The Black Stallion (Carolyn) - Walter Farley
Alec was like you and me. He had freckles and was short. He had a brand new pocket knife that he hoped to use for something besides sharpening pencils and cleaning his fingernails. He was on a boat without his parents, just waiting for an adventure to happen. Everybody wants a special friend. To be your grandfather’s favorite kid, to be the little pal of the big boys, to have the teacher like you best, those give a child reassurance that they matter, that they are important. The Black Stallion was the ultimate special friend. No one else could go near him, or else the flinty hooves or the bared teeth would destroy the foolish presumer. He was very powerful, very beautiful, and unique. But Alec, by his own kind and loving efforts helped create the special bond they shared, which lasted all through the whole book series. Even if I wasn’t a horsey person, I could appreciate the themes of friendship, adventure, competition and fulfilling your dreams. Read More...
The Black Stallion Returns - Walter Farley
I didn't know that The Black Stallion was series for the first 3 years I read it. My earliest memories of the Black Stallion was me reading it (and not for the first time) when we moved to Davis - I was going into the first grade. Two years later we moved, and having a residence that was bigger than a matchbox, books were brought out of storage and my mom presented me "The Black Stallion Returns".
I hated it. I read it once. I was mad at my Mom for even giving it to me to read.
Then I discovered something else - there were more Black Stallion books - more and more and more! The next years were spent in the "F" section of juvenile fiction at the local library. Read More...
I hated it. I read it once. I was mad at my Mom for even giving it to me to read.
Then I discovered something else - there were more Black Stallion books - more and more and more! The next years were spent in the "F" section of juvenile fiction at the local library. Read More...
The Black Stallion (Mel) - Walter Farley
Let's say you've been living on an island and I have never read the 1941 "The Black Stallion" by Walter Farley.
Similar to trying to explain what oatmeal was to the Japanese college roommate (it's delicious I swear!), the conversation might go like this....
"Ummm....it's about a boy getting shipwrecked and being saved by a horse and they are on a deserted island. And he tames it. And rides it around the island at a gallop without a bridle or saddle. And then they get rescued.....and they run this race and....Hey, where are you going!? It's good I swear!"
Read More...
Similar to trying to explain what oatmeal was to the Japanese college roommate (it's delicious I swear!), the conversation might go like this....
"Ummm....it's about a boy getting shipwrecked and being saved by a horse and they are on a deserted island. And he tames it. And rides it around the island at a gallop without a bridle or saddle. And then they get rescued.....and they run this race and....Hey, where are you going!? It's good I swear!"
Read More...
Fit to Ride - Mary Bromiley
Upon first glance, I expected the glossy paged Fit to Ride to be an elementary guide to conditioning horses, suited for those who are no longer beginners to horses, but may be beginners to getting a horse really fit for a sport such as eventing. I was wrong wrong wrong! If you chose to add this book to your library, expect to refer to it many times and in small chunks. The information is very in depth and it is suitable to read the book in sections or chapters, rather than straight through if your time is limited. Read More...
Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace - Lynn Baber
There are so many books in the world and so little time to give even good books the time they deserve. Some books, as you read them, are so rich, so full of imagery and truth, that you take your time, trying to absorb every nuance and make your own connections. Tess of D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, and specifically two of CS Lewis’s books (4 Loves, Mere Christianity) hold a special place in my heart as these kind of books.
I can add Lynn Baber’s book “Amazing Grays” to that particular book shelf. Read More...
I can add Lynn Baber’s book “Amazing Grays” to that particular book shelf. Read More...
The Racehorse Owner's Survival Manual - Tom Ivers
This book review will be published over several posts since it grew exponentially once I started (could have something to do with a 5 ½ hour plane flight and extreme boredom. 11,000 feet and passing over Nevada). This is Part 1 of 4.
If you've read this blog long enough (silly me, still assuming I have readers!) you've probably noticed I over-think and analyze EVERYTHING. Endurance and dressage are thinking sports.
It was with this is mind that I picked up Tom Ivers's book, "The Racehorse Owner's Survival Manual". Read More...
If you've read this blog long enough (silly me, still assuming I have readers!) you've probably noticed I over-think and analyze EVERYTHING. Endurance and dressage are thinking sports.
It was with this is mind that I picked up Tom Ivers's book, "The Racehorse Owner's Survival Manual". Read More...
Warhorse - DiMarco
The goal of the command was to cover 25 miles in less than 6 hours of marching time.”
Sound familiar? This is the goal of modern day limited distance riding! The cavalry troopers during the Indian wars did the equivalent of a 6 day multiday LD every single week. Let me tell you what is more unbelievable to me….I did my first year of endurance riding in cavalry boots. They were well broken in, as I use them often during civil war events. I did quite a bit a leading, but less than what is described here. My feet were bloody raw at the end of those miles.
Read More...
Sound familiar? This is the goal of modern day limited distance riding! The cavalry troopers during the Indian wars did the equivalent of a 6 day multiday LD every single week. Let me tell you what is more unbelievable to me….I did my first year of endurance riding in cavalry boots. They were well broken in, as I use them often during civil war events. I did quite a bit a leading, but less than what is described here. My feet were bloody raw at the end of those miles.
Read More...