Hello Family & Friends!
As the Dog Days of Summer are upon us, I wish to share with all Horse Moms and anyone interested in personal change, a recently issued memoir I read and then reviewed on Amazon. It is called Many Brave Fools, the title of which comes from a mnemonic for the letters of the dressage arena as told to author Susan E. Conley by one of her riding instructors.
The subtitle for Many Brave Fools, “A Story of Addiction, Dysfunction, Codependency,” reveals how this story is a deeply emotional one. It tells of Susan’s escape from an abusive marriage and how she rediscovers herself through the powerful healing possible with our beloved horses.
Susan is originally from the United States but now lives in Ireland, where she has no shortage of horses!
Here below is my review, which I hope will inspire you to read this captivating book under the welcoming cool of a shade tree or in the refreshing breeze of a sandy beach by the sea.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Midlife Story!
June 11, 2019
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have found that inspiring midlife stories are rare. In Many Brave Fools, however, I was delighted to discover how one woman in her forties manages to come to terms with her failing marriage. At the same time, this captivating memoir by Susan E. Conley, offers a new take on our age-old relationship with the horse. Along her journey back to self and freedom, Conley begins riding for the first time at age 42, bravely mounting many different horses, sometimes up to four a week, so dedicated is she to her newfound passion. This book about dreams lost but re-defined has something funny and serious for anyone who has ridden or longs to ride horses. As a longtime Horse Mom, I was amused no end by her references to the “ineffable” terms and methods of riding and handling horses. As a dressage rider, I loved her mention at the opening of the book to an aspect of the sport that eluded me for many years, meaning why and how did the letters come to be that mark off the dressage arena at key, strategic points. “All King Edward's Horses Carry Many Brave Fools” is a mnemonic for this mystery, a memory aid that Conley was told early on by one of her riding instructors so that she could remember how the dressage arena is set up. This had me laughing right off the bat. And, as I read, I found my laughter mixed with poignancy. It is a gift to be able to poetically mix joy and sadness in our sharing of personal human stories and Conley has done it well. Congratulations!
Many Brave Fools by Susan E. Conley