On December 15, 2008, two snowmobilers discovered a pair of stranded horses atop B.C.'s Mount Renshaw in the Canadian Rockies. Belle and Sundance were a sorry sight-- they were emaciated, shivering and trapped in a small shelter they had made for themselves by tramping down the six-foot-deep snow. The next morning, a party of four from the nearby town of McBride was sent back up the mountain with a bale of hay, a handgun and a heartbreaking choice to make: either feed Belle and Sundance, or shoot them. The four agreed: there was an undeniable glimmer in the eyes of Belle and Sundance, and the decision was made to feed them. But saving the two horses would require a lot more than hay. Weighing their options, many people in McBride decided they would dig, by hand, the three-foot-wide, six-foot-deep, kilometre-long tunnel that became Belle and Sundance's route to freedom. The Rescue of Belle and Sundance takes the reader into the heart of the struggle to save two horses. In this account, which quickly became a regional bestseller and a bookseller favourite, Stutz and Scanlan recreate the rescue that sent a message of hope and compassion around the world.
At the height of his show career, a beautiful Appaloosa became injured, and he moved from one owner to the next, ultimately experiencing severe abuse and neglect. A rescue group found Joey nearly dead from starvation--and blind. Then he came to Hope Reins, a ranch dedicated to helping kids who had been abused, emotionally wounded, or unwanted by teaching these children to care for rescued animals.mals.
Shelby Davies can't wait for the first show of the season. She's moving up to a new division and she's mounted on the very talented Arabian mare, Arwen. But then Arwen gets hurt and everything Shelby has been working so hard for suddenly comes crashing down. To help pass the time while Arwen is healing, Shelby starts to volunteer at the local horse rescue. She can't believe the hidden talent that is waiting inside the rescue's stable. With the first show rapidly approaching, will Shelby be able to find something that will take her to the next level? And will Arwen ever get better?
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion, the remarkable story of the heroic rescue of priceless horses in the closing days of World War II WINNER OF THE PEN AWARD FOR RESEARCH NONFICTION In the chaotic last days of the war, a small troop of battle-weary American soldiers captures a German spy and makes an astonishing find—his briefcase is empty but for photos of beautiful white horses that have been stolen and kept on a secret farm behind enemy lines. Hitler has stockpiled the world’s finest purebreds in order to breed the perfect military machine—an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food. With only hours to spare, one of the U.S. Army’s last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision—with General George Patton’s blessing—to mount a covert rescue operation. Racing against time, Reed’s small but determined force of soldiers, aided by several turncoat Germans, steals across enemy lines in a last-ditch effort to save the horses. Pulling together this multistranded story, Elizabeth Letts introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters: Alois Podhajsky, director of the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, a former Olympic medalist who is forced to flee the bomb-ravaged Austrian capital with his entire stable in tow; Gustav Rau, Hitler’s imperious chief of horse breeding, a proponent of eugenics who dreams of genetically engineering the perfect warhorse for Germany; and Tom Stewart, a senator’s son who makes a daring moonlight ride on a white stallion to secure the farm’s surrender. A compelling account for animal lovers and World War II buffs alike, The Perfect Horse tells for the first time the full story of these events. Elizabeth Letts’s exhilarating tale of behind-enemy-lines adventure, courage, and sacrifice brings to life one of the most inspiring chapters in the annals of human valor. Praise for The Perfect Horse “Winningly readable . . . Letts captures both the personalities and the stakes of this daring mission with such a sharp ear for drama that the whole second half of the book reads like a WWII thriller dreamed up by Alan Furst or Len Deighton. . . . The right director could make a Hollywood classic out of this fairy tale.”—The Christian Science Monitor “Letts, a lifelong equestrienne, eloquently brings together the many facets of this unlikely, poignant story underscoring the love and respect of man for horses.”—Kirkus Reviews
How can thousands of horses go missing? Is it possible that the largest horse rescue charity in the world is responsible for killing their horses? Lane Dimity and his friends set out to solve the mystery surrounding rescue horses in Australia and become involved in a complicated web of crime where nothing is what it seems. When a young horse woman is murdered after asking questions about some dead horses, Lane and his friends find themselves involved in an international mystery involving a corporate level horse charity, With plenty of twists and turns, the layered story follows the investigation into what is happening to the horses. Matthew and a Gatton horse rescuer, Grace, travel to Venezuela looking for answers and find more than they bargained for as the pace builds to a downhill gallop.
