Barbaro - America's Horse

"Barbaro - America's Horse" by Shelley Fraser Mickle

I met Shelley in March 2007 in Ocala, Florida. We both were signing our books at the Tack Shack's yearly outdoor event. Her book, "Barbaro - America's Horse," had just been released and it included the update about his passing a couple months before.

In 2006, Barbaro captured the hearts of America. First, with his win of the Kentucky Derby with a 6 1/2 length lead. Then, when he broke down just after leaving the starting gate during the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The story begins there and then flashes back to the colt's birth in Kentucky and his heritage. It continues with the decision by Gretchen and Roy Jackson to purchase him and his early training in Florida. The story follows Barbaro's life with insight to his possible thoughts about his care and races. Descriptions are included of his racing career under the guidance of trainer Michael Matz and jockey Edgar Prado, and his legendary win at the Kentucky Derby.

The ending explains Barbaro's surgery at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, rehabilitation and the final decision the Jackson's had to make.

The book is complete with an introduction by the Jacksons, color photos inside and a fold-out poster of his win at the Kentucky Derby.

I enjoyed the background detail of Barbaro's life and his "thoughts" were a fun addition. I learned so much more about this wonderful equine athlete than what I learned on the news at the time.

The book is written for a young horse lover to easily read and also appeals to adults. Barbaro and his courageous and playful personality inspired many people, especially youngsters. Letters by several of them are included at the end of the book.

The book is available at bookstores and tack shops alike and a portion of the book's proceeds is donated to the Belmont Child Care Association and the riding camp at the Kennett Square YMCA.

Visit the author's Web site at www.shelleymickle.com/.

Summer Special!

Looking for a gift book, beach read or a book for your children to add to their summer reading list?





I'm offering a Summer Special on my horse books:





Buy Two, Get One Free!





Each book retails for $14.95, but throughout this summer (ending August 31, 2008) order all three for $29.90 plus $5 shipping via U.S. Priority Mail with confirmation.





All books will be signed to designated names and must be shipped to same address. However, they can be signed to more than one name.





E-mail me your name, address, phone and who to sign them to, and snail mail a $34.90 check (made to Sharon Miner) with the same info to:


Sharon Miner


512 Northampton St.


Edwardsville, PA 18704





I'll confirm the order after I receive your message and check before shipping the books.

Or, if you prefer to order from Amazon (where some of my books can also be purchased as used from sellers) visit to see all six of my books:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Sharon%20Miner

Happy Reading!

The Soul of a Horse

I received a request from writer Maryann Miller to post her book review of Joe Camp's book, "The Soul of a Horse." I haven't read it but Maryann gives a great description.

Maryann Miller Bio

A diverse writer of columns, feature stores, short fiction, novels, screenplays and stage plays, Maryann Miller has won numerous awards including being a semi-finalist at the Sundance Institute for her screenplay, A Question Of Honor. Her work has appeared in regional and national publications, and the Rosen Publishing Group in New York has published her non-fiction books for teens, including the award-winning Coping with Weapons and Violence In School and On Your Streets. A romantic suspense One Small Victory is a June 08 release in hardback from Five Star Publishing, and Play It Again, Sam is a July 08 release from Uncial Press as an e-book.

Other experience includes extensive work as a PR consultant, a script doctor, and an editor. She is currently the Managing Editor for WinnsboroToday.com, an Online community magazine, as well as a reviewer for ForeWord Magazine and BloggerNews.net.

Miller lives on some acreage in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her husband, one horse, two goats, two dogs, three cats, and an assortment of moles and gophers the cats have been unsuccessful at catching.

You can visit her at her Web site at: http://www.maryannwrites.com and read her blog at http://themanyfacesofgrief.blogspot.com/

The Soul of a Horse

One does not have to love horses to appreciate Joe Camp’s new book, THE SOUL OF A HORSE: Life Lessons from the Herd, but it doesn’t hurt. And those who don’t already love horses surely will by the time they finish reading.

