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The Fire Horse (Kindle Single) by [Mitchell, Elizabeth]

The Fire Horse (Kindle Single) Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Mitchell (Author)

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If ever a horse seemed fated to die young, it was Neville Bardos. Unwanted as a racehorse, he appeared a likely candidate for the glue factory. Through luck and hard work, he dodged that bad ending to become a surprise contender for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in equestrian eventing. Then, on May 30, 2011, the barn he shared with ten other horses began to burn. Neville’s lungs were scorched black, and he faced the fight of his life just to survive. Future glory was surely nothing but an empty dream. Or was it?

"The Fire Horse" is the true story of a friendship between horse and rider so strong that it has carried them through their respective hard times to the brink of legend. Australian Boyd Martin saw a streak of potential no one else had seen in the stubborn and unpredictable horse. He bought him for $850 and named him, fittingly, after a notorious local gangster. And so began a relationship that had its share of ups and downs. Martin was something of a long shot himself, having once pretended to be an expert on breaking horses on the basis of a single book he read on the way to taking a job as a trainer. Over the years, he and Neville developed a hard-won appreciation for each other and appeared to be on the verge of success on the competitive equestrian circuit when the unthinkable happened. Now they’re in London as members of the U.S. Olympic team.

"The Fire Horse," by bestselling author Elizabeth Mitchell, is the deeply moving chronicle of a horse and his rider and their determined rise from the ashes.

PRAISE FOR "THE FIRE HORSE"

Elizabeth Mitchell has crafted far more than a tale about a gifted horse and rider in the world of eventing. This is the heartwarming story about an imperishable bond between a man and his horse—one that began when Boyd Martin acquired a failed racehorse off the track, turned him into an eventing star, and then saved the life of this game and gutsy charge when he was trapped in his burning stall during a terrible stable fire. Neville Bardos’s remarkable comeback under the devoted Martin, as a U.S. Olympic hopeful in the 2012 eventing competition, gives the tale an ending as warm and unlikely as any in equine literature." —William Nack, author of "Secretariat: The Making of a Champion"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Mitchell is the author of the nonfiction books "Three Strides Before the Wire: The Dark and Beautiful World of Horse Racing" and "W.: Revenge of the Bush Dynasty" (both from Hyperion). Her bestselling e-singles "The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin" and "Lady with a Past: A Petulant French Sculptor, His Quest for Immortality, and the Real Story of the Statue of Liberty" (both from Byliner) are reported historical narratives. Mitchell was executive editor of "George" magazine and features editor at "Spin" magazine. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Kindle Feature Spotlight

Length: 72 pages

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Page Flip: Enabled

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Product details

File Size: 256 KB
Print Length: 72 pages
Publisher: Byliner Inc. (July 23, 2012)
Publication Date: July 23, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B008OL65SI
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Enabled

Word Wise: Not Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

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"None of us knows when we might meet the person [or animal] who will save our life."

July 28, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I'm a sucker for animal stories, and I especially like stories about the underdog, that animal who shows that he's more than most people assume he is. There's something very special about those animals who've been discounted, rejected or thrown away. You see a deep understanding and a different sort of affection and love in those eyes gazing back at you.

In this true story, we meet Boyd Martin, a determined and out-going personality in his own right, and also an animal lover. He takes a chance on a horse no one seemed to want, a horse no one had any real patience or understanding for. This horse is said to be too difficult, maybe too scrappy. Kind of bold like Boyd himself, and you just know that these two strong-willed characters were meant to find each other. Boyd looks at this horse and sees the pure spirit there, all that strength and personality looking right back at him.

Boyd buys the horse (renamed Neville) fairly on the cheap. But eventually, this "eight-hundred-and-fifty-dollar racetrack reject" becomes a winner on the international stage, with he and Boyd as part of the U.S. contingent at the Olympics this summer. And while that's impressive and a true underdog showing us just what he's made of, the real story here is that Neville's more than just a winner. He's a friend, a partner, and if you happen to be an animal lover, too, you know just what that means.

A man and a horse finding each other, seeing and trusting the best in each other, they end up helping each other through some very trying and devastating times. Just as the story made me cry, it also made me smile. Touching and uplifting, it's a story of courage, endurance and hope. A story of true friendship that goes both ways; one saving a life, the other saving a soul. The love of and for an animal can do amazing things when given the chance.

12 people found this helpful

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An eminently sad story ends triumphantly.

January 12, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a good book, well written and eminently readable. But without taking away from the authors work, I cannot endorse the subject matter of the story.
The realization of your horses mortality can come as a crushing blow to most young horsemen and horsewomen. I still mourn the passing of my horses from the past, even though they lived their normal lifespan without major trauma..
I am also not exactly keen on "three day eventing", as I feel it puts your horse/s in as much or more unnecessary danger than a months ride into the ruggedest wilderness on the planet. I consider "three day" to be far more dangerous than Hunting, or Point to Point. Three day is even deliberately designed to be dangerous.
It wouldn't bother me if three day eventing was banned globally.

Comment

Kindle Customer

Fantastic story of courage and endurance

December 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

When choosing this book to read today, I had no idea that it would take me to a place very familiar to me. I have been to Burghley in Stamford, England many times just after the eventing, before the course is dismantled. I knew all the jumps described in this book and my "mind's eye" put me right in the cross country event. Living in America and owning a horse, I walked the course in England, stopping at each jump and studying it with awe , thinking "How do they do it?" This is a Fantastic read! I recommend it to everyone.

Comment

Norman J. Riddell

A real life story of tremendous courage

October 19, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I love anything written about horses, and this true story of of Neville and Boyd, and also his family and friends(human & animal) now has a place in my heart. As I read this story, I was amazed to realize that I pass by Windurra several times a month traveling between Delaware and Pennsylvania. Just passing by, you can just feel alittle excitement in the air, and now I can appreciate the beauty of that farmland even more. I am in awe of what those two friends/ partners accomplished. Don't miss this reading this heroic story. Highly recommended.

Comment

Great story.... written ok

August 23, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

As a recent discoverer of Boyd Martin's story, I was excited to find a book written about his trials with Neville. I enjoyed learning about the journey Martin has had with Neville and some of his other horses. The timing, with the Olympics, worked well to make the story more relevant to my life. I just wish the author had put a little more into the writing aspect of the story. The book begins with a gruesome description of the heartbreak that some horses are faced with. This lead me to believe the writing style would include thorough character developments and a detailed outline of major events. While the author does explain character histories and go into some detail about events, I found these to be lacking in substance. Usually, with a good book, it's as though you are sucked into the story; just like a good movie. It's as though you know the characters. With this story, I found I was somewhat disappointed when I reached the ending. It's a nice, short book, that gets to the point of Neville and Martin's adventures. If you're looking to learn more about the pair (which are amazing, by the way), this is a good book to do so; great as a short documentary. However, if you're looking for a good horse book... well, you could try it and see!

Comment

Fascinating story

January 11, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is truly a fascinating true story, I remembered reading an article about it back in 2012 during all of the Olympic buzz. When I recently discovered this book I jumped at the chance to read it and hear more about this amazing duo. However, I do feel like this was somewhat of an abbreviated version.While it wasn't bad, the writing just seemed a bit rushed. I feel like there is so much more detail that could have been written here.

Comment

Remarkable Horse and Companion rider

February 14, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This was an interesting story about a remarkable horse and his "companion rider!" I enjoyed it! It's a short story that could be enhanced by delving into the content a bit more, yet, the purpose of Ms. Mitchell's writing is to provide a brief expose about an interesting topic. She did that!

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