Susan Larson's Blog - Posts Tagged "kids"
Riding horses in the Good Ole Days
The way I (and the characters in "Sam (a pastoral)" rode our horses would strike horror into any riding instructor today.
First of all, no crash helmets. Often no saddle. Occasionally no bridle. Once or twice, no reins. At night, when it was too hot to ride in the daytime.
I certainly don't recommend doing this to any kid today. It is really hazardous.
'Mark my words, one of these days that horse is gonna kill that girl,' said my neighbors. It never happened.
First of all, no crash helmets. Often no saddle. Occasionally no bridle. Once or twice, no reins. At night, when it was too hot to ride in the daytime.
I certainly don't recommend doing this to any kid today. It is really hazardous.
'Mark my words, one of these days that horse is gonna kill that girl,' said my neighbors. It never happened.
Book Signing for Eye of the Storm
The Eye of the Storm Equine Rescue held a benefit party in Stow today, and I went to do some book-signing. I got to meet the EOTS volunteers who had read my book and were recommending it to other horse-lovers, who bought copies of their own. One young customer said she could relate to the Sam story because her Dad was always saying she was 'going through a horse phase.' Yo, Dad,some people's horse phases last a very long time...
I did recommend that one lovely fresh-faced eleven-year old put off reading "Sam" until she's older, because it deals with family violence and parental abandonment. Her equally lovely mom, a teacher in the public schools, might relate to the bullying issues in the story, but I think eleven is too young and tender an age to tolerate the harshness that crops up here and there in "Sam."
I did recommend that one lovely fresh-faced eleven-year old put off reading "Sam" until she's older, because it deals with family violence and parental abandonment. Her equally lovely mom, a teacher in the public schools, might relate to the bullying issues in the story, but I think eleven is too young and tender an age to tolerate the harshness that crops up here and there in "Sam."
Why is it called "Sam (a pastoral)"
What is "(a pastoral)" anyhow? The word 'pastoral' has several meanings, and all several apply to the "Sam" story.
'Pastoral' can mean 'An idyllic rural setting.' My book tells the story of city people who begin new lives in the countryside.
'Pastoral' can mean 'Relating to spiritual care or guidance.' 'Pastor' means 'a shepherd.' Sometimes a pastor is the minister of a church who cares for his flock. In my story there are many pastors, human and animal.
'Pastoral' is also a literary word, describing a poem or story about the lives of country people. They take place in places called 'Arcadia.'or 'The Forest of Arden' or even 'Eden.' There are usually some sheep hanging around. Sheep appear in cameo roles in "Sam."
Some famous writers of pastoral stories are Shakespeare, Spenser, Ben Jonson, John Milton, Virgil and Petrarch. Some composers of pastoral music are Beethoven, Mozart Handel, Vaughn Williams and Debussy.
'Pastoral' can mean 'An idyllic rural setting.' My book tells the story of city people who begin new lives in the countryside.
'Pastoral' can mean 'Relating to spiritual care or guidance.' 'Pastor' means 'a shepherd.' Sometimes a pastor is the minister of a church who cares for his flock. In my story there are many pastors, human and animal.
'Pastoral' is also a literary word, describing a poem or story about the lives of country people. They take place in places called 'Arcadia.'or 'The Forest of Arden' or even 'Eden.' There are usually some sheep hanging around. Sheep appear in cameo roles in "Sam."
Some famous writers of pastoral stories are Shakespeare, Spenser, Ben Jonson, John Milton, Virgil and Petrarch. Some composers of pastoral music are Beethoven, Mozart Handel, Vaughn Williams and Debussy.
A Message from Sam
Sam says: To all the parents saddled with a horse-mad child- while you are writing those checks for vets and farriers and must-have horse equipment, and asking when will it ever end, and your kid is no longer speaking to you because she's at the barn, Susan Larson's book about me and my family may offer you some consolation in your trials. Read it and laugh. And weep. Unless your kid has taken the book to the barn too.
