“So you can smile,” I said to Joshua Rockwood today soon after his horses came back to his farm from the horse rescue farm where they were taken – some have used other words for it – nearly a year ago. Even thought he is not accused of any mistreatment of his horses – those very thin charges were dropped – he had to pay $9,000 to get them returned.

I’ve been taking photos of Joshua all year, and I’ve only captured him smiling twice. Last night at his last court hearing, and this morning, when his horses were returned. His love for them and his joy at having them back were all over his face. Good to see that he can smile. I wondered for awhile.