Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
Release date: 2006 / 248 pages
Synopsis (from back cover): The horse Susan Richards chose for rescue wouludn’t be corralled into her waiting trailer. But Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels, walked right up that ramp and into Susan’s life.
First lines: “It was a cold March day and the horse paddock at the SPCA was full of mud.”
Review: Whew… I just finished this memoir, and I am emotionally drained. I received this memoir as a gift over a year ago and have greatly admired the cover, but was apprehensive about reading it, anticipating a horsey version of Marley and Me (which I enjoyed, but was also quite draining).
My (16 year old) dog and (also 16 year old) horse are as dear to me as you can imagine and I dread losing either. But I decided the time was never going to be right and jumped into Chosen by a Horse.
Happily, I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in 2 days. Richards is a strong writer and engaging storyteller whose honesty regarding her terrible childhood and her lingering scars is compelling. She re-lives heart-rending scenes of neglect and abuse, but from the perspective of a woman who has learned to cope and even thrive.
I did disagree with her at times, as a fellow horse lover. For example, the mare she rescued came with a spicy little foal who was returned to his abusive owner without a fight. She and her friend talked about stealing the foal briefly — inadvisable, obviously — but then never followed-up on the foal’s fate once he was reclaimed.
Also, Richards’ mare is admittedly ill-mannered and spoiled, and I cringed whenever Richards ascribed this behavior to “mares, what can you do!?” I have a sweet-tempered mare who I adore, and am currently surrounded by many other well-mannered mares at my barn. While I do think my mare is naturally sweet, I also expect good manners whenever I’m with her, too.
Richards admits that she has allowed her original mare’s strong-willed nature to become possessive and bratty, and she seems to have resigned the mare to this fate rather than work on her manners. Subsequently, the scene where the recovering Lay Me Down is forced to defend herself from Richard’s willful “pet” is grueling. I know the introducing of new horses to a herd is often difficult, but Lay Me Down’s ordeal was particularly brutal.
Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed and happily recommend this memoir to other horse lovers. I think it could be enjoyed by non-horse lovers as well… So, if you would be interested in winning a free copy — drop me a comment!
As an animal lover, I know I’d love this rescue memoir. Please enter me into the drawing!
sounds intriguing… i would love to read it! please enter me in your drawing. thanks!
Sounds bit like an emotional roller coaster …but I would love to read it.
I’m a cat person but I’m easy when it comes to animals – love em all. Please enter me in your drawing.
I enjoyed your review. I’d love to read this story. Please enter me for the draw, thank you.
Thank you, Sandra, Sandi, Gail, Cathy, and Linda! I’ll choose a winner tomorrow!
I’m a horse person! I was born in the Year of the Horse (chinese calendar) and I was told I laugh like a horse…:)
If you’re sending international, hope you can toss my name in the hat for I really want to win this book.
thanks.
Wow!! What a great review. Please enter me in this contest.
sharon54220@gmail.com
You won, Gail! Congratulations!!
Hi Kristen. I just wanted to let you know I loved the book and I posted a short review on my blog. If I hadn’t read Book Club Classics I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to read it. Thanks much.