, and when it cools off, mammals grow larger. There is food for thought in this if you're thinking about global warming.

Horses and house cats can be persnickity. Cats will only let some people pet them some of the time and horses may let you if you come bearing gifts such as carrots, apples, a pan of oats and/or sugar cubes.

If you know anything about horses, you know that they are smart, as in the phrase horse sense. They often want to get you you off their back and have many ways to get that accomplished. Bucking a rider off is a horse's method of saying you have got on their last nerve. In a way, there is a metaphor about life in that when watching a rodeo cowboy hang on tenaciously for as long as he can.

I suppose it could be a metaphor for all of us. The ride comes to an abrupt conclusion when a horse successfully bucks you off. In the case of sifrhippus sandrae, though, when a thing happens so gradually you hardly notice, eons may slip by.

Just because a horse bucks you off, that does not mean you can't get right back on.