Sonderbooks Book Review of The Horses of Proud Spirit

Reviewed October 6, 2005.
Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida, 2003. 199 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (636.1 BOW).
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2005 (#6, Biography)

The Horses of Proud Spirit is a lovely and inspiring book. Melanie Sue Bowles tells how she decided to buy a horse, even though she didn’t even know how to ride. When she got suckered into buying a horse who had been mistreated, she learned more about horses, dealing with them, and making them happy. She developed a bond of love with that horse that couldn’t be broken.

One thing led to another. Melanie ended up with a horse sanctuary where old horses could go to retire, living with a herd. She and her husband rescued mistreated horses from their abusers and nursed them back to health.

Even her approach to the story focuses on the horses. Each chapter tells the story of another horse, how they came to Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, and how they settled in and found happiness. Along the way we see what a loving spirit Melanie Sue Bowles has, and how that love shown to horses makes the world a better place.

This is a beautiful book which any animal lover should read. When someone like me, who is not really an animal lover, reads it, they will still be moved and come closer to understanding horses, and how they can be motivated by love and kindness. In other words, she brings me a little closer to being an animal lover.

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

*****The Horses of Proud Spirit*

by Melanie Sue Bowles