Joe and his wife, Kathleen, started their small herd that now numbers six, just three years ago, both without a clue how to care for or train a horse. Because of his success with connecting with dogs in making the five Benji movies, Joe thought he knew how to work with a horse. Wrong. As he points out in the book, dogs are predator animals and horses are prey animals. That means they operate from polar opposite perspectives.

Like most novice horsemen, Joe learned some of his lessons by mistakes, but he was also lucky to meet Monty Roberts, the original horse whisperer, who introduced a unique way of connecting with a horse. Through his association with Monty and in doing further research about new approaches to caring for horses, Joe discovered that most domestic horses are living in an environment counter to the natural environment that has sustained the horse for 55 million years.

In the book, Joe addresses issues such as a horse going barefoot, not living in a stall, and not needing blankets or leg wraps. In addition to including his research and experiences in these areas, Joe writes chapters from the point of view of horses living in the wild. Those sections illustrate the point that all horses are genetically the same and are hardwired to live and function the same way.

By studying herd behavior, a horse owner can figure out how horses respond to leaders, how they discipline each other, and how they think. Yes. Horses think. Not on the level that people do, but enough to figure out who poses and threat and who doesn’t. Joe acknowledges that the same people who found his belief that dogs can think will dismiss this part of his book. But maybe a few who really need to learn this won’t.

The book is a “must read” for anyone who owns a horse or works around horses, but it has an even broader appeal. It can show a reader a different way to approach any relationship. As Joe says, “It’s (life) all about relationships, and choices, and trust. And these guys (the horses) taught us that the quality of life is often found in the choices we make. That we should approach every relationship – whether it is with a boss, an employee, a family member, or a spouse – from the other end of the lead rope. In other words, we should walk in their boots, not ours. We should gain understanding of what they’re about, what they want out of life and out of a relationship, and only then move forward.”

As a horse owner, I found the book engaging and relevant. I went out and tried a couple of the training tips and they worked. I also laughed at the foibles and mistakes, many of which I had made as well. My relationship with my horse will forever be changed because of reading this book.
Joe has written, produced, and directed seven theatrical motion pictures (including all of the Benji movies), which cumulatively grossed well over the equivalent of $600 million in today's dollars, making him one of the most successful independent filmmakers of all time. He has written three novels from his own screenplays, the inspirational nonfiction book Benji & Me , and several children's books. He has also written, directed, and produced four network television specials and a network series.

The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd
By Joe Camp
Hardcover - 256 pages $24.95
Harmony (April 29, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0307406857
ISBN-13: 978-0307406859

Leave It To Chance

The debut novel, Leave It To Chance, by Sherri Sand involves a horse named Chance saving the emotional aspects of a single mom and her three kids. The aged horse that the protagonist, Sierra, inherits causes a series of problems to add to her black cloud following closely overhead - loss of job, loss of home and moving back in with her mother, and her child support check bouncing. Sierra desperately wants to sell the horse and use the money for her household expenses, but her family and even her best friend disagree. They feel Chance will help bond the family during this stressful time. But Sierra's painful and frightening memory of her childhood friend dying after being kicked by a horse compounds the problems Chance creates.

The neighbor who allows Chance to pasture on his farm creates a romantic atmosphere full of misunderstandings. Then, Sierra tries to understand her relationship with God throughout all the difficulties, especially when her son is injured during a fall off of Chance.

Leave It To Chance is a wonderful read for those who enjoy a light romance (no sex scenes, yeah!) and a story in a Christian setting without being preachy. Plus, the horsey details are accurate and well written. The cover gets an A+ too!

Author Sherri Sand resides in the Pacific Northwest and is currently on her Blog Tour. It can be viewed at: http://blogtourspot.wordpress.com/sherri-sand-blog-tour/

Her site is: http://www.sherrisand.com/

Her book can be purchased at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Leave-Chance-Sherri-Sand/dp/1434799883/