December 2020/January 2021 Issue

Page 22 December 2020/January 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Tired of running to the tack shop to find your copy of East Coast Equestrian? SUBSCRIBE! You’ll get it in your mailbox each month (before it hits the tack shop) for as long as you like. PLUS : Place FREE classifieds each month. Just $20! Visit eastcoastequestrian.net to sign up. The news East Coast horse owners need to know Real Estate life, I only owned one horse, briefly--a chestnut mare named Brenda,” Watkins said. “She had a wonderful, lovable nature but a chronic breathing problem that kept getting worse. I finally sent her to a safe retirement at Bright Futures Farm in Penn- sylvania. When Beverlee Dee of Bright Futures shared with me several great stories about her experiences while founding the rescue, I saw material for a novel. I researched other back- ground information, but some of the most amazing incidents in Reboot Ranch, regarding the horses' behavior, are drawn from real life. From Maryland Author, Orly Konig - “The Distance Home” FICTION A novel that Konig says she wrote just for women, “The Dis- tance Home” is the story of Emma Metz. Af- ter a tragic accident takes Emma’s two best friends— one human and one equine – she reluctantly returns to the Mary- land hometown she’d left under a cloud of guilt. Sorting through her father’s affairs, Emma uncovers a history of lies, but back at the stable, she finds it’s easy to win forgiveness from a horse. That’s something that’s not as easy for her former friend Jillian. To heal, Emma finds she must release her guilt, embrace an uncertain future and trust again in the healing power of horses. “Animals have always played an important part in my life,” Konig said. “I feel more grounded when I’m around them. Being around horses, especially, was when I felt most at peace. Throughout the story, the main character discovers bits of herself - in the love for the horse that helped her find herself as a child, [in] the rescue of a neglected pony, and a special bond with a young therapeutic riding student. And there’s a cranky, mischie- vous old goat to add some fun!” Maryland author, Valerie Ormond – “Believing in Horses, Too” YA FICTION Valerie Ormond’s two young adult novels, “Believing in Hors- es” and “Believing in Horses, Too” have racked up awards with the Military Writers Society of America, The Authors' Zone, Stroud Arts Book Festival, Pinnacle Book Achievement, EQUUS Film and Arts Festival, and the Stars and Flags Book Awards Gold Medal. This second insightful book explores family life challenges faced by many of today’s mili- tary youth. First the move to Mary- land. Then Dad's deployment to Afghanistan. Every day, thirteen- year-old Sadie lives in fear about her father serving in Afghanistan. She turns to her love of horses to help her cope and commits to showing at the largest local horse show while volunteering for therapeutic riding programs. When an inexperienced horse and an unwelcome show ring rival threaten success at her first horse show Sadie must find courage to overcome her fears. “I wrote my Believing In Horses books to highlight the connection horses and people have, and the power these special animals have to help people believe in themselves and what they can do,” Ormond said. “I grew up with horses as part of my life in Maryland, so that seemed the perfect setting. I also wanted to tell stories about a military family to share with readers some aspects of that life they may not otherwise know.” Correspondent Lois Szy- manski lives in Maryland and has written multiple pony books, many about the wild Chincote- ague Ponies of Virginia. Her latest picture book, "Georgie McLittle, a Friend for Life" was released in November. It is about her own miniature horse. (Continued from page 17) Horse Books from Regional Authors Are Perfect for Holiday Giving