THE STALLION AND HIS PECULIAR BOY

 

My new book "The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy" will be out in the spring! It is a Historical Fiction based on the life of the famous Arabian Stallion, Witez II. The professional reviews of starting to come in. Here is one from Readers' Favorite:

Review Rating:

5 Stars - Congratulations on your 5-star review! 

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Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers’ Favorite

The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy: Based On the Life of the Famous Arabian Horse Witez II

is a work of historical fiction by M.J. Evans set in the period 1943 - 1965. Teodor is a 

non-communicative autistic boy living in Hostau, Czechoslovakia, where the finest 

captured horses from all over Europe are sent to a Nazi breeding farm. Teodor meets 

Witez, the two bond immediately, and he becomes a worker at the farm where he trains as 

Witez’s groom. Later, as the war ends and the horses come under the threat of being 

slaughtered for food by the advancing Russian Army, some German officers ask the United 

States Army to rescue the animals and take them out of Czechoslovakia. Soon, Teodor 

accompanies Witez to America in the adventure of a lifetime.

In The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy, M.J. Evans gives us an entertaining and informative 

account of the Polish horse who became a premier stallion in the pedigree of the Arabian 

breed in the United States. Told in part through the fictional character of Teodor and 

sensitive to his therapeutic and devoted bond with Witez over the years, it blends the 

suspense of a World War II military rescue operation with the subsequent challenges of 

resettlement in a new land with new owners. The narrative is engaging and moves at a 

good pace. The choice of an autistic protagonist adds a special dimension, and Teodor 

is both relatable and believable. Suitable for young adult and adult readers, this story 

is sure to please anyone who enjoys good historical fiction.

Belgium's 500 Year Tradition of Shrimp Fishing on Horseback

 

Since the late 15th century, fishermen in the seaside communities that line the North Sea have practiced a unique form of shrimp fishing. While riding a horse, these fishermen, called "Paardenvisser," trawl the shallow waters along the coast to capture the well-loved crustaceans. 

They came up with a very ingenious method of fishing. Riding a Brabant Draft Horse, they pull a net attached to two metal and wood boards. The water pressure keeps the net open as well as pushes the catch to the back of the net. A metal chain attached to the front of the net sends shockwaves through the sand which causes the shrimp to jump into the trap. I have no idea who the brilliant person was who thought of that!

The paardenvissers can be seen wearing their bright yellow oilskin pants and jackets atop their sturdy horses during shrimp fishing season which lasts from March to May and September to November. There is a two-day Shrimp Festival in June when the horses get to parade down the streets leading elaborate floats. 

At this writing, there are only seventeen known paardenvissers. 

So that is your fun horse fact for the day!

COMING SOON: MY NEW BOOK ABOUT THE FAMOUS POLISH ARABIAN STALLION, WITEZ II! More info on that next time.

I REMEMBER FURY!

 

From 1955 to 1960, NBC televised a western titled: "Fury." My parents didn't get a T.V. until 1956, but once they did, I HAD to watch every episode of the story about the wild stallion that only one boy could tame and ride. I dreamt of being that boy. 

Fury was an equine actor. He was thought to be the most popular horse in the country during the 1950s. He held the title role on the popular Saturday morning television series which was also broadcast around the world. Additionally, he starred in several movies: "Black Beauty," "Brave Stallion," "Gyspy Colt," "Wild is the Wind," "The Return of Wildfire," and "Giant" with Elizabeth Taylor.

He won several Patsy Awards. The Patsy Award was created in 1939 by the Hollywood office of the American Human Society. It was created to honor a horse that was killed on set while filming a movie. It stands for "Picture Animal Top Star of the Year." 

Fury was born in 1943 in Missouri. The Saddlebred Stallion was named Highland Dale. He died in 1972, at the age of 29 in California and is buried there. He worked only four months of the year. He earned his owner/trainer Ralph McCutcheon $500,000 in the eight years he performed. He was paid $1,500 for each Fury episode. By the time Highland Dale retired, he ranked second only to Lassie in net earnings by an animal actor. 

THE SAND POUNDERS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD DURING WWII

 It's not your fault if you have never heard of the Sand Pounders...most people haven't! 

