Not long ago, Lisa Marie Terry’s days revolved around her horses and horse competitions -- an undertaking only slightly less demanding than caring for twin 2-year-olds.

'The horses eat before the people eat,' said Sarah Tupper, a horsewoman and friend. 'The stalls are cleaned before the beds are made.' On weekends, Ms. Terry, 42, was up by 5 a.m. for shows.

But she had drawn away from the horse world. Smoke, her favorite mare, died. 'She bought Smoke as a teenager,' Ms. Tupper said. 'In those days, riding was about saddling Smoke, meeting your best friend and trail riding all afternoon.'

The pressure at work -- she was a vice president at Marsh & McLennan’s Michigan office -- had increased. She was away on business more often. On Sept. 11, her work took her to the World Trade Center.

Two years ago, she sold the farm. But last summer, she was horse shopping again. She missed the riding life and the company of horse people. 'We always end up at somebody’s barn,' Ms. Tupper said. 'People have great houses. But we sit in the barn, drink a beer and talk about horses.'