On Monday, I discussed one of my favorite new books, Beyond the Homestretch (see below). Today, I'm recommending two more books, neither of which are brand-new but definitely worth checking out. As I mentioned on Monday, throughout the writing and reporting of Equine ER, I read many horse books for background – fiction, nonfiction, equine veterinary textbooks, you name it. I also read books about all kinds of animals in order to see the impact that comes from having creatures in our lives, as well as the universal themes. Similar reading continues today.
Today's selections are:
Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of the World's Smartest Horse
by Mim E. Rivas (HarperCollins, 2006)
This nonfiction book is the unforgettable story of a man and his horse at the turn of the century: Jim Key, the remarkable self-taught veterinarian, a former slave and Civil War veteran whose intelligence was only surpassed by his gentleness, and the horse he taught to do math, read, debate, and all manner of smart things. This is a dense, extremely well-researched book, and highly recommended. If you want to be inspired by two heroes whose relationship was a testament to the human-horse bond, pick it up.
The Nature of Animal Healing
by Martin Goldstein, D.V.M. (Ballantine, 1999)
I know this blog is hosted on The Horse, and named Equine ER, so why would I recommend a book with the subtitle: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat? For a couple of reasons: One, every horse owner I've met so far is crazy about dogs and/or cats. And two, this book has interesting, sometimes provocative, ideas that I believe can apply to all animal/pet ownership, including horses. Goldstein challenges the idea that Western medicine is the way to go every single time in illness and discusses experiences such as the mysterious phenomenon of "resonance" between owner and animal. (However, in specific regard to dog and cats, given that the EPA announced today greater scrutiny into the toxicity of spot-on flea and tick treatments, the natural alternatives in this book strike me as particularly timely.) Whether or not you agree with everything Goldstein puts forth in The Nature of Animal Healing, I believe it is an important book that every pet owner should take a look at.
If you missed Monday's post, I recommended:
Beyond the Homestretch: What I've Learned from Saving Racehorses
by Lynn Reardon (New World Library, 2009)

Beyond the Homestretch is about Lynn Reardon's journey from a bored, frustrated office worker in the Washington, D.C. area, to creating and running a rural Texas racehorse placement program called LOPE (LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers). The book follows Reardon's adventures as she encounters horses like the tantrum-throwing Nacho Mann (Reardon practices reverse psychology to catch him) ... to celebrating her birthday by unexpectedly assisting a sweet colt named Spider as he recovers from a near-fatal snakebite and emergency tracheotomy.
Reardon trips, falls, and gets back up again in the service of creating a meaningful life for herself and for horses who can no longer make it on the track. This book also touches on the important issues of slaughter and steroids.
Beyond the Homestretch is for horse lovers and for anyone who dreams of escaping a desk job. My favorite chapter involves Reardon participating in a clinic by Zen cowboy Ray Hunt, "one of the godfathers of natural horsemanship." Here's an excerpt:
Ray liked to conclude his classes with a lengthy Q&A session, his mysterious answers often drifting into lengthy monologues. A practical question such as "What's the best way to ride a bucking colt? could prompt a soliloquy along the lines of "In the midst of difficulties, there's lots of opportunities. It's best to stay on the edge of trouble, not in the middle of it. Sensing confusion from the crowd, Ray would continue on, sometimes tapping his knee for emphasis. "See, you got to adjust to fit the situation. It's the little things that make a big difference. Recognize the smallest change, the slightest try. And remember – I might not know where I'm going, but I'm not lost. Just another student of the horse."
News flash! Equine ER was just chosen as a semifinalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, the "Pulitzers of equine literature."