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Chosen by a Horse

How a Broken Horse Fixed a Broken Heart

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

The horse Susan Richards chose for rescue wouldn't be corralled into her waiting trailer. Instead Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels, walked right up that ramp and into Susan's life. This gentle creature—malnourished, plagued by pneumonia and an eye infection—had endured a rough road, but somehow her heart was still open and generous. It seemed fated that she would come into Susan's paddock and teach her how to embrace the joys of life despite the dangers of living.

An elegant and often heartbreaking tale filled with animal characters as complicated and lively as their human counterparts, this is an inspiring story of courage and hope and the ways in which all love—even an animal's—has the power to heal.

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  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      There's a certain presence in a horsewoman, besides being passionate about horses. There's a rough edge, a capability, lots of color. Lorna Raver captures all these as she delivers Susan Richards's personal story. Raver reads at a good clip as she recounts the author's life--Richards's childhood and wild college years. Later parts of the book recount her recovery from alcoholism and an abusive marriage as well as her discovery of the joys of riding and writing. Raver carefully paces the sad illness and death of Richards's gentle rescue horse, Lay Me Down, an event that brings much understanding about her own life and early losses. Throughout Richards's story, Raver delivers authentic humor and emotions. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 6, 2006
      The horse was Lay Me Down, a tall, scrawny, sick (with pneumonia), abused standardbred mare, with a hostile foal at her heels and a wheezing sigh. The human was middle-aged, also abused (both as a child and in a bad marriage), an AA veteran and the owner of three Morgan horses in upstate New York. The Morgan mare, Georgia, was furious about the new intruder, although, Richards writes, "I blamed myself for creating a monster, a monster named Georgia. All these years of spoiling her, of never allowing anyone else to ride her, of letting her boss me around...." Richards's first book is an engaging, honest and low-key memoir of her love affair with the sweet-natured Lay Me Down and her almost love affair with a fellow named Hank, with many digressions into horse lore as well as life lore. Charming and sensitive descriptions of fiery Georgia; the gallant, lovable old gelding, Hotshot; loyal friend and "horsewoman extraordinaire" Allie; and daily life with animals intersperse with the trials of dating and buying underwear. The end of neither affair is happy, but this is a bracing and likable book, highly recommended for backyard horsewomen and their admirers.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Text Difficulty:7-12

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