I'm taking my kids to a show tomorrow. Okay, so they're not really my biological offspring. They're 5 of the kids that I teach. I am their riding instructor and despite the fact that I did not want to get deeply involved in teaching riding lessons, I can't help but get caught up in their enthusiasm for ponies, horses and everything associated with the critters.

Naturally, I hope they all do well at the show. It's a small affair, one of those little schooling shows where the courses often don't adhere to any sense of logistics, and where a kamikazae pilot would feel right at home in the warm-up ring. Fortunately, the school horses and ponies are what I refer to as 4-wheel drive equine robots, so they're unflappable under these sorts of conditions. Even if they don't come home with arms full of ribbons, I intend to see that each of "my kids" has a good time. We'll see. I'll let you know tomorrow.