Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21518 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07
• Released on: 2003-07-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 380 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780757300981
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Fans of National Velvet and the Black Stallion may enjoy Canfield and Hansen's latest collection of heart-warming stories, which targets devotees of all things equine. Divided into seven sections-"A Special Bond," "Horses as Teachers," "These Amazing Animals," "Horses as Healers," "On Companionship and Commitment," "Horse...cetera," "And They're Off"-the book contains 93 stories about "the horse's intelligence, versatility and intuitiveness." Vikki Marshall writes warmly about how her carriage horse, Lynn, walked right past a group of noisy firemen and smoldering timbers as part of her job in "The Wedding." Craig Wilson remembers his amateur run down the Saratoga Race Course in "Down the Stretch He Comes, Hanging on for Dear Life." Other stories describe the pleasures and difficulties of owning, and losing, these beautiful animals. There's a good dose of schmaltz, but fans of this series will surely find what they want here.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap
You Know You're a Horse Lover When . . .

You accessorize your hairstyle with pieces of hay.
You examine every piece of rope or twine for its halter potential.
You think a great vacation is spending a long weekend in front of a horse trailer by a dusty arena.
You take your children's temperature and think 102°F is normal.
You spend more money on horseshoes than on your own shoes.
You always keep carrots, apples and sugar cubes in your refrigerator.
You prefer the smell of a stable to cologne.
You sleep with your boots on and count horses to fall asleep.
Your laugh begins to sound like a horse whinny.
Instead of giving someone directions to turn "left" or "right," you tell them to "gee" or "haw."
You still have your childhood horse statues in your bedroom.
Your favorite outfit is made of leather and includes whips and spurs.
You talk to your horse more than you talk to your spouse.
You spend more time at the feed store than the grocery store.

If you can relate to any of these sentiments, this book is for you! Even if you've never been near a horse, but have always admired them from afar, you'll love these stories celebrating and honoring these noble creatures. Share a copy of Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul with a horse-loving friend. You'll both be "whinnying" for more!

About the Author
Dr. Marty Becker is passionate about his work fostering the affection and connection between animals and people we call, "The Bond." Dr. Becker is featured on ABC-TV's, Good Morning America, writes a weekly column for over 350 Knight Ridder newspapers and hosts two new nationally syndicated radio programs, Pets Unleased a two-hour live talk radio program and a two-minute pet vignette, The Pet Update. A contributing editor for Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy, the world's most popular pet magazines and a frequent contributor to Reader's Digest, Marty is also the Chief Veterinary Correspondent for Amazon.com. Marty and his family enjoy life in Northern Idaho and share Almost Heaven Ranch with two dogs, six barn cats and five Quarter Horses.

Gary Seidler founded U.S. Journal and Health Communications with his coauthor and former partner, Peter Vegso, over twenty-five years ago. Retiring in 1999 and relocating to Los Angeles, Gary is a Thoroughbred owner and breeder who enjoys the energy and enthusiasm of racing. Gary devotes his time to expanding his nonprofit foundation, which sponsors a summer camp for at-risk kids and to producing documentaries which promote health, wellness and recovery.

Peter Vegso continues to grow the businesses he and Gary founded over 25 years ago. Health Communications' first New York Times bestseller appeared on the list in 1985. Recognized by Publishers Weekly as the #1 Self-Help Publisher, HCI is guided by their mission statement "Making a difference in the lives of our readers and the people they come in contact with." Peter enjoys his 140-acre Thoroughbred breeding and training facility in Ocala, Florida, where the hardest working manager in the world, Chuck Patton, handles daily operations. It is their intention to not only win the Kentucky Derby but also the Triple Crown before their spirits leave this planet.

Theresa Peluso met Peter Vegso and Gary Seidler in 1981 and got acquainted with horses through the partner's interest in Thoroughbreds soon after. While working on this book, Theresa was introduced to these intuitive animals through the eyes of the writers. Through their stories she came to understand what a powerful bond we all share with horses, and developed a spiritual connection to the community of warm, generous people who graciously shared their world—and the incomparable world of horses—with her.