Best of all, Sam will be offered free on Amazon.com starting December 9, ending December 13. Think, a piece of horse equipment that is totally FREE! Happy Holidays from the barn, yours truly, SamSam
Best of all, Sam will be offered free on Amazon.com starting December 9, ending December 13. Think, a piece of horse equipment that is totally FREE! Happy Holidays from the barn, yours truly, SamSam
Free Kindle ebook Today Only!
Sam Changes his Mind
Sam sauntered down the barn lane like an old moo cow, his head bobbing between Evvie and me, his ears waggling back and forth in time with his strides. My heart was thumping about three beats per waggle. I led Sam close to the stave bench, then stood on it and slowly looped the reins over his neck.
Sam tensed up and rolled a spooky-blue left eye around to glare at me. He whuffed out hard through his nose as I undid the halter and lifted the crownpiece of the bridle up in front of his face…
“Hmpf!” he said, and flung his nose straight up. How could he? After I had been so nice to him.
“Should I smack him?” I asked Evvie.
“I dunno, is be being bad?”
Was he? Or was he just expecting to get yarned around? We stood there another minute. The nose stayed up, the eye stared at me. Finally I took the bridle down and reached out nice and slow with my empty hand. I stroked Sam’s neck.
“Don’t worry, Sam.” My voice was shaking. “I won’t yarn you around, ever. Ever. I promise.”
That eye glowered down at me and I looked up at it. I kept stroking his neck. It was as hard as stone. Another long minute went by.
The eye closed. Sam smacked his lips and made a sound like a sigh. Did I hear him say,
“Tsk. Oh, all right, if it means that much to you.” Sam lowered his head. I held up the bridle again and he took the bit. I eased the crown piece over his ears, off side, near side. Sam sighed again while I did up the buckles; then the eye opened and looked at me. Not glaring…
Sam lifted his nose up close to my face. He sniffed my hair and my mouth and touched my cheek with his whiskers. I sighed and shut my eyes…
Sam sauntered down the barn lane like an old moo cow, his head bobbing between Evvie and me, his ears waggling back and forth in time with his strides. My heart was thumping about three beats per waggle. I led Sam close to the stave bench, then stood on it and slowly looped the reins over his neck.
Sam tensed up and rolled a spooky-blue left eye around to glare at me. He whuffed out hard through his nose as I undid the halter and lifted the crownpiece of the bridle up in front of his face…
“Hmpf!” he said, and flung his nose straight up. How could he? After I had been so nice to him.
“Should I smack him?” I asked Evvie.
“I dunno, is be being bad?”
Was he? Or was he just expecting to get yarned around? We stood there another minute. The nose stayed up, the eye stared at me. Finally I took the bridle down and reached out nice and slow with my empty hand. I stroked Sam’s neck.
“Don’t worry, Sam.” My voice was shaking. “I won’t yarn you around, ever. Ever. I promise.”
That eye glowered down at me and I looked up at it. I kept stroking his neck. It was as hard as stone. Another long minute went by.
The eye closed. Sam smacked his lips and made a sound like a sigh. Did I hear him say,
“Tsk. Oh, all right, if it means that much to you.” Sam lowered his head. I held up the bridle again and he took the bit. I eased the crown piece over his ears, off side, near side. Sam sighed again while I did up the buckles; then the eye opened and looked at me. Not glaring…
Sam lifted his nose up close to my face. He sniffed my hair and my mouth and touched my cheek with his whiskers. I sighed and shut my eyes…
"Sam (a pastoral)" on Overdrive
To all lovers of animals and humans: My book "Sam (a pastoral)" is now distributed as an e-book by Overdrive to your library. You can request "Sam" and read it any your tablet, phone or laptop.
"Sam" is the story of two misfits who fall in love and stick by each other even when the world turns against them.
For young (and older) adults. Positive themes include nature, farming, family, friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation. Potentially disturbing themes include bullying, parental abandonment, animal abuse and depression.
Not a bad read! Please share this around if you like!
"Sam" is the story of two misfits who fall in love and stick by each other even when the world turns against them.
For young (and older) adults. Positive themes include nature, farming, family, friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation. Potentially disturbing themes include bullying, parental abandonment, animal abuse and depression.
Not a bad read! Please share this around if you like!
