If I Had a Horse: How Different Life Would Be [Hardcover]

Melissa Sovey-Nelson (Author), Mark J. Barrett (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

This two-time award winning book reflects on the lessons that evolve when woman and horse form a bond and how these experiences migrate into all aspects of life. Whether you are a experienced rider or horse owner, or have only imagined a horse in your life, you will be convinced that this compelling messenger is calling and that the invitation is life changing. Packaged with the book is a DVD by Mark Barrett, featuring elegant equines in motion, in numerous locations and situations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The personification of horse as mentor is explicit and the implied correlations to the female relationship are mystifying ... --Central Coast Magazine

As you flip through the pages, the beautiful and moving horse images take you away to fields and pastures to share a moment with a special spirit ... A volume of dreams and memories to return to over and over. --Mary D. Midkiff

Author Melissa Sovey-Nelson's poetic text melds seamlessly with the striking photos, which display horses in a variety of natural settings and moods. The book, comprised of "reflections on how the horse experience migrates into the way we think of ourselves and of others," could be categorized as both artistic and inspirational. It is clearly one that horse lovers will return to again and again. --Ocala Style Magazine

About the Author

Melissa Sovey-Nelson is a contributor for Willow Creek Press titles including Chiwowhua.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Willow Creek Press; Bk & DVD edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572238844
• ISBN-13: 978-1572238848
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 10 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,477 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melissa Sovey has written gift books, short stories, and an award-winning coffee table book. She and her husband live in the north woods of Wisconsin where they enjoy year-round outdoor sports and the tranquility of nature. Melissa has lived in Chicago and Detroit... but her heart has always been in the country. (Even if there aren't any Starbucks. Or Whole Foods. Or trendy little shoe stores; which is fine because all you really need in the north woods are a pair of rubber boots, some furry mukluks and a cheap pair of flip flops for the six or so weeks you get to wear them).

Melissa is currently compiling material for a project based on her latest gift book, It's A Girl Thing: Random Thoughts on Surviving Womanhood. Please visit her website www.melissasovey.com and post a comment on one of her Random Thoughts or e-mail her at [e-mail] with one of your own survival tactics! Your thoughts will be published with your permission.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtul, spiritual and beautifully photographed..., March 11, 2006

By 

appaloosa (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If I Had a Horse: How Different Life Would Be (Hardcover)

Quote from the book:

"One of the earliest religious disappointments in a young girl's life devolves upon her unanswered prayer for a horse" (Phyllis Theroux)

Indeed.

The author doesn't quite capture the essence of life long yearning to be with horses; to always dream of owning your own horse and to have that dream just out of your grasp. The above quote from the book comes close to those feelings - and overall the book comes close, but doesn't quite hit the mark.

The title is a bit misleading, or perhaps my expectations got the better of me; the author already lives with horses, has horses of her own, and is in daily contact with horses. Thus, I couldn't quite make the bridge between "If I had a horse" and "how different life would be" within the pages of this book. The text and quotes are more zen like in approach and philosophy, rather than describing life-altering changes.

Nevertheless, this is a BEAUTIFUL book. The text is honest, thoughtful, spiritual and philosophical. The photographs in this book are equally beautiful, and truly compliment the text superbly. The photographer has done a wonderful job capturing the essence, heart and soul of equus.

This is a slim book, less than 1/2" thick, and only 128 pages, but printed in hardcover, and bound on heavy semi-gloss paper. Every single page features full-colour photographs of horses, with the author's insightful text and selection of quotes from various sources.

My only complaint (and it perhaps is a minor one) is that the stars and inspirati of this book - the horses themselves - go unmentioned. The author goes to the trouble to name her sources for the various quotations used, in a bibliography at the back of the book, but there is no mention of who the horses are, their names, what breed, where they're from, etc.

This book also came with a DVD titled "The Beauty of Horses", featuring a generous 21-' minutes of live film footage of various horse breeds, from Arabians to Gypsy Vanners, Friesians, Appaloosa's and other horses. The music is a little annoying - but not overly so. How much better it would have been to let the horses speak for themselves in this DVD: the galloping of hooves, nostrils flaring and blowing, the clip-clop of hooves along a beach, horses neighing and snorting, tails swishing, etc. Instead the filmmaker opted to overdub with music and voiceover. This is perhaps a minor complaint, as the DVD production values are really well done, and the horses captured are beautiful to look at and inspiring.

All in all, this is a wonderful addition to add to anyone's equine library, and I am sure horselover's young and old will enjoy looking at this book.

~appaloosa

11/03/2006

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visually Breathtaking!, June 28, 2005

By 

KnightShade's mom "Leslie" (Haughton, LA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: If I Had a Horse: How Different Life Would Be (Hardcover)

For a horse owner this is an exquisite book and a relaxing insightful read. I bought this primarily for the photographs of the Friesians. The one on the cover is my geldings sire. To have one of this magnificent stallions foals is an honor that I am just beginning to appreciate. They are beautiful wise companions. The enclosed DVD will only enhance the experience. A true horse lovers book for all ages.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth every penny, January 16, 2006

By 

Wynnie "Wynn" (Northeast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If I Had a Horse: How Different Life Would Be (Hardcover)

If you know a horse crazy kid, buy them this book and they'll cherish it forever. The cover image is absolutely stunning, and just a taste of what is inside. Beautiful photography, moving writing and inspiring quotes. It's not for little kids, but a horse crazy girl about 9 or 10 will devour it just as much as that horse crazy 40 something. Even if you horses aren't a big part of your life, animal lovers will enjoy it just the same. The included DVD is just icing on the cake. When I was a horse obsessed 10 year old, I would cut pictures of horses out of magazines, newspapers, or anything I could get my hands on. This is the book I wish I had back then.