Customer Reviews

Freedom's Rein

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This is a story about the Thoroughbred industry that strips away the colorful silks, pageantry and celebration at events like the Kentucky Derby or Breeders' Cup. It is racing seen through the eyes of one of the best jockeys ever to climb aboard some of the most regally-bred runners in the top races in the world.

Shane Sellers won more than $122 million in total purse money, while capturing more than 4,000 races in a career that spanned 26 years. But Sellers was not content on amassing such gaudy numbers without trying to expose what he feels are the wrongs in the sport.

And this is where his story begins.

With co-author Tricia Psarreas, Sellers discusses the toughest races in his storied career; taking the reigns for making the sport healthier by increasing riding weights, allowing the free-market pursuit of income by wearing racing gear with personal endorsements and safeguarding his brethren from financial ruin due to injury through better insurance polices.

And - as important - Sellers outlines his concern for the health and welfare of the equine athletes who have no voice when their bodies are pumped full of drugs to keep them on the track, though it may increase the likelihood of serious injuries to them - other runners in racing or training - and the jockeys or exercise riders.

The consequences that Sellers met for speaking out are chilling, but has not diminished his drive for a safer, more equitable sport for those who put their lives on the line every day, in the race to the never-ending finish line.

Horse jockeys are so small, I've often thought. To be honest, I just assumed it was a sport that attracted smaller people. Football players are muscular, dancers are flexible, and basketball players are tall. Common sense told me that a horse with less weight on their back could run faster. I grew-up in the south where we raced cars not horses.

In my mind horse racing was for the rich - another way for them to amuse themselves. A legal way to bet their money and a place for privileged women to show their stuff. The horses were beautiful and well-groomed. Unlike participants in contact sports, the jockeys appeared to be injury free and healthy. Unlike other athletes it's unusual to hear stories of drug abuse or inappropriate behavior among the jockey community. The perfect sport, I thought, until I read Freedom's Rein.

Freedom's Rein is the true life story of Shane Sellers. Co-written by Tricia Psarreas, it's one of the best memoirs I've ever read. The story is well written and easy to follow. It grabs your attention from the first chapter - with each page you wonder what is going to happen next. Shane grew up in a poor family with an abusive father. Many individuals exposed to those circumstances are unable to rise above this. Abuse effect it's victims in many ways as is evident from reading this book.

Shane went from being extremely deprived to having everything that he wanted. He won over 4,000 races and $122 million dollars. An unfortunate knee injury ended his career, forcing him to examine his drug addiction and the abuse jockeys inflict upon their own bodies. As an athlete he was expected to maintain a body weight of no more than 112 pounds, to spend hours in saunas, and to throw-up food in special toilets provided by the tracks. The result is these behaviors is that many jockeys die from over-exposure in the hot rooms, develop eating disorders or end up with life threatening illnesses.

Shane became the whistle blower for his sport. The one to speak out, the one to ask questions, the one to fight for change. His actions have resulted in positive changes but he paid a high price. For those wanting to get an inside look at horse racing, this is the book for you. It's not a pretty story but it's one that needs to be told.

As a society we often turn our heads not wanting to get involved when others are mistreated. Our reasons for doing this are many. But the bottom line is no individual or animal deserves to be mistreated. I think that fear keeps us quiet. If we talk about abuse then we just might have to do something about it. Shane fights for better conditions and more humane treatment of jockeys. You might think if you're not directly involved in horse racing that this doesn't affect you. But you're wrong. Abuse is an attitude and a choice. The person who abuses someone at the track is likely to abuse others away from the track.

An abused person has little or no freedom. Like a jockey, there's always someone riding their back. It's important to read Freedom's Rein because it's anyone's story - anyone that has ever been abused in any way by another person. Shane has millions of fans - his name and face have instant recognition. If he can take a stand against abuse, so can you. One of the best ways to fight this problem is with awareness. In their book, Shane and Tricia, force us to think about abuse in a provocative and enjoyable way.

