Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul : Inspirational Stories about Horses and the People Who Love Them

by Canfield, Jack; Hansen, Mark Victor; Becker, Marty; Seidler, Gary; Vegso, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780757300981
• ISBN10: 0757300987
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: Hci

Summary

Our connection to the horse is ancient and visceral. These humble creatures are mentioned in the earliest samplings of the written word, which illustrates how the human/equine bond transcends cultural and economic barriers. The horse's integral role in man's evolution, society's development and the growth of civilizations is unquestioned; they have been immortalized by Hollywood, cherished by little girls and mourned by warriors. Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul is filled with inspiring stories of rescue and rehabilitation, heartbreaking losses, dedication and commitment, and positive messages of responsibility and unconditional love. Readers will enjoy uplifting and humorous stories that depict the horse's intelligence, versatility and intuitiveness; they will discover the horse's healing powers, marvel at the graceful performance of a Grand Prix Dressage winner, be awed by the stamina and strength of a working horse and the athletic prowess of a champion racer. In exchange for our love and companionship, horses teach us, heal us, protect us and guide us. Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul is a worthy celebration of a very noble creature.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi
Introduction	xiii
1. A SPECIAL BOND
The Racking Horse
Lori Bledsoe as told to Rhonda Reese	2	(5)
A Rocky Rescue
Diane M. Ciarloni	7	(6)
Cowboy Heart
Roger Dean Kiser	13	(5)
Shadow
T.C. Wadsworth	18	(3)
Old Twist
Tom Maupin	21	(3)
A Silent Bond
Tiernan McKay	24	(4)
Daddy Always Said "Yes" to Horses
Teresa Becker	28	(4)
Syd and Roanie
Judy Pioli Askins	32	(6)
A Horse with Heart
Jerri Simmons-Fletcher	38	(4)
Sleeping Baby
Jennilyn McKinnon	42	(2)
A Gift of Gold
Robin Roberts	44	(4)
Chance of a Lifetime
Denise Bell-Evans	48	(6)
Throwing My Loop
Michael Johnson	54	(8)
2. HORSES AS TEACHERS
The Language of Horses
Monty Roberts with Carol Kline	62	(4)
Riding the Edge
Jane Douglas Rhodes	66	(5)
Big Brother Is Watching
Don Keyes	71	(5)
God Bless Little Horse Lovin' Souls
Patricia Carter	76	(2)
Encounter with a Dangerous Spy
Woody Woodburn	78	(5)
Standing Ground
Starr Lee Cotton Heady	83	(3)
That Ol' Black Magic
Diane M. Ciarloni	86	(6)
One Good Horse
John Moore	92	(5)
Take a Deep Seat
Gary Cadwallader	97	(5)
3. THESE AMAZING ANIMALS
Sgt. Reckless, a Mighty Marine
Boots Reynolds	102	(7)
The Guiding Sight
Stephanie Stephens	109	(4)
The Stallion and the Redwing
Gerald W. Young	113	(4)
A Change of Command
Sandra Tatara	117	(3)
From One Mom to Another
Chris Russell-Grabb	120	(5)
A Leap of Faith
Gayle Stewart	125	(4)
Riding in the Alaskan Bush
Laurie Wright	129	(3)
Instincts of a War Mare
Christina Donahue	132	(3)
The Man Whisperer
Joyce Stark	135	(3)
The Pilon
Nancy Minor	138	(4)
Shawnee
Jan Roat	142	(3)
The Wedding
Kris DeMond	145	(4)
Andy's Wish
Vikki Marshall	149	(4)
Great Finesse
Thirza Peevey	153	(4)
A Job for Missy
Lynn Allen	157	(5)
4. HORSES AS HEALERS
I Got It, Dad!
Pat Parelli	162	(5)
Chrysalis
Jennie Ivey	167	(5)
That Kid Is on Zoloft
Marguerite Suttmeier	172	(3)
Hey, Lady!
Jeanette Larson	175	(4)
Thursdays Are Special
Kimberly Graetz Herbert	179	(3)
A Beach Day
Tracy Van Buskirk	182	(4)
Damsel in Distressed Work Boots
Paula Hunsicker	186	(4)
Riding the Road to Recovery
Lisa B. Friel	190	(4)
The President's Escort
Gayle Stewart	194	(5)
Fly, Misty, Fly!
Janice Willard, DVM, MS	199	(6)
Like Pegasus, Laughter Takes Flight
Barbara A. Davey	205	(3)
At the End of His Rope ... a Winner!
Stephanie Stephens	208	(3)
Don't Fence Him In
Tom Persechino	211	(4)
Regalito
Diana Christensen	215	(3)
Touched by an Equine
Melody Rogers-Kelley	218	(2)
Going Where No Horse Has Gone Before
Carole Y. Stanforth	220	(2)
Billie Girl
Laurie Henry	222	(3)
Passages of Time
Mary Gail Cooper	225	(3)
Aul Magic
Sharon Byford-Ruth	228	(4)
5. ON COMPANIONSHIP AND COMMITMENT
A Horse in the House
Diana Christensen	232	(4)
Side by Side
Sissy Burggraf	236	(5)
My Friend Bob
Diane M. Ciarloni	241	(6)
The Magic Carpet Pony
Robin Traywick Williams	247	(5)
Handled with Care
Sandra Moore	252	(3)
To Chutney, with Love
Kimberly Gatto	255	(4)
New Life for Rosie
Marla Oldenburg with Bill Goss	259	(7)
Lessons from Lou
Edwina Lewis	266	(4)
Bit by the Bug Thanks to Finger Paint
Tiernan McKay	270	(4)
His Special Gifts
Debbie Hollandsworth	274	(3)
Horse at Harvard
Jennifer Chong	277	(3)
Tall in Faith
Mitzi Santana	280	(7)
6. AND ... THEY'RE OFF!
An Unlikely Trio of Hope
Theresa Peluso	287	(4)
Ride the Yule Tide
Jan Jaisop Cross	291	(5)
Racehorse Poor
Carol Wade Kelly	296	(6)
Happy Horses
Michael Compton	302	(4)
Down the Stretch He Comes, Hanging on for Dear Life
Craig Wilson	306	(3)
Allez Mandarin
Thomas Peevey	309	(5)
The Fastest Mule in the West
Debra Ginsburg	314	(4)
Da Hoss
Ky Mortensen	318	(5)
Girly's Gift
Dave Surico	323	(5)
The Destiny of Edgar Brown
Jeff C. Nauman	328	(4)
A Tap on the Shoulder
Basil V. DeVito Jr.	332	(2)
Unbelievable Kentucky Derby Tale
Woody Woodburn	334	(3)
The Funny Side of Life
Chris Russell-Grabb	337	(5)
7. HORSE ... CETERA
They Neigh, I Pay
Marty Becker, DVM	342	(4)
Of Great Horses and Men
Boots Reynolds	346	(6)
Are You a Real Horse Mom?
Barbara Greenstreet	352	(2)
Horse Lovers Are Really Sick People
Cristina Scalise	354	(4)
Me and Minnie Pearl
Tom Truitt	358	(5)
Attitude
Gary Cadwallader	363	(5)
A Frosty Georgia Morning
Janie Dempsey Watts	368	(4)
The Waltz
William Geen	372	(4)
Guard Duty
Renie Szilak Burghardt	376	(5)
Battle of the Titans
Lynn Allen	381	(4)
Great-Grandma Hazel and the Sidesaddle
Dottie McDonald Linville	385	(3)
Trail Etiquette
Christine Barakat	388	(2)
The Gift of a Dream
Susan Farr Fahncke	390	(4)
Confessions of a Horse-Show Father
J.L. Lindstrom	394	(5)
More Chicken Soup	399	(1)
A Helping Hand	400	(1)
Who Is Jack Canfield	401	(1)
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen	402	(1)
Who Are the Coauthors	403	(2)
Contributors	405	(7)
Permissions (continued)	412