Customer Reviews

A heartwarming collection for any horse enthusiast.
I don't generally go for books in the "inspirational / self-help" category, but there were a few Chicken Soup books that even I couldn't pass up. The first was "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul," followed by "Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lover's Soul," and now finally, one that addresses my favorite creature of all, "Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul." If you are unfamiliar with the Chicken Soup books, they are collections of short (generally 2-5 pages), uplifting, and usually true stories submitted by readers. This particular volume contains 95 such tales, all pertaining to that magnificent animal, the horse. As a collection of short stories, the book can be read at whatever pace you like - an occasional dose here and there whenever you need a pick-me-up, or a consistent one or two stories per day, or even all at once.

The book is divided into seven sections: "A Special Bond" shares tales of the deep and lasting friendships that can arise between horse and human. "Horses as Teachers" looks at the lessons we can learn from our equine friends. "These Amazing Animals" honors horses that have gone beyond the ordinary in a variety of ways, including the story of Sergeant Reckless, a little mare that served in the Korean War. "Horses as Healers" explores the ways in which equines have helped humans overcome all kinds of physical and emotional ills. "On Companionship and Commitment" is very similar to the first section and looks at horse-human bonds. "And... They're Off!" is dedicated entirely to stories of racehoreses. And finally, "Horse... Cetera" pulls together everything that doesn't quite fit anywhere else.

Most horse lovers will find much to enjoy in this book. There are a few duds, and a few of the stories are overly corny or sappy, but the majority are truly heartwarming. Some will make you chuckle, like "Battle of the Titans" (pg. 381) and "Trail Etiquette" (pg. 388). Others will leave you with a wistful smile, like "Confessions of a Horse-Show Father" (pg. 394). And others will simply leave you feeling warm and happy, and appreciative of the good things in life, like "A Job for Missy" (pg. 157) and, one of my personal favorites, "Ride the Yule Tide" (pg. 291). Being an avid racing fan, I was delighted to see an entire section dedicated to racehorses. Included are accounts of well-known runners like Seabiscuit, Da Hoss, Funny Cide, and even the great race mule Black Ruby, as well as tales of more obscure horses who, nevertheless, have interesting stories to share.

"Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul" is almost a guaranteed winner for horse lovers. Some pieces are more entertaining than others, and the writing skills of the contributors varies (though the editors have ensured that all the stories are still very readable), but the overall effect is to bring together horse enthusiasts from all walks of life into a solid, well-rounded collection that will leave you smiling and fulfilled. I opted for the "occasional dosage when needed" method of reading, and each session evoked fond memories of the childhood years I spent around horses, and renewed my resolve to return to the world of riding as soon as I am able (currently a college student with limited funds). This would make a great treat for yourself, a gift for any horse-loving friend - or both!

One Word: Fantastic
Isn't it a great feeling when you read the backs of every horse book in the bookstore, and then finally come across one that's perfect? There's something about horse stories that when you read one, you are eager to hear more and more. This book will definately satisfy that feeling, and there are plenty of stories so you can read on and on! I found these submitted tales enjoyable because I could picture exactly what the horse owner must have felt like, since I have a horse of my own. If you don't own a horse yourself, this is still a heartwarming treasury to walk a day (and many more weeks to come!) in an horse person's "boots". Considering that I know many adults that have loved this book as much as I do, kids and adults alike will enjoy it. This is a must-read, must-have, must-go-crazy-for, two hooves up, Chicken Soup book! : )

A quick pick-me-up for horse lovers
If you're worried the book will emphasize religion, don't fear - only a few of the stories mention God or directly speak to religion in any way. Essentially this is a series of anecdotes about horses of all kinds, from all kinds of people. Some are well written, others less so, but on the whole the book is an enjoyable and easy read, and great for times when you get interrupted or just want a quick story instead of getting engrossed in a novel. It is easily readable for both kids and adults and contains a number of stories guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of any true horse lover.