Freedom's Rein is a book that will undoubtedly cause your heart to feel heavy: heavy with shock, sadness, awe, joy, passion, anger, love, hope, and familiarity. It is the story of Shane Sellers, one of the world's most renowned jockeys, and his struggle both on the track and off.
From its opening chapter and throughout, be prepared to be stunned. Shane vividly describes through author Trish Psarreas all of the events of importance in his life that helped shape him into the man he is today: one of the best jockeys to have ever mounted a horse, and a very troubled soul to counterbalance that particular glory.
In his childhood, Shane suffered a dizzying and tumultuous family life. While you or I were more than likely playing with our various toys, Shane was helping his abusive father poach rabbits and other animals in order to survive. He describes the constant hunger he endured for many years, including a harrowing and sad tale of a beloved family pet that was lost to starvation. Issues such as mental, physical, and emotional abuse are reluctantly but boldly and honestly discussed.
The trials that Shane lived through as a young boy led to a beautiful discovery: his all-consuming, unfaltering love of horses. Experience the birth of this love, its nurturing, and the resulting atrocities that Shane and all other jockeys must live through in order to bring America the sport that it loves so very much. Be prepared for some uncomfortable truths, as Shane reveals secrets about the fraying seams of the dark side of horse racing. What you will learn through the revelations in this book will amaze and empower you. Shane unabashedly tells all: the necessity of a binge-and-purge lifestyle, the cannibalization and destruction of one's own body, and the risk and the danger that every jockey takes when he mounts a horse for a meager amount of money.
As the writing style is direct, raw, and wastes no thoughts on pretty words, you will be taken in by this book, and will find yourself pouring through it, eager to see where the story goes with each fresh chapter. Watch and learn as Shane struggles with his ever- mounting personal demons, the tiresome labor to keep his family healthy and happy, and his own severe injuries and accidents. Be immersed in the previously unknown world of the professional jockey, and feel pride and conviction when Shane takes on one of the most closed and secretive empires of sport: horseracing. Trish Psarreas clearly shows the many ways Shane fought for himself, his family, his fellow jockeys, and his fellow man.
Freedom's Rein is full of lessons for life. It is about never giving up, even in the face of monumental adversity. It is about fighting for what you believe is right, even when you are the only one fighting. It is about maintaining personal integrity above all else, and Shane Sellers should be commended not only on his superb and unparalleled riding skills, but also on his own perseverance to bring about change to an industry that sorely needs it.
Although the book deals primarily with horseracing and the ever-worsening personal issues Mr. Sellers experiences, there are many scenic side-trails: Shane's stint as a mildly successful country music singer, his joy at being a father to three children, and even a chapter that describes in detail his relationship and experiences with the one person who could put his thoughts and experiences into writing better than anyone else: Trish Psarreas. The two were a perfect pair for this book, which I strongly recommend to anyone who is seeking a bold, enriching book that will cause you to want to bring about positive change in your own world.

"Do you know what it's like for your body to cannibalize its own organs? For you to deprive your body of food for so long that it retaliates by eating itself?"

These are the first two sentences you will read in this book and they begin an amazing story of a lifestyle filled will torment and pain just to achieve success. The events in this story held me, moved me and inspired me.

Freedom's Rein reads like an irresistible novel. From the first words on the page right through the end, each paragraph is well defined. It contains vivid examples of the life of a jock and what challenges they face just to ride. I was mesmerized as the author pulled me into a world I had never been and opened windows for me to see more clearly. I cried as I read about Sellers childhood. My heart reached out in triumph as he found his niche. I found strength in his courage.

I grew up in a poor family with an abusive father. My mother left him to provide a better life. Unfortunately this forced her to work two, sometimes three jobs making her absence almost constant. As I grew I set my mind that I would be home with my children. I would raise them and be involved in their lives. This has always placed challenges before me. Sellers had a similar goal. "After growing up in Erath, I knew what it was like to be poor, so I was happy to share my winnings with all of my loved ones." His selfless motives inspired me to keep giving to my family. This book follows his struggles to succeed so closely that you feel as if you are there. His pain is your pain. His strength is your strength. After reading Freedom's Rein I felt encouraged. Empowered.