Excerpts

The Racking Horse A horse is worth more than riches. Spanish Proverb The first time Bart told me about his horse Dude, I knew their bond had been something special. But I never suspected that Dude would deliver a wonderful gift to me. Growing up on a 100-year-old family farm in Tennessee, Bart loved all animals. But Dude, the chestnut-colored Quarter Horse that Bart received when he turned nine, became his favorite. Years later when Bart's father sold Dude, Bart grieved in secret. Even before I met and married Bart, I knew all about grieving in secret, too. Because of my dad's job, our family relocated every year. Deep inside, I wished we could stay in one place where I could develop lasting friendships. But I never said anything to my parents. I didn't want to hurt them. Yet sometimes I wondered if even God could keep track of us the way we moved from place to place. One summer evening in 1987, as Bart and I glided on our front-porch swing, my husband suddenly blurted out, Did I ever tell you that Dude won the World Racking Horse Championship? Rocking horse championship? I asked. Racking, Bart corrected, smiling gently. It's a kind of dancing that horses do. Takes lots of training. You use four reins to guide the horse. It's pretty hard. Bart gazed at the pasture. Dude was the greatest racking horse ever. Then why'd you let your dad sell him? I probed. I didn't know he was even thinking about it, Bart explained. When I was seventeen, I started a short construction job down in Florida. I guess Dad figured I wouldn't be riding anymore, so he sold Dude without even asking me. Running a horse farm means you buy and sell horses all the time, and that's what Dad did. I've always wondered if that horse missed me as much as I've missed him. I've never had the heart to try to find him. I couldn't stand knowing if something bad... Bart's voice trailed off. After that, few nights passed without Bart mentioning Dude. My heart ached for him. I didn't know what to do. Then one afternoon while I walked through the pasture, a strange thought came to me. In my heart, a quiet voice said, Lori, find Dude for Bart. How absurd! I thought. I knew nothing about horses, certainly not how to find and buy one. That was Bart's department. The harder I tried to dismiss the thought, the stronger it grew. I did not dare mention it to anyone except God. Each day I asked him to guide me. On a Saturday morning three weeks after the first find Dude notion, a new meter reader, Mr. Parker, stopped by while I was working in the garden. We struck up a friendly conversation. When he mentioned he'd once bought a horse from Bart's dad, I interrupted. You remember the horse's name? I asked. Sure do, Mr. Parker said. Dude. Paid $2,500 for him. I wiped the dirt from my hands and jumped up, barely catching my breath. Do you know what happened to him? I asked. Yep. I sold him for a good profit. Where's Dude now? I asked. I need to

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Excerpted from Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul: Inspirational Stories about Horses and the People Who Love Them by Jack L. Canfield, Marty Becker, Mark Victor Hansen, Theresa Peluso, Jack Canfield, Marty Becker, D.V.M., Gary Seidler, Peter Vegso
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.