For two years during World War 2, the U.S. Coast Guard had a mounted beach patrol. After the U.S. was attacked by Japan on December 7th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the call went out to Horsemen across the country to enlist in the new division of the Coast Guard called the Sand Pounders. Their job was threefold: 

“We have been tasked with protecting American shores against sabotage, enemy submarines, and enemy landings. We have three basic functions: to detect and observe enemy vessels operating in coastal waters and to transmit information thus obtained to the appropriate Navy and Army commands, to report attempts of landing by the enemy and to assist in preventing such activity, and to prevent communication between persons on shore and the enemy at sea.” (The Sand Pounder pg. 66)

Cowboys, jockeys, show jumpers, horse trainers, and rodeo riders answered the call. In all, 24,000 men signed up to patrol 3700 miles of coastline on the east coast, the west coast, and along the Gulf coast. 

I was born in 1951, just a few years after WWII ended. My family lived in Oregon and we often went to the Oregon Coast. My father took us to Fort Stevens, the only place in the continental U.S. that was shelled during the war. He talked to us about the war but he never mentioned the Sand Pounders!

It was just a few years ago that I stumbled upon them. I began researching. I was able to get a copy of the newly released confidential report that the Coast Guard had submitted so many years before. I researched for a year. (Which is why I haven't written a blog post for so long!)

Thus...my new novel was born! 

"The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII" is a young adult to adult historical fiction. Set on the Oregon coast, it is the story of an older teen who wants to become a sand pounder. The only problem is, SHE is a girl and they are only taking men. Let's just say it is a "Mulan" story- if you know what I mean! I mixed in a lot of horse stuff, a little romance, and information about both the Sand Pounders and what life was like for citizens during world war 2. 

I am honored to receive the Maincrest Media Award for outstanding Historical Fiction before the book was even released. The release date is September 28th, 2021. 

Here is what the critics are saying: 

“Evans’ writing and use of descriptive imagery is incredible.” Maincrest Media Awards

 “The Sand Pounder is one of those rare historical novels with a charm that appeals to both young and old readers.” Vincent Dublado for Readers’ Favorite

 “M.J. Evans does an excellent job of winding the era's history and the lesser-known job of the Sand Pounders into a realistic story of a mature teen's determination to make a difference in her world.” Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review:

 “A gripping YA historical novel packed full of twists, turns, and memorable characters. Highly recommended!”  The Wishing Shelf Book Review(UK)

This fun and informative book is available NOW on my website: 

www.dancinghorsepress.com

and wherever books are sold. 

Bold Minstrel - A Heroic Horse For All Seasons!

 Bold Minstrel ridden by owner William Haggard at Devon in the hunter classes.

    When I was growing up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, I purchased a dapple gray 3/4 Arabian with my own money. Because Tai was such a wonderful horse, dapple-gray became my favorite color! As a result of my love of dapple-gray horses, I want to share some information with you about a fabulous, famous horse named Bold Minstrel. 

    Bold Minstrel is the only horse in history to medal in three Pan American Games and one Olympic Games in two different disciplines: Eventing and show jumping. This amazingly talented thoroughbred was born in 1952 (or 1951 depending on the source,) in Camargo, Ohio. He was purchased by William Haggard as a five-year-old. Haggard loved riding him in hunter classes and eventing. (Dressage, cross-country jumping, and stadium jumping.) Because he was such a big, stocky horse, Billy nicknamed him "Fatty." By jumper standards, he was quite fat. 

    Haggard began showing Fatty in hunter classes, his flashy looks and beautiful form winning him numerous championships. Then Haggard switched to eventing, earning a spot on the U.S. Team in the Pan Am Games in 1959 where the team came home with the silver medal. Four years later, the team came home with the gold in San Paulo, Brazil. Between the two games, Haggard and Bold Minstrel still had fun winning in the hunter ring. 

    Surprisingly, the team was not selected for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. However, when J. Michael Plumb's horse, Markham, had to be euthanized on the flight over, Haggard loaned Bold Minstrel to the veteran rider. Bold Minstrel was flown over to Japan just two weeks before the competition. You and I might be awfully nervous about riding a new, strange horse in the OLYMPICS after only two weeks of training.  The talented horse caught the eye of the famous Olympic Equestrian, William Steinkraus. For several years, Steinkraus tried to convince Haggard to compete with the horse in Jumpers, or let him do it. So, when the horse was twelve years old, Haggard loaned him to Steinkraus.

    

Bold Minstral being shown by Bill Steinkraus

    Steinkraus remarked that the horse was not only brave and talented, but had a mind of his own when it came to completing a jump course of enormous jumps.Nothing made owner William Haggard more proud than when Fatty broke the world record in the old Madison Square Garden, winning the International Puissance by clearing the 7'3" wall!

