Meet the Horses
“In Lynn Reardon’s world, the horses have as much personality as the people, and most all of them are real characters....” — Linda Kohanov, author of The Tao of Equus
ZuperRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
At the start of his race career, Zuper was known for courting mares during track workouts, nickering suggestively as he galloped beside them. Once gelded, he concentrated on racing instead of flirting – earning nearly $180,000. Even as a gelding, Zuper still preferred mares and female riders, his Southern gentleman ways making him a favorite with both. Tom dubbed him the "Sean Connery" of horses, commenting, "He looks like he should be smoking a pipe, with a Bond girl nearby."
SpiderRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Spider quickly established himself as the clown of the farm. He liked to turn over troughs and splash the water out. If he saw you in the pasture, he would run across the field to greet you, gangly legs flying, with a delighted "you-must-be-coming-to-see-me" look on his face. It was impossible to be in a bad mood around Spider's enthusiasm. Spider had an innate premise that the universe was a benevolent, wonderful place where everyone was there to pet him.
Tulsa MamboRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Tulsa Mambo's personality showed immediately under saddle – he was opinionated about where we should go, exuded a jaunty cheerfulness during trotting, and liked to make faces at the neighbor's horses over the fence. Tulsa reminded me eerily of Charles, a chatty European polo pro from my exercise rider days, a slim man who liked to smoke, make cynical witticisms, and curse in French while riding his herd of moody polo ponies.
TawakoniRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Tawakoni seemed to enjoy the timbre of my high-pitched voice, pricking his ears as soon as I began speaking. He'd bob his head and stretch his neck out for petting whenever I praised him. In spite of his Schwarzenegger physique and stallion machismo, Tawakoni was full of gracious chivalry – I sensed no threat from him. Irrational as it might seem, Tawakoni knew that I was female and therefore to be treated with courtesy.
Captain BooRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Captain Boo lived up to his Halloween name. He was a black gelding, full of muscle, with a strangely scarred eye. As a weanling, a horseshoe had been thrown into his face. His eye had taken the brunt of the blow, and a fibrous pink scar protruded from it – giving him a distinctly spooky air. Boo was gregarious and strangely handsome – his damaged eye was rakish rather than creepy, lending George Romero panache to his wide forehead and sculpted face.
EndofthestormRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Storm's favorite distance was five furlongs – he was a fierce competitor, displaying aggressive speed especially in tight races. His racing personality was quite a contrast to his mellow demeanor at the ranch, where Storm was known for long contemplative staring sessions at the trees, his eyes half-closed in a meditative gaze. He radiated Zen-like detachment from the material world – the other horses gave Storm a wide berth, puzzled by his preference for solitude.
Nacho MannRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Nacho, in true diva fashion, pitched a fit – dramatically flopping around as if tasered. Holding the end of his lead rope, I spun in circles with him, trying to control his wild lurches. Nacho didn't particularly try to avoid me – running me over was definitely an option in his mind. As if to underscore that point, Nacho threw his head up and feinted toward my shoes, his hooves barely missing me. He exhaled in rapid snorts, lifted his tail nearly vertical, and rolled his eyes in Exorcist fashion.
SugarfootRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Sugarfoot was known for two things at the racetrack: an endearing habit of licking her groom's bald head and her incredibly slow speed. A small red filly with gentle eyes, Sugarfoot was oddly put together, like a toy assembled in a rush. Her front hooves turned out, her knees were crooked, and her drooping hindquarters didn't match her long back. But her kind face, with its big dripping star, made up for all those imperfections.
PJRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
A big, stocky three-year-old with a red coat and blaze face, PJ had the build of a dairy cow. When in doubt, panic and run into things – this was PJ's philosophy on life. No matter how patient the handler, PJ was always on the edge of a minor freak out. The complete disconnect between PJ's behavior and his appearance was maddening. You expect lanky, taut-muscled horses with high heads and white-rimmed eyes to act nervous – not round horses that always seem to be in a placid doze.
Bridge PlaceRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Bridge Place swaggered off the trailer, ready for attention and treats. A deep shade of chocolate bay, he carried himself like a football star, seeming to look for admiring fans as he eyed our pastures. Clearly, he thought highly of himself – the only problem was that he was all of 15H, about sixty inches tall at the withers. Beautifully conformed, athletic, cocky, and, well . . . kind of short.
Your My BabyRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Your My Baby – or "Babu," as we called him – was a beautiful dark gelding, with the quiet air of a bookworm. He had a paralyzed flapper, a congenital weakness in his respiratory system. As he raced around the track, his flapper would drag, creating a barrier to his airway. Babu became withdrawn and worried – he couldn't understand why he was so fast, but then never could win. His self-esteem battered, he came to our ranch shy and uncertain but gentle. He was one of my favorites.
Lightening BallRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
LB was dark chestnut, a pretty shade of brown, with a long tail and a thick mane. His build was impressive – stout body, powerful hindquarters, and sloping shoulders that looked all business. His face was his most striking feature, with intelligent, wary eyes looking intently at you. LB's mouth was expressive, usually set in a hard, tight line that curved slightly at the end – as if he expected little from you, but still hoped to be pleasantly surprised.
SallyRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Short, round, and brown, Sally had a pretty face and a sleek coat. Her feminine looks had earned her the nickname "Prom Queen" at our ranch. Sally had only raced twice, finishing last in her first race. In her second, one of the other horses stumbled a little and she was able to pass him. "She came back to the barn, prancing and proud, like she'd won the Kentucky Derby," her trainer told me with a sigh. "I said to her, little girl, you need to pass all the horses before you get to prance like that."
Tulsa Mambo and ZuperRead Excerpt >
From the Book...
Tulsa Mambo and Zuper are inseparable, two ex-jocks enjoying a mellow retirement together.
