Lawrence River, where they connect and become friends, and with the help of a scruffy appaloosa mare, both learn to heal after suffering recent tragedies in their lives. It’s a real gift, and one I’m very grateful for.Īppaloosa Summer is a beautifully written young adult novel that will easily captivate the horse enthusiast hearts.Īuthor Tudor Robins weaves a heartwarming and touching tale that follows the healing journey of two young adults who meet during the summer at a B&B on a Canadian island on the St. My readers may not have ever been to my country, nor I to theirs, but we have something in common. Being able to write about horses has allowed me to reach people in places all over the globe. I also love what horses have given to me quite literally the world. I love being privileged to be able to work with, and ride – and learn from – these animals. From the cute (newborn foals, Shetland ponies), to the athletic (endurance horses, three-day eventers), to the mighty (think the Budweiser Clydesdales) horses are stunning to look at. This is, perhaps, the most basic meaning you can take from the quote above. Making it through a smooth dressage test, completing a course of jumps, or cutting a calf from a herd, are incredibly rewarding because of the horse-rider partnership that’s required. These are all great activities, but riding a horse adds an extra personality and brain to the mix. Many other people enjoy driving cars or motorcycles, or riding skateboards, or cycling. Like most animals, calmness, kindness, and respect, are all a horse asks for. They also don’t care what kind of clothes you wear and whether or not you have friends …” This is so true. In response to a recent writing contest I ran, a young reader wrote the following: “… they listen when you have a problem and don’t judge. And, when you get home, things will seem a little more manageable. Stressed about work? Fought with your best friend? Go to the barn and you’ll completely forget about all that for a few hours, at least. These are big picture results, but it works on a day-to-day basis as well.

Disabled people literally straighten up after riding a horse. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to observe or participate in a therapeutic riding program, you’ll know the results are phenomenal.

It would be impossible to cover all of them in one blog post, but here are some of the reasons I love horses so much: Horses are good for people in so many ways. What I can say, is that from the first time I read it, it made sense to me. I’d love to be able to tell you who first said that, but the quote’s origin is a source of much debate. “There's nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.”

Appaloosa Summer by Tudor Robins