Author: Marta Moran Bishop
Published: Katmoran Publications (January 13, 2013)
Genre: Pets/Fantasay
Rating: 5/5
I happened across this short novel during one of my late night amazon.com horse-crazed, book searches for my kindle. I had read about the plight of the nurse mares and foals in the breeding industry but wasn't aware the practice is still common today. Bishop's novel is not only well written but educational as it reveals the horrors of the breeding industry for race horses and show horses.
Dinky is born on a spring night. His mother tells him he will only be with her a short while and to try and remember everything she tells him. She will be forced to raise another mare's foal. When he is less than a week old Dinky is taken from his mother and forced to learn to take milk from a bucket. Then he is sent to auction where meat buyers purchase the "bi-products" of the nurse mare industry: the foals. Dinky is lucky. He is saved by a horse rescue and eventually adopted by Marta and her husband, Ken. However, Dinky's lack of social skills leads him into trouble with both his new owners and herd-mates. Dinky struggles to learn "his place" as he grows and begins to notice his humans are not always happy with him. Will he ever learn to please them?
Bishop's greatest writing talent is her ability to craft the believable first person narration in a horse's voice. Dinky's perception of humans and his surroundings is conveyed with the realistic authority needed to make this narration believable. This book will make horse owner's stop and wonder how their horse(s) are perceiving them. This novel should be read by horse lover's of any age not only for the story, but for the issue it presents.
Should the practice of nurse mares be outlawed? By all means, this story shall convince its readers, yes.
I just loved this book. Marta does a great job of raising consciousness about nurse mare foals while telling a delightful, heartwarming story all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteGreat review; great book!
I've read this book! It was so wonderful to read it from the horses point of view. I had no idea about nurse mares and have learned so much more about them from reading Dinky's story.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that the practice of nurse mares should be outlawed. So horrible.
This little foal's story however has a delightful ending. Loved it. Highly recommend it!
As a writer, I am sure you know how much your review warmed my heart. I wish you could meet Dinky, Chrome, and Connella.
ReplyDeleteThank you and I am so happy you liked Dinky's story.
Marta