Chosen by a Horse

Saturday a patron mentioned this book, so of course I had to snatch it up for a look. Chosen By a Horse: a Memoir by Susan Richards was amazing!  This memoir opens with a heart-breaking scene at the SPCA, where Susan has been called by a friend to foster one of the forty horses seized from a home. A specific horse, Lay Me Down (along with her foal) have been chosen for placement at her farm. Lay Me Down is an emaciated, abused bay mare with pneumonia who is too exhausted to put up an argument, but her foal is a different story, and his antics will make you giggle.

Richards brings the pair home to her three other "children," diva Georgia (a Morgan mare), Georgia's counterpart Tempo (a Quarter Horse gelding), and the old gentleman of the group HotShot (another Quarter Horse gelding).

This story of devotion, love and trial (both human and equine) will grip your heart. Bringing Lay Me Down back to good health (and beyond) often takes Susan back to her past where she endured the very early loss of her mother, an abusive husband, and an undecided lover. Chosen By a Horse is a perfect rainy-day, curl up on the sofa in a warm quilt with a hot cup of tea kind of book. Be prepared to laugh and cry, but mostly to be inspired by this true story of Lay Me Down and the woman she chose.

-Denika