The sky is cerulean, sunlight cut in such stunning prisms of light; catching the the low whitecaps across the lake, shimmering on the tall grasses as the wind shifts them to and fro. It's, in a word, glorious.

Kate's been in the stables since dawn, though her morning chores were done hours ago. It's too perfect a day to go in, and so she's been working with Corella's foal, Concession, Beaut. Lunging and hot walking. Duncan is next, and then she'll move on through her charges until the sun sinks beyond the far horizon.

After a long winter, there's nothing so satisfying as a day of hard work spent in the glimmering sun.