The story doesn't stop with giving to his family. Sellers reached a point of awareness in his life. He begins to see the pain and suffering in his fellow jockeys. He realizes the detrimental impact the life of a jockey imposes on every jock and their families. He states in Freedom's Rein "As time went on, though, I started to realize that not many jockeys were as fortunate as I was. " And this realization moves him to challenge the current system. This part of the story gripped my stomach. Seeing the realities that every jockey faced made my trials seem petty. As an active homeschooler officials frequently challenge me on my decisions. Many disagree with a parents right to home school and determine the type of education their child receives. At times the scope of the political correctness feels too large for me to face. As I read how Sellers was hit head on in the same fashion I was inspired. Reading his story gave me direction and hope.

This book doesn't only open the eyes of its readers to the life of horse racing. It demonstrates a person's ability to overcome. It offers an experience of courage and determination. It will hold your attention. It will move you into action. This book is an absolute must read. Open the pages and be inspired.

Freedom's Rein is a great book by an upcoming new author. I have read some of Tricia Psarreas's work before Freedom's Rein, so I knew her style of writing before delving in. I still can not believe what an easy flowing read this book is. You don't want to put it down. She helped capture everything in this hard cover. The emotions run strong through her wonderful compilation of words. There is a little something in Freedom's Rein that everyone can relate to; whether it is horse racing, an odd up-bringing, or eating disorders. I give this book, 5 stars, because of the story behind it and the writing in it. A MUST READ!!!

I'm a big bookworm and up until now, I have never read an autobiography, I always assumed that they would be boring an uninteresting, well you know what they say when you assume. I picked up this book on a whim. The only thing I know about horse racing is from watching the two movies Seabiscuit & Hidalgo, and going to the race track in Saratoga one year.

From the very first chapter I was hooked, I had no idea what to expect and my heart broke as I read about the horrors one little poor boy named Shane Sellers had faced. As I read I watched this same little boy overcome obstacles and go after his dream with so much passion, it inspired me.

I was excited when Shane talked about his racing career, and outraged at the dirty little secrets behind the horse racing industry. By the middle of the book, I had found myself completely wrapped up in this one man's tale.

Then my heart ached as I read the downfalls and watched his world fall apart. Even though I had never met Shane, I wanted to read that he would get the happily ever after.

This book will make your heart soar and sink, and make you realize whether we're rich, famous or dirt poor, we all hurt, we all desire to be loved and accepted, and that we all bleed the same color red.

It doesn't matter if you like horses, hate horses or know nothing about them; this is not a book about a horse or an industry. This book is about a human being that had it all, lost it all, had it all again and lost it all again, but it didn't kill him, just made him stronger. Anyone of us can relate to this book, whether you've been in love, betrayed, been on top of the world or simply just your average Joe, there is a piece of this story embedded in all of our hearts.

This book really opened up my eyes to a side of horse racing that I have never seen before. Behind the glamorous races is a life of sacrifice including starving, heaving bowls, sweat boxes, and other atrocities. I had no idea that this occurred in horse racing. I understood that jockeys had to be of a certain size, but did not realize the extent they have to go to be at such a light weight.

I also didn't realize that most jockeys will risk their lives for a mere $50 a mount. They can't take endorsements, which seems crazy since nearly every sport thrives on endorsements.

This book sheds light on a side of horse racing that needs to be recognized. This book is truthfully written through the eyes of Shane Sellers. The writing style of the book enables you to feel the unimaginable lows and extraordinary highs of his life. You get a behind the scenes look at what jockeys go through physically and mentally for each race.

Here is one of many passages in the book that tugged at my heart, "Nobody wants to talk about the fact that when the crowd sees a green curtain go up during a race, there is a euthanized horse on the other side of that curtain being hauled away into a horse ambulance by a chain around its neck." This is just one gripping example of how jockeys and horses suffer for their trade.

I think this type of book needed to be written, despite the uproar he has experienced from the racing community. If you want the real truth behind horse racing then I recommend this book. Make sure to have tissue on hand.

