THE BYERLEY TURK

Many of you are probably aware that the wonderful modern thoroughbred is descended from three Arabian horses. One of them was called the Byerley Turk. Now days, the horse racing industry is very picky about recording bloodlines but no one really knows the real bloodlines of the Byerley Turk and if he was a purebred Arabian or not. He was a spoil of war and such a magnificent stallion that, when the British defeated the Turks at the Siege of Buda in 1688, a British captain by the name of Robert Byerley took the horse from a Turkish officer. (I know, I know, that is NOT very nice but war is NOT nice.)

The Byerley Turk continued to serve as a war horse but for the other side! After the war, he was retired and put out to stud. With the lovely mares he was bred to, he produced many great race horses who carried on his bloodlines, whether they were pure or not!

GREAT REVIEW FOR MY NEW NOVEL:

IN THE HEART OF A MUSTANG

The following review is from Author, blogger and horsewoman SHARON MINER. I so appreciate her wonderful evaluation.

The book, In the Heart of a Mustang by MJ Evans, is the type of horse novel I love to read, one with an interesting protagonist, an endearing theme without being preaching, a detailed setting and cast of characters the reader won't forget.

When 15 year-old Hunter learns that his mother has lied to him about his father, he retaliates by running away and making the wrong sort of friends on the street. To avoid trouble with the court, his grandfather suggests they send Hunter to a boy's ranch in Arizona and grandpa will pay for his stay.

Hunter is not impressed with Promise Ranch at first, and especially when he meets the other at-risk boys and staff including the head cowboy, a horse trainer for the wild mustangs that the ranch adopts. But slowly he learns about life lessons, even after a personal tragedy.

This is a fantastic story for everyone, not just horse lovers. It's one of the best coming of age novels I've ever read!

See more of her reviews here: horsebookreviews.blogspot.com

You can get In the Heart of a Mustang on my website: dancinghorsepress.com , on amazon and Barnes and Noble. Print and ebook versions available.

THE TRAIL OF PAINTED CHRISTMAS PONIES

I have a few painted ponies and this is my favorite! With my stories about the noble and great horses who are chosen to become unicorns when they die, this is one I simply had to have! Of course, there is a secret unicorn in every horse...especially yours!

The story of the founding of the Painted Ponies by author Rod Barker is interesting. The author, who lives in Santa Fe, was on a trip to Chicago to do research for a book. While there, he chanced upon an exhibit of painted cows. Everyone know horses are more beautiful than cows so he went home and came up with the idea for "The Trail of Painted Ponies." Many of the first ones were native American in theme, fitting with Santa Fe. But now, there are all sorts of designs. You can even submit your own design by going to this website: http://www.trailofpaintedponies.com/about-us.php

Except for the unicorn garden, I like the Christmas designs best! Here are some pictures of my favorite Christmas designs.

So if you need to start a new collection...

Need a great gift for your middle-grade or young adult reader...or even adults! Go to my website and pick a great book. I will autograph it and mail it to you. Click here: 

www.dancinghorsepress.com

MUSTANG STORIES YOU WILL LOVE!

Most of the mustangs running wild in the U.S. are found in 10 western states: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, California, Arizona, North Dakota and New Mexico. My own state of Colorado has a mustang refuge in the western part of the state. It was my interest in these herds that spurred me on to write In the Heart of  a Mustang.

However, some mustangs also live on the Atlantic coast and on islands such as the Sable, Shackleford, Assateague and Cumberland Islands off the Atlantic coast.

Just as I was releasing my book about the Mustangs in the west, another wonderful author was writing and releasing a book about Mustangs in Pennsylvania, Christian author and writer of the popular Keystone Stables series just released
Snow: Phantom Stallion of the Poconos.

The author kindly asked me to review her book and I gladly accepted. 

Snow is the wonderful story of a young teenage girl, challenged by a damaged leg from a horse injury when she was six. She has never abandoned her love of horses nor her dream of owning one again. Dallis has few friends and is the victim of much bullying by two other girls at her school.

A local legend has circulated around the appearance of a white stallion leading a herd in the Pocono mountains, While some campers and hikers have claimed to have seen him, no one has captured him on film to prove their claims. Dallis, the protagonist, is determined to find out if he exists.

While attending a church youth group winter camp, Dallis meets the stallion whom she names Snow. An immediate connection forms. Several months later, while attending an auction of Mustangs, they meet again. I don't want to spoil it so you will have to read it yourself!

Snow is a wonderful book for 9 to 12 year-olds. It is 110 pages long and an easy read. You can purchase it from amazon here: 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=snow+phantom+of+the+poconos&sprefix=snow+phan%2Caps%2C167

CHRISTMAS IS COMING! BOOKS MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND HORSE STORIES MAKE THE BEST BOOKS!

COPENHAGEN IN THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO

Quite a while ago, I wrote a post about Napolean's horse, Marengo. As you probably remember Marengo is said to have been the favorite horse of the French emperor. Interestingly enough, it is very possible that he and one of his cousins, Copenhagen, or so it is said, faced each other in a terrible battle. On Sunday the 18th of June, 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, Napoleon's French army lead by Napoleon, was defeated by a coalition of two armies, one led by the Duke of Wellington riding Compenhagen.

