Who Ever Heard Of A Horse In The House

Rating:
Summary: If you really love animals you'll love it
Review: I always dreamed of owning a horse. When I finally got one, the hardest part was leaving her outside. Dogs and cats get to come inside and share your life - when you have the same kind of bond with a horse and you have to say goodnight to them in the barn, it's hard. If you have ever felt the same way, this book is a must read for you! I have a lot of respect for the author of this book because she made her dream a reality and adapted her house so that she could live with her horse. If you really love animals you will definately relate to the story, which is a great one. It's not a manual for how to do it, just a great story of a woman who made it happen and who dearly loves her horse.

Rating:
Summary: If you really love animals you'll love it
Review: I always dreamed of owning a horse. When I finally got one, the hardest part was leaving her outside. Dogs and cats get to come inside and share your life - when you have the same kind of bond with a horse and you have to say goodnight to them in the barn, it's hard. If you have ever felt the same way, this book is a must read for you! I have a lot of respect for the author of this book because she made her dream a reality and adapted her house so that she could live with her horse. If you really love animals you will definately relate to the story, which is a great one. It's not a manual for how to do it, just a great story of a woman who made it happen and who dearly loves her horse.

Rating:
Summary: Great book to read to children age 6 to 11
Review: I am a retired engineer. In my semi-retirement, I am a substitute teacher. I plan to use this book when I am teaching elementary school. I'll first tell them the story in general and then read excerpts to the children. As a substitute teacher, I would probably not have enough time to read the entire book unless I was covering for a teacher out an extended time..

Rating:
Summary: An engaging read
Review: JACQUELINE TRESL CAPTURES THE LOVING BOND ALL TRUE ANIMAL LOVERS FEEL FOR THEIR PETS AND OTHER CREATURES. HER WRITING EMBRACES THE TRUE DEFINITION OF THE BONDING OF THE SPIRTS OF ANIMALS AND THEIR HUMANS. HER STORY PERSONIFIES HOW WE PUT OURSELVES ASIDE FOR THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WE ARE SO PRIVLEDGED TO RECIEVE FROM A PET. THIS BOOK MAKES ONE LAUGH AND CRY. IT BRINGS INTO FOCUS SO MANY MEMORIES THOSE OF US EXPERIENCED ON A DAILY BASIS WITH OUR PETS IN THE PAST AND PRESENT. IT IS ALSO A LOVE STORY BETWEEN A MAN AND WOMAN WHO RESPECT AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF ONE ANOTHER NO MATTER HOW STRANGE THEY MAY SEEM TO OUTSIDERS. ONLY THE EVENTS IN THEIR OWN HOME ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM. SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN A GREAT GIFT AND HAS BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SHARE IT WITH US. MISHA,THE STAR AND PRECIOUS HORSE IN THE STORY HAS CHOSEN JACQUELINE TO CARE FOR AND NUTURE HER. WITH TOTAL DEVOTION AND LOVE SHE THRIVES FROM BEING A SICKLY FOAL INTO AN OVERLY DEPENDENT PLAYFUL ADULT HORSE, WITH THE HELP OF HOME BAKED COOKIES AND SPAGHETTI AS STRANGE AS THAT MAY SEEM. THROUGHOUT THE BOOK WE ENJOY THE ANTICS AND STRUGGLES OF BOTH MISHA AND JACQUELINE WITH EVEN MORE LOVE AND DEVOTION ADDED BY HER HUSBAND MARK. ALTHOUGH SMALL, THEIR HOUSE IS BURSTING (AND AT TIMES NEEDS AN ADDITION) WITH LOVE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. MISHAS HEART AND SPIRIT SEEM TO BE ONE WITH JACQUELINES AND THIS WONDERFUL CREATURE RETURNS HER LOVE AND DEVOTION IN A WAY ONLY UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE OF US SO LUCKY TO EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR BOND WITH A PET OF OUR OWN. THIS BOOK DESERVES FIVE CARROTS (STARS)

Rating:
Summary: A Horse of Course
Review: This is an excellent book, that I could not put down. I think that Ms. Tresl has opened up many areas of possibilities as far as the care and management of horses, as well as their need and capacity for intellectual stimulation and affection. Without Ms. Tresl's incredibly committed and devoted indulgence of her animals (not just the horse!), not to say her husband's patience and capentry skills, such a wonderful book would not exist, and the world would be a sadder place. Brava!

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but disturbing at the same time
Review: This is an interesting read about a woman who's obviously totally devoted to her animals. Any little girl would adore this book, and would probably try to use it to coerce her parents into letting her keep a horse in the backyard. Fortunately, I think most parents are sensible enough to know that this is a pretty outlandish proposition. And yes, I've known at least one person who's raised a sick foal in her house, but as the foal got stronger it immediately went out in the pasture with the other horses so it was properly socialized with its own kind.

I would feel more comfortable reading this book if it were fiction, but it's not. It's scary to me that someone would think that inducing (and even encouraging) separation anxiety in animals is an appropriate way of showing love. Horses are herd (prey) animals and they shouldn't be taught that being with other horses is a bad thing. Horses also shouldn't be fed the junk food (donuts, jelly rolls, etc.) that Misha's routinely given because it can cause serious damage and death. It's not good for *humans* to eat that kind of food regularly, but at least we humans make a conscious decision to eat junk food knowing the risks. Horses have such delicate digestive systems and most would not do well with the kind of diet Misha lives on. My concern is that inexperienced little girls may read this book and decide to start feeding their ponies donuts all the time, and ponies are even more susceptible to laminitis/founder.

I don't know if this book requires a warning statement, but I sure hope no one who reads it assumes that it outlines proper horse care. Instead, this book shows some very good examples of how NOT to care for horses. I'm very surprised there haven't been any reviews of this book written by equine behaviorists -- they could have a field day with this one.