Customer Reviews

Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is is for those people who love horses. However, it much deeper because the author is able to gently demonstrate how her horse led her to understand herself. The beautiful analogies she pieces together through training a problematic horse is sensitive, honest and interesting to read. I could not put this book down. She opens her personal life before the reader as she shares a journey that is her life. I found it appealing because despite many situations that confronted her, it was her horse that brought her back to solid ground. God spoke through this amazing animal as he gave them a special bond. Some of us have had a horse that challenged us and made us feel less capable of our riding and handling abilities. I have an Arabian that is very testy. I read this book seeking to find answers about how to deal with my horse. It showed me a deeper insight into horse handling, as a spiritual bond, that is based on trust. My horse has come a long way in her behavior issues and I have also gained an understanding about how a horse is a marvelous gift to enjoy as an instrument of God's divine instruction. I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed it so much!

Betsy has written a truly amazing and inspiring book for every horse lover and christian woman desiring to perfect their personal realtionship with Jesus Christ and their horse. Every sentence is uplifting in some way. Her poignant sharing of difficulties she faces in her everyday life as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, horsewoman, and christian are full of lessons for us all. I find I am renewed by her honesty and feel 'relief' to know I am not alone in my struggle to draw nearer to my God and meld as one with my horse. Betsy's book clearly demonstrates that to love a horse is a God given love; and that you can be filled with God's spirit and find His direction for your life as you bond with your horse.

This book is one of the best books that I have ever had the privilege to be blessed by and Betsy is an absolute truthful lady that will be an inspiration to you as much as she is to me!!

By the way she expresses her journey and struggles, allows it to be very easy to relate to and can give you hope on your own journey!!!

I cannot wait for her next treasure!!! Bless you, Betsy!!!

This is a great book! I had looked at it online several times and finally ordered it. I received this book less than 12 hours before my horse, Babe became very ill. Reading this book helped me so much! It was truly a gift from God to help me through a very tough week. I carried it back and forth to the barn with me while Babe was sick. The parallels between your relationship with your horse and your relationship with God are so very true! Reading this book will help you be closer to your horse and closer to God! My Babe is fine now and my book is filled with highlighted passages. I will treasure and re-read this book the rest of my life! Highly recommended!

I found Mrs Kellehers insights to be very heart warming. Her insights into what a wife wants and needs from her husband and friend, are an eye opener and I think any man who truly loves his wife should read her insights on how to properly share hearts in gentleness and sincere respect for each other.
Mrs Kellehers insights into the tender ways our Lord meets our needs and leads us are insights that can only come from a heart that is open to loving and being loved.
I found myself caring very much about Fanny's every need and the spirit of her heart.
I am certain that this book will encourage your heart and I highly recommend it.

I was disappointed in this book. I was expecting more of a story on a personal
relationship with the horse. It seemed that the book contained too many exerpts
from the bible. I realize that this was Betsy's way of handling her feelings, but
I didn't finish reading the book as it started about half way through with so many bible quotes and not enough about the horse, person relationship. I am a religious
person, but the bible aspect was a little too overwhelming.

I found a lot of this book quite self-pitying, especially when the author talked about her marriage. I was surprised and angered that the author allowed her horse to get in such poor condition that others were pointing it out to her. If you don't know anything about horses, it's your responsibility to learn before taking one on, and if you can't care properly for an animal, then let it go to somebody who can. It should have been marketed as a religious book rather than a horse book.

I received this book as a gift, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was well worth the time.

Not everyone comes to horses and riding with a silver spoon and this author doesn't spend her childhood at the hunter barn but as a farmer's daughter occasionally riding a draft work horse bareback. She always wanted a horse of her own, but that evaded her. Later in her life, a horse is purchased for her son's 4-H project. She learned as much as she could asking questions and reading so she could help her son. Ultimately, her son moves on to other areas and the horse is given as a gift to her. Now the real learning begins. Her journey was filled with 'Aha' moments and painful events as well.

Although my 'horse' experiences and my personality is quite different, I truly appreciated the correlation of horse and rider and the similar connection between God and man. We all struggle with our relationship with the Lord, (Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). I really enjoyed her "horse" journey and her development of faith as that journey unfolded. God works in mysterious ways and I have no doubt He can work through a woman's absolute love of horses.

"A woman needs a horse...because husbands are imperfect!"

Betsy Talcott Kelleher has the rare gift of opening a lifetime of lessons, failures, victories, and revelation, and presenting it to her readers in a way that allows them to grasp some of the most elusive truths of life. Betsy does it by sharing her memories of life with Fanny and her other beloved horses.

The main equine character in "Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse" is Fanny, Betsy's head-strong, loyal, and thoroughly challenging bay mare. Betsy's book shares her walk with horses and her walk with God, told from a uniquely feminine perspective. For all that this is a woman's story, the truths it contains about understanding horses and finding a right relationship with God apply to all who love horses or who acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord.

Most horse owners will find familiar experiences in the pages of "Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse". Many of us have had the same insecurities, frustrations, embarrassments, and blessings that are part of a glorious life shared with horses. Betsy is able to bring us back into those moments, and lead us out again.
Is there such a thing as a perfect marriage? Does a perfect horse exist anywhere? Betsy is as honest as honest can be as she shows readers how she sifted through many dark places until they became illuminated with the light of love and acceptance from both her horses and God.

Just the chapter "Working on the Bit" is reason enough to read "Sometimes...," but don't skip any of it. Every rider can benefit from Miss Sally Swift's basic riding principles, and Betsy's comparison of the concepts of `working on the bit' and `walking in the spirit' will speak to you as an equestrienne and a Christian.

Are you feeling misunderstood and unappreciated? Get out your Bible, head out to the barn, and take a copy of "Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse" with you. You'll be in great company.

This book is about so much more than training a horse. It's a journey, a bearing of the author's soul about what she went through, and what she has learned, as she and this horse learned together. Very inspirational, very real, very raw.

Her next book, MARES! is also fantastic. She shares other horsewomen's stories about working with mares -- mostly dominant, strong personality alpha mares -- and all we as humans can laern from these magnificient animals and their ways of handling relationships.