Where there is some doubt about Marengo's authenticity, Copenhagen was very real. He was a stallion with a rather mean temperament. When the Duke of Wellington returned from his victory at Waterloo, he gave Copenhagen a celebratory pat on the rump. Copenhagen responded by trying to kick the Duke in the head! Luckily for both of them, he missed. It would have been a really bad day for the Duke to survive a day of bullets and cannon fire only to be killed by a kick in the head from the very horse that carried him through the battle!

The story is that Copenhagen became much milder in his old age and became a favorite with the ladies who wanted tail hair to make bracelets. (By the Way: this is something that is going on today and some people in Colorado have actually come out to their barns to find that someone has snuck in during the night and cut off their horse's tail! So, don't buy those horse hair bracelets unless you know where the hair came from!)

Copenhagen was so well regarded that, after he died, his head was cast in bronze and put on display at Wellington College.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Books make the best Christmas presents and Horse stories make the best books!

GO TO 

dancinghorsepress.com

and check out my new book:

In the Heart of a Mustang

or my popular fantasy trilogy:

Behind the Mist,

Mists of Darkness

and

The Rising Mist

Autographed copies available from the website!

BUILDING A BOND WITH YOUR HORSE

Horses make wonderful friends and great healers during the storms of life. While it seems horses are very willing to become our best friends, we still have to put some effort into building that bond. This was especially true with my thoroughbred, Kit. He seemed very standoffish when I first got him. In fact, I would say it took a good year to become friends. Now he loves me to the bottom of his heart. I learned this the hard way when I sold him. Five months later I bought him back because he was such a wreck. He looked like a rescue horse.

With winter coming, not all of us are blessed with a covered arena. While I ride pretty much year around in Colorado, there are days when I can't. Plus, I always give my horses Sunday off! So, if you can't ride, here are some Bonding ideas you can do in the barn or around the field.

1. Take your horse for a walk! Yes, just like a dog! Go for a walk together. Enjoy nature. Let him graze a bit, As you walk, touch him a lot! Talk to him.

2. Do carrot stretches. This is a favorite and helps stretch the horse's top line at the same time. Break a carrot into small pieces. Stand to his side and make him reach around toward his ribs to get the carrot. Repeat with the carrot in different positions, both high and low and on both sides as well as in front.

3. Just sit in the pasture while  your horse is on turnout. Watch him and wait for him to notice you. It is interesting to see what he does.When he approaches you, simply stay put. If he is lying down, go sit beside him.

4. Teach your horse some tricks. Tricks aren't just for circus horses you know. It is a fun way of training and bonding. I taught one of my horses how to bow. First I had him follow my hand down in order for him to get the treat in my hand. Then, with a crop, I tapped his near foreleg and held the treat by his knee. Gradually, I made him bend his knee to get the treat. Then lower and lower until he was resting his knee on the ground. Treats are the key to teaching tricks!!!

5. Everyone likes a message, even or perhaps I should say "especially" horses. You don't have to do your usual grooming. Just spend some time rubbing those hard to reach spots. Horses love their ears rubbed, their withers rubbed, the croup or hipbones, and even the underside of the tail. Find the spot your horse loves. Watch his eyes droop when you hit the spot!

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOURSELF OR A HORSE-LOVER? GET MY NEW BOOK: 

IN THE HEART OF A MUSTANG. 

It is the story of a boy, a mustang mare and the old cowboy who brings them together. 

Available on the website: www.dancinghorsepress.com and wherever fine books are sold: Barnes and Noble, Amazon and many independent bookstores. Ebook version available exclusively for Kindles on Amazon.

Writing Contest from Writer's Digest

Dear Readers,

All of you are horse-lovers like me. SOME of you may also be interested in writing. If you have finished a YOUNG ADULT novel, in any genre whatsoever, enter this FREE competition to have your first page evaluated by a real-life agent. Go here: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/19th-free-dear-lucky-agent-contest-young-adult-fiction?et_mid=790912&rid=239456158

The competition is being sponsored by Writer's Digest, a GREAT resource for writers.
Happy Riding and Writing!

COMANCHE-A FAMOUS MUSTANG

To celebrate the release on Oct. 5th of my new novel, In the Heart of A Mustang, I am posting about a famous mustang named Comanche.

Comanche gained fame because, for years, he was thought to be the only survivor of Custer's Last Stand battle at the Little Bighorn. It has since been decided that other horses probably survived as well but were captured by the Native Americans.

Regardless of that, Comanche was a wonderful mustang who was purchased by the army in 1868. He was wounded in battle and screamed when he was pierced by an arrow. The soldiers said he screamed like a Comanche Indian. That's how he earned his name!

After the destruction of General Custer and his troops on June 25, 1876, Comanche was found severely wounded. The poor thing was taken to Fort Lincoln in North Dakota where he spent a whole year recuperating. After recovering from  his injuries, he never did go back into battle. He participated in ceremonies to honor the memory of Custer and those that lost their lives in that battle. When he died at the age of 31, he was stuffed placed on display at the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. 

There is a beautiful song written about Comanche by Johnny Horton. You can hear it here: 

https://youtu.be/dkIlxZxeK1s

If you love horse stories, read my new release: 

In the Heart of a Mustang

It is available in print or ebook wherever fine books are sold or on its website:

www.dancinghorsepress.com