Equine Angelsis a celebration of the journey of horses and foals saved from slaughter. Accompanied by 200 stunning full-color photographs, it tells the surprising and moving stories of how these foals have changed the lives of the human families who adopt them—for the rescuers are often the ones redeemed when opening their hearts to an unwanted foal. The book focuses on the tens of thousands of foals born annually only so that their mothers can provide pharmaceutical companies with the hormones their bodies create during pregnancy. These foals—known as “PMU foals” (PMU being short for “pregnant mare urine,” a key ingredient of the drug Premarin)—are in effect, are unwanted byproducts. Normally they are taken from their mothers and sent to slaughter. There are more than 250 farms in North America—most of them in Canada—housing tens of thousands of mares, in agonizing conditions, for this purpose. Those photos grouped into the chapters “Birth” and “Rescue” are especially dramatic. Given their semi-wild conditions, these horses have a ruggedly beautiful, ungroomed appearance. In later chapters, we see the transformation of once-wild creatures into loving and intelligent companions for their human families. Included are stories of successes great and small: foals growing up to be successful national competitors, therapy horses, and other productive members of horse society. These foals give back more than they take. Heartwarming and beautiful to look at, Equine Angels will inspire and delight. Inside you will find: 200 amazing color photos showing horses with a rare rugged beauty Tells the story of how these foals have changed the lives of the people who adopt them Shows the transformation of once-wild creatures into loving and intelligent companions Addresses an issue that frequently captures headlines Tens of thousands of “PMU” foals are slaughtered in North America each year because they are unwanted byproducts of a process to extract hormones for human hormone-replacement therapy From the introduction: The human participants of Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary could not sit idly by while these magnificent horses were killed. If it was just a matter of those lives saved, that would be enough, but fortunately, we have come to know the greater potential of these angelic equines. Each of the horses from EARS has touched and uplifted several human lives along the rescue path.
Descended from the greatest horses of the American West, the wild horses living on the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico -- one of the most dangerous places on Earth -- were a national treasure and a living legend. Big, strong, beautiful, and fierce, their ancestors were the mounts of the famous lawmen, hardy cowboys, and notorious outlaws who had once ruled the Wild West. Over the years, these far-flung herds of the Land of Enchantment had inspired many myths, and were said to be guarded by an implacable band of enormous, ghostly stallions that kept them from harm. But in 1994, after decades of suffering through droughts, food shortages, and all the dangers that go with living on a military-weapons testing site, scores of horses suddenly died. And almost two thousand were in such dire straits that they were unlikely to survive. In a race to prevent more tragic deaths, large-animal veterinarian Don Höglund was called in to organize and lead a team of dedicated cowboys, soldiers, and other professionals in removing the surviving horses and their babies to safety. Then would come the challenge of rehabilitating them, and eventually placing them in loving homes with people who could meet the needs of the highly spirited wild animals. For the first time in book form, Nobody's Horses tells the dramatic story of these noble horses' celebrated history, their defiant survival, and their incredible rescue. During the complex rescue, stampedes, escapes, and injuries ensued as well as struggles with animal rights activists and army officials. Everyone was in constant danger from unspent munitions on the ground and missile testing in the air. Cowboys, Native Americans, and ranchers -- all of whom cared deeply about the fate of the horses -- clashed in a battle of wills. And, of course, there were the horses themselves -- wild, extraordinarily powerful animals, not easily managed or moved, who would become known to their rescuers as fascinating, individual characters -- the wily old mares who evaded capture and led their bands to water and food, the beautiful colts and their amazing resilience and ability to bond with humans and each other, and the magnificent, powerful stallions who protected their harems and young against humans and predators. Luckily Höglund's team was also extraordinary, and their mission a celebrated success for all the people involved, the horses that were rescued, and the grateful families who adopted these living pieces of an American legacy. Filled with history and heroism, adventure and rivalry, and, ultimately, the heartwarming alliances between horses and people, which made the whole endeavor worthwhile, Nobody's Horses will stir the emotions and imaginations of horse lovers, humanitarians, and anyone who loves an uplifting tale of second chances. It's a story of how Nobody's Horses became Everybody's Horses.
A bullied girl named Leigh in need of a true friend, and an abandoned young paint horse in need of rescue. The amazing story of faith that brings them together. A journey of overcoming past fears, healing hearts and realizing how valuable you are to others and to God. If you are a child or teen who is dealing with being bullied, struggling with your self-confidence and need to realize that God truly hears and answers your prayers - this will be a book that will speak to your heart, and give encouragement! This special story will inspire both kids and parents to work together in faith for a goal and instill hope and confidence in their dreams!"You are not rejected, you are rescued."INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11 ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GODA portion of the proceeds of this book go directly to supporting horse rescue.
More than anything else, this is a book about love. In this deeply moving account, you will hear about Rambo, a sheep who informs the staff when another animal is in trouble; and Paulie, a former cockfighting rooster who eats lunch with humans; Dino, an old toothless pony who survived a fire; and many more. Alongside these horses, roosters, pigs, sheep, rabbits, cows, and other animals is a staff of loving humans for whom every animal life, even that of a frog rushed to the vet for emergency surgery, has merit. Reading this book can profoundly—and joyously—change your life.
