Horses Are Folks

Dust jacket notes: "The idea for this book first came to the author's mind one spring day as he was watching a massive chestnut horse grazing in the heart of the Kentucky Bluegrass country. A drawling voice recounted with pride the qualities of this, his charge and idol. 'Sense? Yes suh, he's got more sense than most of the folks that come to look at him. Never see him try to pull hairs outa them for souvenirs. He's folks, that hoss, an' nicer than most.' Both Man O' War and his faithful groom, Will Harbut, have passed on to greener pastures, but the memory still lingers of his expression as he said, 'He's folks.' The parallel between horse and man in both character and development is close. The week-old foal, so full of bounce that his energy seems inexhaustible until he suddenly collapses on the green turf, is the weary toddler asleep. The leggy foals who never tire of rough play; the long-legged fillies who gather in groups of twos, threes and fours and move in unison; the yearling, half boy half man, with the arrogance and assurance of both - their human counterparts can be seen on every hand. The perfect gentleman who never does anything out of character; the tough guy who is mostly bluff; and the one who really means it; all are also found in the equine family. The prima donnas and individualists are here too. And then those fine ones, out of nature's top drawer, who spend so prodigally what they have of strength and courage and prove once again that quality can indeed be handed on from generation to generation." Illustrated with fifteen full-page lithographs and twenty sketches by the author.