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| Last updated on 12/29/09 |
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#BKBTH - $23.95 Beyond The Homestretch What I've Learned from Saving Racehorses by Lynn Reardon Hardcover, 289 pages |
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Here's an excerpt: "To me, racehorses are winners even after their racing careers end. They have so much heart, athleticism, and intelligence - all they need is a chance to find that second career after the finish line. Of course, they could use a little help making that transition. Because it can be hard to change careers at first. I can sympathize with that. I used to have an accounting career, working in a Washington, DC, cubicle. Pale, stressed, and full of suburban angst, I was the least likely candidate to run a racehorse adoption ranch in Texas. Back then, horses were just my outlet, my weekend respite from spreadsheets. Only learning to ride as an adult, I took group horseback-riding lessons and strained to master the most basic equestrian skills. But even then, I was drawn to racehorses - several resided at that stable, in training to become show jumpers and polo mounts. They charmed and inspired me, with their intelligent faces, beautiful conformation, and dark reputations as risky rides. From childhood, I had secretly wanted to be a horse trainer. But I was a horse geek, a real goober around the barn. The instructors and trainers hid their smiles at my barn gaffes and painfully anxious riding style. Every trainer at the barn had grown up with horses, usually turning professional by their teens, a formidable resume of equine mastery. I would never fit that mold - how could someone like me be a trainer? It seemed like an impossible, silly dream, plausible only in a Disney film. I worked hard to improve my skills anyway: exercising polo ponies for free, trading barn work for lessons, teaching at a horse summer camp, anything to learn more on my modest budget. Slowly, my horse activities morphed into a vocation, a calling I could no longer ignore, however ridiculous it seemed to others - and often even to me. Finally, I took the plunge, moved halfway across the country, and opened the racehorse adoption program." How many of us dream of doing this? Well, Lynn actually did it, and her stories are touching, inspiring, and motivational. The book says, if you want to make a difference in horses' lives, you can. If you need to learn more to do it - well, what are you waiting for? I've read the book and it has a really human perspective, devoid of ego, that I rarely see in horse books. Lynn doesn't think she's a magikal horse whisperer or the Mother Theresa of horse rescue. She admits to her mistakes along with her successes. She rides her own rescues, puts on benefit horseshows and other events, and keeps her numbers controllable so that every horse gets everything they need. |
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#BKHWM - $14.95 Horses With A Mission by Allen and Linda Anderson Softcover, 188 pages |
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#BKHB The Horse Boy - A Father's Quest to Heal His Son by Rupert Isaacson Hardcover, 357 pages (16 pages of color photographs) Price - $24.99 |
#BKHAMHorsepower - A Memoir Book by Annette Israel Softcover - 158 pages Price - $19.95 |
Horsepower - A Memoir Book He was just an aged Belgian draft horse, left alone in a pasture to live out his remaining days. He spent his time drooling and swishing flies. But once the old horse stepped out of a wobbly wire fence, and into his new life, he began to subtly influence his owner and other people who crossed his path. The horse weighed one ton and was physically strong. He was also kind and gentle, with an uncanny manner of getting involved in the lives of the people he met. Through trials and good times, through laughter and tears, this grand old horse conveyed many messages about life. This is a true story. It's a passionate, warm and humorous portrayal of an old horse's life as told by his last owner and friend. Richly enveloped in a series of nostalgic flashbacks, you will find yourself laughing and crying, sometimes both on the same page, as you read about his escapades, and ponder your own experiences. Gina's note: When I picked this book up - I was drawn in and did not put it down until I was finished. It is very, very well written - a story about an ordinary horsewoman (like me) and her life with an old horse of questionable usefulness. A very good read that showcases the many spiritual moments interwoven with everyday, horseowning experiences. Here are some quotes - you will know what I mean: "For most of my early childhood, I crawled around on all fours with soup cans attached to my hands so that they would sound like hooves. I stuffed one of my mother's scarves into the back of my pants for a tail. Sometimes I put a pencil in my mouth for a bit and rig up shoelaces to resemble a bridle. I whinnied and snorted and practiced every noise a horse made." "There I was, forty-eight years old, sitting beside an Amish man in a cart learning to drive a draft horse for the first time and giggling like a teenager." "Starting a conversation about horse poop is a great way to meet others just like you. Start talking about it, and you will separate the real horse people from the "I've always wanted a horse" set. Non-horse people stare wide-eyed, wrinkle their noses, and then they go golfing. The true horse folk dive right in." |
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The Forgotten Horses |
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#BKFH The Forgotten Horses Coffee Table Book by Tony Stromberg Price - $44.95 Sale Price $34.95 Some of the horse community has allowed themselves to be comforted by the idea that the only horses that end up at the auction barn, and subsequently the slaughterhouse, are the ones with issues that make them absolutely unwanted for any other purpose. Old, ugly, lame, blind, untrainable, etc. The fact is, this is not the case. Renowned photographer Tony Stromberg has documented the beauty and soul of hundreds of these "forgotten horses" in this awesome coffee table book dedicated to all the organizations who make it their work to rescue and rehome these horses who've fallen on hard times. Hardcover 10.5" x 12", 192 pages. |
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The Horses We Love, The Lessons We Learn |
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#BKHWL The Horses We Love, The Lessons We Learn by Tena Bastian Price - $19.95 Author Tena Bastian. Real-life stories are modern day parables for the lessons horses have to teach us: Learn from your mistakes, trust your instincts and above all, have fun. A reviewer commented: Some stories made me laugh out loud as I recalled being in similar predicaments. Others touched an emotional chord and made me cry. Softcover, 213 pages |
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Hope Rising |
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#BKHR Hope Rising by Kim Meeder Price - $12.99 "Stories from the Ranch of Rescued Dreams" A wonderful collection of stories written by someone who has made a difference in the lives of many children and many horses. (paperback, 256 pp) Click here for an excerpt of a story called Little Things. |
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Rider's Prayer Tassel Bookmark FREE with the purchase of any book! 