This book so well writen it will open your eyes to the behind the scenes of the "Sport Of Kings". From the cover to the last word the pages burned in my hands. Shane fought a very hard fight, with no reason at the time, the reason is here in this book. Shane is a world class jockey and is a classy man, with a lot to offer those who don't know better.
Shane I wish you the best, you tugged at my heart strings,made me smile and feel you anger. Only good things should come your way. God Bless You!

Before I purchased Freedom's Rein, I read the reviews posted on Amazon, including the ones by Ruffian and Rider. They made me pause and think. Their reviews were so different from the other reviews that I wondered why. It honestly sounded to me that they were bashing Shane rather than giving an honest critique of his story. An avid reader myself, I've read hundreds of reviews. It's a little unusual when someone actually advises you not to buy a book. You can say that you don't like a book and even give some reasons why without trying to verbally discredit the author.

Telling some people not to buy a book could actually have the opposite effect. In my case it actually made me want to read the book even more. When I did read it, I was looking for the numerous editing mistakes and the poor writing that the reviews spoke about. There were several mistakes, which is typical for all books. I thought the writing was good and I did not feel that Shane was complaining about his life. There's no way to tell your story without including the bad. Others might read this book and feel that he was bragging about his many accomplishments rather than complaining.

The point is that books affect each of us differently. If you have never written a book (a friend of mine has) then you don't realize how much time, work, money, research, and anxiety is involved in birthing a book. Authors are thick skinned and can take criticism but only when it is constructive and fair. Most individuals have a story to tell but few people actually put it on paper. When an author shares their experiences with others it can be very beneficial to those reading the story. It's not easy sharing the bad but that's what makes Freedom's Rein human.

I felt the essence of the message from this book was abuse. Abuse is a difficult topic. There are many who wish individuals would not speak out when they suspect abuse. Rather than deal with the issue they pretend it doesn't happen. It is true that jockeys choose to race - there's always a choice. Just as many individuals choose to remain in abusive relationships. Just because they continue to race or because they do not leave - doesn't mean the abuse is not happening. I applaud Shane for having the courage to speak out against what he sees as abusive treatment in the sport that he obviously cares deeply about.

Another point worth noting is Ruffian only has two posted reviews on Amazon and Rider has zero reviews posted. This leads me to believe that neither of them are experienced, seasoned reviewers. Don't let the negative opinion of these two reviews stop you from purchasing this book. In my opinion, it's well written, has few mistakes, appears to be truthful and is a story that needs to be heard.

Freedom's Rein by Shane Sellers and Tricia Psarreas takes us behind the scenes into the world of horse racing. In any sport and many businesses there is the darker side, which is not as likely to be publicized. Shane Sellers and Tricia Psarreas unveil this side of horse racing in a captivating book, but this book is more! It is an autobiography about a man who has struggled, yet continuously picks himself up and takes that next step. It is about a man's will to fight for his beliefs and to search for love and happiness.

Through the writing of Tricia Psarreas, Shane Sellers, one of America's historically successful jockeys, tells his story. He begins with his troubled childhood and the difficult relationship that he has with his father. He quickly progresses to the passion he discovers early on, his passion for horses and winning the race. This passion allows Sellers to open doors he may never have been able to and to leave, even if only for brief periods, a haunting past. He exposes the jockey's inner world as his career progresses. It includes eating disorders to maintain an unnaturally low body weight, very little pay if you are not a winner, very low insurance and no national governing body, such as the NBA, NFL or NHL.

Shane Sellers learned to fight in his youth and has continued to fight for his beliefs throughout his adult life. Jockey weight limits, permission to endorse products for extra pay and insurance coverage have been some of his crusades. Others are more personal in nature. Psarreas' writing enables us to experience this life journey with Shane Sellers through all the highs and lows. We get to travel with him to the winning circle and then into the sweat box.

Written in the first person, Tricia Psarreas is very successful in expressing Shane Sellers story, so that the reader enters his world and immediately wants to learn more. Like many books it is not free from editing errors, but this should not keep you from a wonderful autobiography that deserves to be read. This story needs to be out there!