Kandy was kind enough to send me a copy of her book all the way from Texas to Australia!  After a couple of weeks in the mail, I received it in my mailbox and got to reading 🙂

Pie details the later years of a 38 year old horse.  Written off after being gored by a bull, this working cow horse finds himself in the control of a new owner, because his previous had deemed him no longer worthwhile.Pie | an Old Brown Horse that Knows What He is Doing is a 142 page soft cover book that details how an older gelding proves how much a second chance can result in impacting many for the better.  The book is made up of 21 short chapters, told from the point of view of Pie.

Pie is an entertaining and insightful read that is suited to any age.  Kids will delight in this dependable character as much as adults.  One thing that I did notice was this self published text has grammatical errors scattered throughout the book.  In spite of that, it is well worth the read.  If looking for a more in depth review, you can read this at Suite101.

Author: Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo
http://www.kandykayscaramuzzo.com/
Non fiction – memoir
In my library? Indeed!  Gotta love a read from the horse’s point of view 🙂
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“A young trooper should have an old horse.” – H.G. Bohn

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If you’d like to check out other horse fiction and non fiction that I’ve reviewed, visit Horse Book Reviews.

Tag: horse story, equine book review, kandy kay scaramuzzo, equine author, horse library, horse writing

Hi guys!  Just to let you know that I’m in the process or reading to horse books that will be reviewed on Equus:

• One I received in the post a couple of days ago from Kandy Kay Scaramuzzo – Pie An Old Brown Horse (That Knows What he is Doing)
• The second is a non fictional piece about Elyne Mitchell, (Silver Brumby series), written by her daughter Honor Auchinleck.

So keep a look out for these book reviews, and while you’re at it, why not check out the other horse book reviews at Equus?

“What the colt learns in youth he continues in old age.” – French Proverb

So this book I’ve had to read for a subject in my equine science degree.  Having always been interested in conformation and anatomy of the horse, it’s been a really interesting read!

Author Deb Bennett encourages readers to consider the horse’s true function and to base conformational ideals on what the horse is made to do.  Rather than fitting a type into human ideals or standards, Bennett first questions, ‘What kind of an animal is a horse?’

Bennett then goes on to encourage readers to consider how the horse’s body moves and how it is asked to move for different disciplines.  A look into the muscles and skeletal structure that allow certain movements in the horse’s body allows readers to consider what indeed they are asking of their horses, and whether this is in line with the horse’s physical capabilities.

Conformation is also explored, with Bennett daring to point out that some ‘faults’ that are recognised by many who judge conformation, are indeed how they should be in the horse.  Principles of Conformation Analysis is the first of 3 volumes, and explains things in a straight forward manner, at times using analogies to further clarify her point.  A more in depth review of this book can be found at Suite101.

Author: Deb Bennett, PhD
http://www.equinestudies.org/
Non Fiction – conformation
In my library? Technically, no. It apparently isn’t in print at this point in time, so I’ve been provided with a photocopy from uni! Well worth putting in the equine library.
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

PalmerHiggs Books have provided another horsey tale for me to review, an autobiography by Clare Balding and illustrated by Gill Heeley.

Now this is an incredibly unique, interesting and amusing non fiction tale. Author Clare Balding is an animal enthusiast.  This story of the first twenty or so years of her life is depicted in chapters dedicated to the different personalities who have had a presence in and made her life all the richer.  Generally, these personalities are dogs and horses.

What makes this story so rich is her unique outlook on life – unique to her family’s conservative views.

Clare grew up in a household where it wasn’t uncommon to receive a visit from the Queen, inquiring after the horses that Clare’s father trained for her royal highness.  In fact, Clare and her younger brother Andrew received their first pony – Valkyrie – as a gift from the Queen.

Outspoken and inclined to do so before thinking, it wasn’t unusual for the young girl or woman to find herself in a spot of bother regularly.  This in itself makes for an interesting read as the author invites you into a world where everyone is expected to have a sense of humour.

Clare explores drag hunting on horse back, pony club and competing, riding from a young age and pursuing amateur national hunt or point to point race riding.  Perhaps this makes it no surprise that now this author is a common known name and face for sporting events – particularly racing – in the UK.  Well worth the read!

Author: Clare Balding
http://www.clarebalding.co.uk/
Non Fiction – Biography
In my library? Yup!  A unique and rather amusing read.
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France