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A Rider's Prayer Dearest Creator in Heaven, Give me strength to guide my horse. Make my hands soft and my head clear. Let my horse understand me and I him. My heart you have blessed with a special love of these animals. Let me never lose sight of it. My soul you have gifted with a deep need for them. Let that need never lessen. Always let my breath catch as the sun gleams on an elegant head. Always may my throat tighten at the sound of a gentle nicker. Let the scent of fresh hay and a new bag of grain be sweet to me. Let the touch of a warm nose on my hand always bring a smile. I adore the joy of a warm day on the farm. The grace and splendor of a running horse, The thunder of its hooves makes my eyes burn and my heart soar. Let it always be so. Dearest Creator grant me patience, For horses are harnessed wind, and wind can be flighty. Let me not frighten or harm them. Instead show me ways to understand them. Above all, dear Creator, fill my life with them. When I pass from this world, Send my soul to no heaven without them. For this love you have given me graces my existence And I shall cherish it and praise You for it for all time. Author Unknown |
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"Rocky as a stallion & Rob as a teenager- you can feel the testosterone!" |
American Quarter Horse Joined the Keesling Family 1978 Read about a farrier's own horse as featured in Horse Tales (Vol. 2) (see below). "An Angel Called Rocky" is a story about struggles with business and horses and relationships. It's about learning to see things in a different light and gaining respect and admiration for the tubby, difficult, backyard horse that many farriers love to hate. This heart warming story about Rocky was written by Hoofprints owner, Gina Keesling. Here is a short excerpt -- Rocky was my husband Rob's horse that he acquired as a teenager. He was a starving yearling, bought from some irresponsible horse breeders who ended up starving his dam to death. Rocky ate grass as if there would never be any more. I have never seen a horse eat so quickly, vigorously and constantly. It was as if he thought he'd never get a chance to eat again. Rob was a typical rebellious teenager, and having the horse probably kept him out of trouble. He and Rocky's relationship was not without pitfalls, however. Rocky was unwisely left a stallion until he was four or five years old. Rob had no horse background, or any parental knowledge or support for handling or training a horse, let alone a young stallion, and I think there were a lot of violent encounters as these two testosterone filled boys vied for control. Click here for the "rest of Rocky's story "An Angel Called Rocky" featured in Horse Tales for the Soul - Volume 2." |
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Horse Tales (Vol. 1-7) "Stories that will touch your soul, warm your heart, and make you smile" compiled by Bonnie Marlewski-Probert and written by horse lovers all over the world, these five books should be in every horse lover's collection. The stories are joyful and full of surprises while some are very sad... It is wonderful to read and gain insight into how we all think about our equine friends. It chronicles the lessons many have learned by listening to their horses (and not listening, too). Softcover, each book about 160 pages. Warning: Kleenex may be required! A portion of the proceeds from each book sold are donated to Handicapped Riding Programs and various other horse charities around the country which makes giving the Horse Tales books as a gift, the gift that keeps on giving. |
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If you prefer not using the shopping cart, or if ordering outside of the USA, click here to order. Farriers' Greeting Cards - Hoofprints * 13849 N 200 E * Alexandria, IN 46001 Toll Free 800-741-5054 * Local 765-724-7004 * Toll Free Fax 888-724-4632 Email gina@hoofprints.com * Request Free Catalog * Subscribe Free Email Newsletter |