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Book Summary InformationAuthor: Susan Richards Edition: Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2007-06-04 ISBN: 0156031175 Number of pages: 256 Publisher: Mariner Books Product features: - ISBN13: 9780156031172
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Chosen by a HorseBook Review: about love, forgiveness, compassion and dying nobly Summary: 5 Stars
Once critics manage to look past the fact that this is a wonderful horse book, this little gem will deservedly find its place among modern classics such as 'Gift from the Sea' by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. A 43 year old social worker lives alone on a barn with three beloved horses, a cat and a dog. One day, not understanding what motivates her, she responds to an appeal by the local SPCA to adopt a horribly abused mare and her foal. Living with the mare changes Susan's perspective of her own life and helps her move beyond much of the pain she still carries within due to a very unhappy childhood. A better way to summarize this book is to state that it describes the effect of one loyal, calm and loving soul (Lay Me Down) on a tortured, hurt soul (the author). But, in a way, the horse simply reflects the love, the devotion, the compassion and the respect back on its provider - Susan. Susan is portrayed as a very caring, considerate, giving person, and it is a shame that she has not received much love and respect as a child. In her 20ies she continues to abuse herself, just like she had been abused by her caregivers (regrettably, her mother died when Susan was 5 years). Like many who have experienced torment in early years, she pursues a career as a social worker. I love this book for its ability to celebrate what is noble and good in life - the compassion, the caring, the love, the respect. Refreshingly, the main relationships are with females - Allie, the telepathic horse-friend; the vet; the favorite, yet difficult horse, and the prime character - Lay Me Down. And despite the fact that the main characters are female, this is not an 'angry' lesbian or 'angry' feminist book. It is gratifying to find a book which celebrates friendship between women and which does not place men on a pedestal. Which is not to say that male character are portrayed negatively - they also have their role to play and often these are highly supportive - Susan's brother, who helps her remember her mother and assuages her grief; the highway trooper, who - against regulations - helps shift a broken Susan to the back seat of her car so that she can continue her journey; the impossible, greasy shopping mall developer/lover - who makes Susan realize that just being the object of affection is not a good enough reason for commitment; the kindly old man who willingly drives the sick mare 6 hours through horrendous weather to the hospital for half the price of others. I also greatly enjoyed the clarity of Susan's writing - the sentences are straight-forward and clear. The reader does not have to work to understand. Susan also has a gift of describing desperate situations succinctly and sometimes with a dose of humor. For me the most hilarious scene was the shopping scene at Victoria Secrets. But more important than the occasional humor is the grace and dignity with which Susan allows Lay Me Down's life to pursue its inevitable end. Susan makes Lay Me Down's last year as comfortable as possible. She understands the mare's delight of sunshine, and with great sensitivity and understanding chooses the right timing for seeking out an operation and when to arrange for the end. If only we allowed our loved ones to die with such dignity and in such comfort. How wonderful that Lay Me Down was allowed to experience one last spring. Not being a hippophile, I appreciate how marvelously Susan gave me an understanding of horse behaviour, horse personality and horse care. While she employs technical terms, she never looses the reader with no knowledge in this field as she clearly explains the vocabulary.
Lay Me Down facilitated Susan's first step toward an acceptance of her past. It is now up to Susan to take the next steps towards learning to think positively, accepting herself as a special person in the prime of her life (43 years is not old, twice that age is old) and opening herself to the possibility of finding a soul-mate who shares her ability to be caring, compassionate and her sixth sense and love of horses. I look forward to more writing by this exceptional author.
Summary of Chosen by a HorseThe 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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