Rating: Summary: A must read for all horse lovers Review:
This is a collection of many heart-warming, sweet and sometimes sad stories. Many were inspiring to me, interesting and fun to read.
~Atalanta
Rating: Summary: Deep and Moving Review: A great book for everyone. From the Introduction to the end it is definitely a must for every horse lover and everyone else for that matter. It shows us the impact that a horse can have on our lives....forever. Don't miss this one.
Rating: Summary: I have always loved good Horse Stories! Review: Because my child is clinically insane, she goes to therapy with horses and has learned to interact with her world through horseplay and other such nonsense. This book has stories much like my own, and I simply adore this book. I think all insane people should ride, or interact with horses, as they are better than other kinds of therapy.
Rating: Summary: Horse Lover's Soul Book Review: 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!
Rating: Summary: Chicken Soup For The Horse Lover's Soul Review: I found this book a quick read; however, after awhile, there were too many smilarities in the stories. Some stories seemed to be used for tear jerker effect.
Rating: Summary: Four hooves up!!!! :^D Review: I have loved horses my whole life and this made me love them even more. It is a great book!
Rating: Summary: I laughed and cried myself horse! Review: I like a heartwarming story as much as the next dude, but previous "Chicken Soup" books have left me cold. I tried the original Chicken Soup for the Soul, as well as the Chicken Soup for the Bride's soul, the Single and Couple's souls, the Teacher, Volunteer, Kid's, Unsinkable, Hawaii, and Pet Lover's souls, and got nothing. I've even tried Chicken Soup for the Teenage soul (Volumes 1 through 3), the Parent's, Writer's, and Working Woman's souls, the Nature Lover's soul, the Christian's soul and even the Ocean Lover's soul. Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, and boring. How was I supposed to relate to inspirational stories about people who have interests and hobbies different than I do?Finally there's a Chicken Soup for non-empathetic equine enthusiasts like me! I would encourage all horse lovers to pick this up as soon as possible. Even my horse - who usually prefers detective stories - enjoyed this wonderful book.
Rating: Summary: I laughed and cried myself horse! Review: I like a heartwarming story as much as the next dude, but previous "Chicken Soup" books have left me cold. I tried the original Chicken Soup for the Soul, as well as the Chicken Soup for the Bride's soul, the Single and Couple's souls, the Teacher, Volunteer, Kid's, Unsinkable, Hawaii, and Pet Lover's souls, and got nothing. I've even tried Chicken Soup for the Teenage soul (Volumes 1 through 3), the Parent's, Writer's, and Working Woman's souls, the Nature Lover's soul, the Christian's soul and even the Ocean Lover's soul. Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, and boring. How was I supposed to relate to inspirational stories about people who have interests and hobbies different than I do? Finally there's a Chicken Soup for non-empathetic equine enthusiasts like me! I would encourage all horse lovers to pick this up as soon as possible. Even my horse - who usually prefers detective stories - enjoyed this wonderful book.
Rating: Summary: I laughed and cried myself horse! Review: I like a heartwarming story as much as the next dude, but previous "Chicken Soup" books have left me cold. I tried the original Chicken Soup for the Soul, as well as the Chicken Soup for the Bride's soul, the Single and Couple's souls, the Teacher, Volunteer, Kid's, Unsinkable, Hawaii, and Pet Lover's souls, and got nothing. I've even tried Chicken Soup for the Teenage soul (Volumes 1 through 3), the Parent's, Writer's, and Working Woman's souls, the Nature Lover's soul, the Christian's soul and even the Ocean Lover's soul. Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, and boring. How was I supposed to relate to inspirational stories about people who have interests and hobbies different than I do? Finally there's a Chicken Soup for non-empathetic equine enthusiasts like me! I would encourage all horse lovers to pick this up as soon as possible. Even my horse - who usually prefers detective stories - enjoyed this wonderful book.
Rating: Summary: Exactly What Any Horse Lover Needs. Review: I liked the other Chicken Soup books, but they were never on topics I really liked. But when I recieved Chicken Soup For the Horse Lover's Soul, I was ecstatic. This book made me cry, laugh, and experience a rainbow of emotions. I've read this book many times through, more for my favorite stories including "Horse Lovers Are Really Sick People," "They Neigh, I Pay," "Riding the Edge," and "Encounter With a Dangerous Spy." This book is wonderful and anyone who calls themself a horse enthusiast should read this book!
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