He loves the attention and he loves his carrots. Moh lives with 22 animal friends in two long rows of stalls, completely dependent on his human caretakers, yet he maintains his pride of horseness. When I ride on his back, I can sense this pride, and, if I am able to let go of my own thinking, he allows me to share it with him. The basic point is that riding a horse is an extremely valid situation. Even in the sutras, if we might quote them, the horse is often referred to as exertion or virya.
Exertion is always like riding a horse.
Exertion is never regarded as just wearing oneself out, but exertion is regarded as riding on the energy that exists. Riding is a sport that does not dawn overnight. One has to practice and practice and then practice more. It complements meditation. In both, one has to practice without a goal.