We Go In A Circle

by Peggy Perry Anderson

What happens to a racehorse who hurts his leg? Used to a world where the strongest and the fastest wins, how will he ever feel special and important again? Taken to a new place, the horse is soon carrying some very special riders. Some of them can’t walk and some of them can’t even see, but they play games, they wave, they smile. Like the horse, they may not be the strongest and the fastest, but they are all special and important. In this simple and sensitive story, Peggy Perry Anderson reveals the interconnection between everyone involved in hippotherapy and the benefits they all share from the experience.

Genres: Picture Books, Disability, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Horses

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2004

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, simple book from 2004 that is far, far too short. It's told from the point of view of a chestnut race horse -- whether Quarter Horse or Thoroughbred is not mentioned. If he's a Thoroughbred, he has an incredibly unusual amount of chrome (white markings) on him. He knows his job is to go in a circle of the track.

But then he gets hurt in a pasture accident, and is sold to a stable with lots of other horses. Turns out, this is All Star Therapy Ranch, which has a handicapped riders program. It used to be called handicapped riding. Now, it's called hippotherapy. Anyway, our unusual race horse now gives very slow rides to the handicapped.

He knows that it is still his job to go in a circle.

I Googled this ranch, and apparently it's no longer around, or has undergone a name change.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! A picture book about therapeutic riding, this book is great and is told from the horse's point of view. Made me a bit teary eyed as this horse's story is not far off from some of our horses background.

[Kary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about therapeutic horseback riding - hadn't read any picture books about this! I enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend it, especially to horse-loving readers.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book about a race horse who is past his prime and finds a new job as a therapy horse. Preschool and up

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is about a talented race horse that loves to race it makes him feel important and special when he wins. but one day he hurts his leg, and was scared because horses disappear when they get injured. so one day he was driven off to a new farm, a farm where they let disabled children ride horses. this made him feel really special and important. he loved to see the children smile and wave as they rode him and the other horses at the ranch.

I love this book, we have a place near my home town like the one mentioned in the book. I have a lot of friends that volunteer there. I love the idea of having a book that showcases a place like that.

I could use this book in my class, so that my student could see how the horse overcame his injury and became a shining light in children's lives. but most importantly I could let them read it so they could see how much joy places like that put in people lives.

[Kandace · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens to a race horse when it’s injured and can’t race anymore? Peggy Perry Anderson tells the story of one such horse. Told from the horse’s perspective he is taken to a new barn where people help him get better. Soon children with diverse disabilities come to ride with him. The horse feels important again because he is helping young children who can’t walk, talk and see feel special too.

Anderson introduces hippo therapy to the audience through this easy reading picture book. Hippo therapy is using horseback riding as physical therapy. Riders with varying disabilities can rehabilitate with the relaxing benefits of hippo therapy. I just read “The Flight of a Dove,” by Alexandra Day, which also demonstrates the powers animals can have for persons with disabilities. This book could be used to introduce many topics of inquiry, such as horses and persons with disabilities. I would have the students explore hippo therapy as well as other types of animals used for rehabilitation.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not what I expected (i.e. one of the many, many horse books from the library we are reading)... Told from the perspective of the horse, it chronicles his life from racehorse to retirement (due to injury) to therapy horse for disabled children and how it changes his perspective on what matters on the world...

I loved this book and I hope to read it with Max several more times before it is due back at the library...

This book is a great way to talk to children about abilities, disabilities and how everyone has something valuable to give to the world, no matter what they can or cannot do.

[Yahya Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly one of a kind. Most horse books represent how fast a horse can run, but this one focuses on how useful a horse can be. This is the only children's book written about therapeutic horseback riding. My brother has a horse farm and I saw many children there with disabilities and they were very enjoyed with horse riding. These kinds of books will be really helpful for parents who want to help their children with animals.

[Courtney Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about hippotherapy. The horse was once a racehorse and retired due to injury. After that, he became a therapy horse for children with disabilities. That change made him alter his perspective on what matters in the world. This book could be a great segue for talking about children with disabilities and how everyone can be valuable in this world, no matter what they can or cannot do.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

book takes a turn when racehorse hurts leg. the lines about how racehorses are taken away and never seen again causes a bit of concern but this horse is lucky to become a therapy horse. would be good book for a child who was going to start this type of therapy. not good readaloud.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrations, simple words and a wonderful message. When we checked this out, I didn't realize it was about hippo therapy. I just got it because Lizzy likes horses. The story made me cry.

[ReadingWench · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this touching book about a race horse put out to pasture after a leg injury. He is soon helping others as a therapy horse.

AR 1.4

[Lindsey Stronczek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sensitive story reveals the connection between a retired racehorse and children involved in what is called hippo therapy. This book explains the benefits that children get from this experience.

[Alice]

Horses--therapeutic riding

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One day I hurt my leg.