My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Jody Jaffe’s Commander Speaks is a delightful and thought-provoking novel that brings a unique and refreshing perspective to the equestrian world—through the voice of a horse. As someone who has spent a lifetime listening to horses who can’t articulate their thoughts as coherently as Jaffe’s equine protagonist, I was completely enchanted by Commander (or, as […]
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How many times did you read Black Beauty as a child? I’m not sure I can even count that high! Unlike the pure equine fantasy novels of Walter Farley (I longed for him to write a book about a girl as I read and re-read The Black Stallion and the Island Stallion series), Black Beauty […]
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I don’t know many horse crazed kids who haven’t ready Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague — probably multiple times. Although the book stays quite close to the book, here is a case where truth is even more interesting than fiction. This Smithsonian article gives wonderful insights into how Misty’s story extended beyond the book. Other […]
Read MoreI grew up reading Dick Francis mysteries. I’ve read them all at least once and they continue to entertain. Of course, Dick Francis is no longer writing the books . . . although they are still called “Dick Francis” books they are penned by his youngest son, Felix. I didn’t realize, until I looked it […]
Read MoreI will admit that I read anything and everything that mentioned a horse. Most of them more than once. Of course I read all of the Black Stallion and Island Stallion books — who could resist the thought of riding your own black stallion in a race after being rescued from a shipwreck . . […]
Read MoreRiding for Ladies, by W. A. Kerr, was published in 1891. It is now available as an ebook on Project Gutenberg and is a lot of fun to read. There is much to agree with, right from the beginning where Kerr writes: “The woman who has been early accustomed to horse-exercise gains a courage and […]
Read MoreLast night I saw War Horse at Lincoln Center. I’ve wanted to see it since reading reviews of the London production, so was delighted when I learned it was coming to New York this April. I was not disappointed. The production is amazing, moving and a true tribute to the thousands of horses and mules […]
Read MoreI’ve been reading Dick Francis books since, well, since I could read. They were among the first “grown up” books that I read. I gobbled them up because combined my two favorite things: horses and mysteries. Even better, he wrote 42 books, so there was plenty to read. My mother (a non horse person) also […]
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