In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love [Hardcover]

Susan Nusser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2004

Behind each winning horse is a groom, the person responsible for every nuance of his care, his health, and his spirit. In Service to the Horse explores a year in the life of three grooms, all working with champion thoroughbreds. The profession is largely dominated by young women, who work for no glory but their love of horses. Nusser tells the story of a stud groom in the most storied stable of Kentucky racehorses, home to the most high strung and dangerous stallions in the world; a show jumping groom struggling to square her desire to compete with the exacting demands of the rider she works for; finally, at the book's heart, Samantha Burton, a groom at the stables of an Olympic gold medalist in the controversial and rarefied sport of Three Day Eventing. In gripping detail, Nusser-a former groom herself-tells the stories of these horses, their owners and riders, and the multibillion-dollar industry of equestrian sport. Through the major competitions that define their year, Nusser interweaves stable lore, horse mythology, animal behavior, and meditations on the precise nature of the intense bond between humans and horses.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A groom to a horse is "what the combined services of physical therapist, manager, counselor, assistant, and chaperone would be to an NBA star," says Nusser, formerly a groom, who follows three grooms in the rarefied, high-stakes world of horse breeding and competition. Kenneth Burns has for years been handling Belmont Stakes winner A.P. Indy, one of the highest paid stud stallions at the exclusive Lane's End farm in Kentucky. Nusser explores the realities of the profession, at times in too much detail: e.g., A.P. Indy's fee is $300,000, and he is "booked to almost a hundred mares for a breeding season that starts in February and ends in July." In 1996, one study valued the horse industry at $25.3 billion, close to the film industry. Grooms, however, don't often make much money and work six- or even seven-day weeks. While Kenneth Burns views his work as a job, Samantha Burton, the center of the book and groom for an Olympic gold medalist in a competition called Three-Day Eventing, understands the gestalt of horses: "Sam is no more able to articulate why she loves her horses than most people are able to articulate why they love their children." Brooke Lowe is a groom who burns out, realizing that she'd rather teach and ride. Nusser interweaves the history of horse domestication, speculating on the myth of centaurs and the horse's prey-driven sensitivities. For those in the horse world, this book will add to the lore and knowledge; for the general reader, however, the book only briefly raises disturbing questions about privilege and the human-horse relationship without answering them.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In horse competitions on TV, the prancing steeds appear with their shining coats and their impeccably groomed manes and tails. The riders of these horses claim the spotlight, but what about the grooms who prepare them for their moments of fame? Overworked and underpaid, professional grooms are the backbone of any equine sport. Working daily with their charges, the grooms form incredibly close relationships with the horses in their care. They also have to learn the quirks of riders, owners, and the stables they work for, the strengths and weaknesses of their fellow grooms, and the intricacies of the horses' tack, equipment, and vehicles. This unique look at a world that most readers, even those with horses of their own, know little about will be a welcome addition to the horsey collection and will be sought out by fans of Jane Smiley and Laura Hillenbrand. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316806315
• ISBN-13: 978-0316806312
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all riders, owners, & equine career wishers!, January 5, 2005

By 

Katie A. (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love (Hardcover)

As someone who has groomed for years on the 'A' show circut, a stint at a top QH breeding farm, and now owns a small H/J barn of my own, I can say this book does an excellent job of illustrating the 'real world' of the horse show and breeding scene. Too often riders (and owners) have absolutely no idea how much time and effort are involved in producing and maintaining a top notch operation. This book should be a must read for anyone wanting to go into any form of an equine career. It offers the worker a true perspective on what to expect, while also reminds the owners and managers how hard the grooms work and how they are often motivated. It is also a wonderful 'behind the scenes' look at a level of expertise many equine enthusiasts will never otherwise have the opportunity to share.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eventers and Jumpers, Take Note!, June 29, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book, and I recommend it especially to people interested in show jumping and/or eventing. It deepened my respect for David and Karen O'Connor, who are featured throughout. They, and others like them, are all about promoting true horsemanship.

Riders come from all sorts of backgrounds. Many professional riders exchanged barn chores for lessons when they were young. It's not about how expensive your horse is or how much your boots cost; it's about loving horses and riding, and this book conveys that on nearly every page.

I have to confess I didn't learn a whole lot about grooms that I didn't know already (low pay, long hours, bad food, etc.), but that's okay. It was fun to go behind the scenes with them, and I admire them all the more. Nusser does a really good job of giving the reader a "you are there" perspective.

Little, Brown: if you're out there, bring this book to Lexington for Rolex in 2005. About 10,000 copies should be sufficient!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Didn't Want to Put the Book Down!, March 8, 2005

By 

L. A. Leventer "leventer" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love (Hardcover)

And I didn't. I read the entire book in one sitting! Susan Nusser depicts the lives of these professional horsepeople (and their horses) with humor and sensitivity. Her writing made me feel like I was there with the horses and their handlers. Not only was the book interesting, but it was informative. It makes you think about your own abilities and qualities as a horseperson.