For those of us who wonder where the years went each time we look into the mirror in the morning, it was encouraging to read the story of Proud Dancer and Carl Smith.

In case you missed it, Proud Dancer is a horse; Smith is his owner. Smith often shows Proud Dancer at horse shows in the area, and the two have taken home their share of prizes over the years. What makes this pair unusual is that Proud Dancer is 32 years old. In horse years, that’s old. Smith has got a few years on him, as well.

Both carry their age well.

The pair recently returned from a horse show in Marion, where Proud Dancer place first, third and fouth in various categories.

We don’t know about you, but we find something encouraging about the whole idea of anyone &045; horse or human &045; refusing to cede the field to younger competitors simply on account of age. The battle is not always to the young; experience still counts for something, too.

All too often we forget that. The church votes to call a younger pastor with a seminary degree, ignoring the older man or woman who may have earned his or her degree in the trenches. Faced with two candidates for a job opening, many companies all too often give the edge to the younger prospect &045; neglecting the hard-earned experience of the older prospect.

Smith has owned Proud Dancer longer than most marriages last, and the two share an uncommonly close bond. Smith swears the horse even understands what he tells him. We couldn’t vouch for that, but we’ll take his word on it.

And while we’re at it, we’d like to tip our 10-gallon hat to both Smith and Proud Dancer &045; for reminding us that the best is yet to be.