Brad Paisley is saying thank you for being a friend, not to a human, but to his horse. In the book ``Horse Country,'' about country music stars and their horses, Paisley says ``you never realize how strong and powerful the connection between you and a horse can be until you actually have a horse of your own.'' He says his horse, Pal, is his ``friend unconditionally.'' Paisley says Pal is always glad to see him. And, he says this horse has taught him ``what it really means to be a friend.''