"Better than I initially thought it would," she admits, letting go of the reins and setting her hands down lightly on his shoulders as he helps her down.

"I can see now how horse and rider have to trust one another." She had to trust that the horse wouldn't throw her or take off in a gallop, and the horse had to trust that Christine knew how to guide her properly.

"I don't know when I'll ever have opportunity to ride again, but I'm thankful for such a gentle creature for my first time. Thank you for taking me out."

The entire time she's speaking, she doesn't remove her hands from his shoulders. She's forgotten about propriety and personal space, it seems, either because she's excited to talk about her experience, or because this feels so natural a thing to do. Maybe it's a bit of both.