Fatty was retired from competition at the age of 18. After that, he returned to the Haggard farm where he enjoyed a life of Fox Hunting. Bold Minstrel has been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. 

Learn about another famous horse: "PINTO" the holder of the record for the longest horseback ride in history!

Click here to get the book about him from Amazon: 

PINTO-Based Upon the Longest Horseback Ride in History

Click here to get the book from Barnes and Noble:

PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History

Please enjoy this author interview by "AllAuthor"

Q.What is one lesser-known fact about your childhood?

I bought my own horse when I was 13 and had to support him myself. I babysat, cleaned houses, and walked polo ponies between chukkas (the play period.) I loved that horse, and I was so busy taking care of him, I never had time to get in trouble!

Q. Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?

My grandkids!!! They always tell me how much they love my books. That keeps me going.

Q. How would you describe your experience as a former teacher?

I loved teaching teens and pre-teens. I enjoyed the depth I could get into with my high school students, but I loved the energy of the younger teens in Junior High. I also learned that a good teacher is kind of like being on stage and entertaining an audience.!

Q. Why do you mostly write about horses or horse-fantasy creatures?

I have been a horse-lover since birth...I call it "being born with manure in my blood!" I started taking riding lessons when I was eight. When I wasn't on a horse, I war reading both fiction and non-fiction books about them. Thus, I developed a love of reading as well. Fantasy has always been a favorite genre of mine so combining fantasy and horses seemed like the perfect fit. have expanded my horse stories to include "coming of age," and "historical fiction" to challenge myself.

Q. What developed your love for horses?

As I mentioned, I was born loving horses. Owning my own horse and sacrificing to take care of him served only to deepen my love. Your love increases as you serve and sacrifice.

Q. What inspired your first original story? Did you share the tale with anyone?

My first book was a non-fiction book titled: "Riding Colorado." it is an equestrian trail guide book and is the first of a now, four-bok series about trails to ride in and around colorado. I researched and wrote those books for the selfish reason that I wanted to find all the cool trails to ride. I had five other horse friends testing the trails with me, so, yes, I shared the experience with them. 

As we would drive to the trailheads, I would tell them the fiction story I was creating that became "Behind the Mist-Book One of the Mist Trilogy."

Q. What is the significance of the title of your book, "In the Heart of a Mustang?

For several years, I worked for PATH, Intl,., The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. There I witnessed the healing power of horses not only for disabled and handicapped people, (I write about that in "PERCY-The Racehorse Who Didn't Like to Run,") but I was also touched by the effect horses have on troubled teens. I coupled that with my  interest in the bands of wild mustangs running free in ten western states and came up with "In the Heart of a Mustang." People who have adopted these wonderful horses love them so much.

Q. How much did you research about the longest Horseback ride in history while writing your book, "PINTO!"?

"PINTO!" took me two and a half years to research and many miles of travel. I started doing research on the internet. I found a little...just enough to pique my curiosity. I traveled to Oklahoma City to visit the National Western and Cowboy Museum. the research librarian didn't even know they had a collection of material. But, after searching in their basement, they found a box of original photographs and a few articles from the time. I went up to Bainbridge Island, Washinton to their little historical museum and was greeted like royalty. They were so excited that I was going to write about their hometown heroes. They have a permanent exhibit of the Overland Westerners and a driftwood sculpture of Pinto. In their collection are all the original journals still in existence that two of the men kept. I was able to take home a flash drive with the transcriptions of the journals. I read every word and highlight the events that Pinto could tell about. It was so much fun!

HORSE BOOKS MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS!

 Happy holidays! I teamed up with a whole herd of equestrian authors to bring you some virtual holiday cheer on the Equestrian Author Spotlight podcast. In the special holiday episode, we share our favorite horsey holiday memories and some great christmas gift recommendations because horse books make great gifts. Plus, we are getting into the holiday spirit with a spur jingling giveaway for our readers!

The Horse Books Make Great Gifts Giveaway ($200 value) includes:

Eight full-length paperbacks of each book in the Horses, Hearts & Havoc collection

Beautiful pillow to prop on while reading

Snuggly blanket to wrap around yourself while immersed in a story

Holiday Tin Collection from Grey Horse Candle Company

Mug for sipping your favorite hot beverage — tea and hot chocolate included

Door hanger to keep interruptions at bay

Canvas tote bag to carry it all

Padfolio for making notes

Set of fun equestrian magnets

Watch the full video packed with holiday cheer and enter the giveaway here: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/.../a-horsey-holiday...

Here is my contribution to the effort:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX8S2L2NI6Q