A few years ago I was responding to a question on a horseman list on the internet. In response to one particular question I made an inadvertent and off-the-cuff remark to the effect that it wasn't my desire to have my horse "plodding around like an old packhorse." This seems to have raised the hackles of at least one subscriber and a long letter was sent to me by e-mail. I have inserted the letter below for the benefit of those who (like me) have an interest in packhorses.