Conversations with a Prince: A Year of Riding at East Hill Farm [Hardcover]

Helen Husher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

What is it about horses? And why do they matter?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

"I had come back to horses after seven years away," begins Husher's meditations on horses and riding. She is sent to catch Prince for her first lesson, and discovers him caked with mud with his blanket half off and dragging on the ground. But it is this little, almost pony-sized Prince, along with Reba (who grows into her prettiness) and stately Railund, who engage the author as she relearns the art of riding. Husher meanders through contemplations about what she learned from each horse she rode (including flashbacks to her childhood mount), mixing horse psychology with human wants and desires as she ponders the essential reasons people love and need horses. Threading in the truths available from classic horse stories such as National Velvet and Black Beauty, along with the hard work of caring for horses and improving one's riding skill, Husher reveals what draws so many to the joy of horses. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Anybody who likes horses and motorcycles is very special in my eyes, but in writing about her relationship with "Prince" Helen Husher will touch the hearts of many readers who love horses and want to get to know them better."--Michael Korda, author of Horse People

"A convincing chronicle of the mysterious and ineffable ties that bind us to our horses and to each other."--Matthew Mackay-Smith, DVM, Medical Editor, Equis

“Helen Husher has written an entertaining story about her journey with these amazing creatures that will strike a familiar chord with horse lovers as well as captivate the non-horsey set. I couldn't put it down! --Jane Savoie, reserve rider for the 1992 Olympic Team and author of That Winning Feeling!, It's Not Just About the Ribbons, Cross-Train Your Horse, and More Cross-Training

“A graceful and leisurely memoir of the author’s midlife return to horseback riding after a seven-year hiatus. Husher is extraordinarily perceptive, and her observations about horses in general, and Prince in particular, are nuanced and thoughtful without drifting into sentimentality. A finely written chronicle that should charm equestrians and non-horsey types alike.”--Kirkus, Feb 15, 2005

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; Not First Edition edition (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592286933
• ISBN-13: 978-1592286935
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,893,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, July 20, 2005

By 

Brett Mclane (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conversations with a Prince: A Year of Riding at East Hill Farm (Hardcover)

A wonderful book for anyone with even a remote interest in the world of horses. I originally bought this book for my girlfriend who has two horses herself, but I ended up reading the book myself before I had a chance to give it to her.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playful and Never Boring, July 13, 2005

By 

Stephen H. Morris (Randolph, VT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conversations with a Prince: A Year of Riding at East Hill Farm (Hardcover)

On one level this is familiar turf. Cowboys, schoolgirls, whispering trainers, jockeys ... everyone has a story about communicating with a horse. What sets Husher's apart is her increasing growth as a wordsmith. She has blossomed into one of Vermont's finest writers, and fine writing always trumps well-trod subject material.
"Conversations With a Prince" is loaded with fine characters--most equine, some human. Husher is not afraid to put herself under scrutiny as well, and my guess is that she learned a great deal about herself in the writing of this book. She knows she's a little off the deep end on this subject, but that's exactly where she wants to be. She's a playful writer who is not afraid to take chances. As a result, she is never boring.
She's at her very best when she gets right into the mind of the horse, such as by explaining how vulnerable horses are to their riders who sit in the one blind spot where an ancient tiger might attack. This, in turn, explains how one horse, Bones, became addicted to the symbiotic company of a dog who would patrol the perimeter on "tiger alert." Who knows if this is a correct interpretation of what's going on in a horse's mind? The point is, Husher's treatment is so well done that the reader never questions the believability.
You will enjoy "Conversations with a Prince" whether or not you are a horse person. If you are a horse person, however, you will just enjoy it more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, and educational, too, December 30, 2005

By 

M. G. "MG" (Northern VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conversations with a Prince: A Year of Riding at East Hill Farm (Hardcover)

A former Vermonter, I received this book for Christmas. I've been around horses quite a bit, although I'm no expert. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Husher is full of insight into herself and horses. She has fun with unique phraseology throughout the book, and I laughed aloud several times. I was having fun reading, but also learning. You hear a lot about that "special relationship" between horses and people, especially in fiction works. This is the first time that I've heard about communicating with horses from a real world person who claims no special expertise. In fact, she is quite humble. It was fun to hear her insights into horse psychology. I'm sure the horsey set will enjoy this more than those with no interest in horses. But if you've never been around a horse and would like to, or are just plain curious about what they're really like, you'd enjoy this book.