Book Review: ‘Chosen By a Horse’ by Susan Richards

SHEILA ALEXANDER
Development communications coordinator

When Susan Richards read in the paper that 40 Standardbred horses needed to be adopted from the SPCA, she felt helplessly compelled to borrow a horse trailer and go get one.

“I don’t know why this time was different, why in an instant I chose to do something I’d previously avoided,” Richards writes on pages 1 and 2. “I was not accustomed to going to the rescue.”

This time was different because these horses had been abused. Susan had recently retreated, broken, from an abusive marriage, and she was on an unsteady climb back up, trying to regain some semblance of a normal life.

Susan had three horses already, and Georgia, her strong-willed Morgan horse, was unlikely — make that definitely — not going to take to more company. Helping one of these mistreated racehorses was a challenge Susan didn’t need, but could not refuse.

One horse in the herd chose Susan. Lay Me Down was the only horse willing to move up the ramp into the trailer, her tiny foal following her.

This is a story of hope and redemption, groping in the darkness for whatever light is available. The message seems clear that however hurt you think you are, you can find someone worse off than you are and heal yourself through helping.

Beautifully written, there is no doubt this story will remain in your heart long after you close the book.

“Chosen By A Horse” is available for $13 in paperback at the Sweet Briar Book Shop.