Wash. dentist's staff saddles up to beat gas costs

ARLINGTON, Wash. - When gas prices hit $4 a gallon, the staff at Dr. Keith Leonard's dental office figured it was time to pony up.

Since more than half of the dental assistants and office staff own horses, on Wednesday the crew saddled up and rode in to work.

"We decided that when gas got to $4 a gallon, we would all ride in," Leonard said.

Ten riders and two bicyclists met up at Leonard's home about four miles north of his office for the commute. City officials in Arlington, located about 50 miles north of Seattle, granted them a special permit to ride as a group.

"We can't dictate how much oil companies charge, but today we're not buying," Leonard said. "We're using one-horse power."

Leonard said the ride was a way to encourage his patients to use alternative forms of transportation.