A Horse's Tale by Mark Twain

While browsing on Amazon for free books, I found this one. I enjoyed it until the ending. THIS IS NOT FOR CHILDREN! Nor horse lovers that like happy endings. It's a good thing it was free, and also that I can't write a note of disapproval to the author.

Soldier Boy is Buffalo Bill's horse, and the book is told partly through his viewpoint, partly in letters from humans and partly with Soldier Boy talking to other animals.

An interesting tale of the old west, with a young girl named Cathy who arrives from Spain and bonds with her beloved Soldier Boy.

I wonder if Twain planned the ending from the get go, or if he just wanted to finish it quickly...and finish off the main characters, too. I'd love to know why he ended the story in such a gruesome way (a bullfight in Spain).

Despite my love of reading about anything equine, I don't recommend this book.

Prepare for Your Summer Riding Program

Now is the time to start planning your summer riding program. If you have been hired as the riding director for a summer camp, teach youngsters at your stable during summer months, or volunteer for a handicapped riding program, learning new skills (or sharpening known ones) will benefit both your students and yourself. Having a fun program, but also a safe one, is the key.

Besides books, there are numerous resources online that assist riding instructors in organizing a program. One site, Ehow.com, has professional submitters send in articles on a variety of subjects. Below, is an article I wrote.

See http://www.ehow.com/how_7881633_organize-summer-riding-program.html

Happy Trails!