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Lost Horses
Winner of the 2021 EQUUS Film & Arts fest Literary Award for Short Stories. “Well-written thought provoking Book." - Goodreads. “A must-read for everyone interested in real people.” – Amazon.
The Blind Horse > Johnny Wexler’s old gray gelding may be blind and useless but is aggravatingly intent on living out its time on this earth like anybody else.
The Getaway of Eddie Lee Jessup > Seventeen-year-old Nathan Osterhaus joins Sheriff Holloway’s posse on the trail of a murderer, and learns about love from the daughter of a river ferry operator.
Why Men Cheat in August > A middle-aged married man terrified of teenaged girls since adolescence is drafted to investigate the morals of a young cutting horse rider.
Whiskey Creek > Gus Harlan lost everything to the bottle except his beloved horse Misty and is now sued by activists who deem him unfit to possess an animal companion.
Wide River > When the country goes into recession people start selling off horses, and a young kill-buyer meets a girl who thinks he finds loving homes for excess horses.
Grandpa Goes to Mexico > A quixotic old man under the care of grandchildren escapes for Mexico on horseback to find the young Hispanic girl who was smitten with him in his youth.
Lost Horses > A country crossroads store owner refuses to remove a horse trough, considered a public nuisance and safety hazard, because he believes the horse is going to make a comeback.
The Blind Horse > Johnny Wexler’s old gray gelding may be blind and useless but is aggravatingly intent on living out its time on this earth like anybody else.
The Getaway of Eddie Lee Jessup > Seventeen-year-old Nathan Osterhaus joins Sheriff Holloway’s posse on the trail of a murderer, and learns about love from the daughter of a river ferry operator.
Why Men Cheat in August > A middle-aged married man terrified of teenaged girls since adolescence is drafted to investigate the morals of a young cutting horse rider.
Whiskey Creek > Gus Harlan lost everything to the bottle except his beloved horse Misty and is now sued by activists who deem him unfit to possess an animal companion.
Wide River > When the country goes into recession people start selling off horses, and a young kill-buyer meets a girl who thinks he finds loving homes for excess horses.
Grandpa Goes to Mexico > A quixotic old man under the care of grandchildren escapes for Mexico on horseback to find the young Hispanic girl who was smitten with him in his youth.
Lost Horses > A country crossroads store owner refuses to remove a horse trough, considered a public nuisance and safety hazard, because he believes the horse is going to make a comeback.
161 pages, Paperback
Published January 9, 2019
33 people are currently reading
1996 people want to read
About the author
Mark Saha
4 books89 followersMark Saha grew up in cotton country along the Texas Gulf Coast, earned a BA at the University of Notre Dame, and attended film school at UCLA, where a collection of his short stories won a Samuel Goldwyn Creative Writing Award and led to many years of writing scripts for film and television. Growing up in Texas he worked on a doodlebug crew blowing shot lines across the Big Thicket, drove a tractor hauling trash wagons at a cotton gin near Fairchild, and worked cattle on foot on his father’s farm outside Sealy. He lives in Santa Monica, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 26, 2022
I notice in retrospect that my narrator’s voice in these tales advocates nothing, takes no sides, and passes no judgment upon the characters.
That’s not to say I don’t care, because I know these people extremely well, or like to think I do, and certainly have my opinions about them. But what I think doesn’t matter here, because my purpose was to recreate them artistically, hopefully well enough so that the reader is left with something to ponder, and will want to pass his own judgment.
The same goes for issues like horse slaughter. “Wide River” raises some of the moral conundrums of that economic paradox, which is what I wanted to do. But rather than tell readers what they ought to think, I simply raise awareness of the issue in passing, during the course of what is essentially a coming of age story.
“Why Men Cheat in August” is likely inspired in part by Eric Rohmer’s French comedy Pauline at the Beach (1983), an exploration of how differently young people and supposedly mature adults see the same world.
“Whiskey Creek” is a depiction of the power of alcohol to destroy the moral fabric of a human being. It advocates neither the “disease” nor the “moral failing” theory of alcoholism, yet exploits that dichotomy to play a little trick on the reader. We first see Gus as a reprobate bereft of redeeming qualities, likely causing most to despise and dismiss him as unworthy of a story. Then he is unjustly deprived of his beloved Misty, and we feel whipsawed by an unexpected rush of compassion. The reader is left to work out what is to be made of this conundrum.
“The Getaway of Eddie Lee Jessup”: Some readers felt this one ended abruptly with important issues unresolved. Did the posse ever catch Jessup? Did Nate stay with the girl? Like most authors, I’m grateful to everyone who reads my work and believe them entitled to any opinion they wish. For the record this was my own thinking: The title states as premise that Jessup escaped. The story tells how that came about: an ironic consequence of a deeply religious mother sending her son on a manhunt in an attempt to protect him from sporting girls, only to have his encounter with one on the trail result in Jessup’s escape. Whether Nate stayed with the girl is irrelevant and leaving it unresolved -- as so many things are in life -- for me added to the realism of the tale.
Call me old fashioned, but I like to use the omniscient third person voice with no point of view and without prejudice so that a reader is left to grapple with the substance of a story personally. That goes against the grain of much contemporary fiction in which we expect the author to leave no doubt about what we are supposed to think or how we ought to feel. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the pleasures of sincere genre fiction as much as anyone. But it is good to remember an author has a lot more choices than that; see, e.g., Booth’s The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961).
I’m not a calculating writer and didn’t do any of these things deliberately. The book just came out this way. Looking back, I guess it must have seemed to me the best way to write these stories.
If anyone wants to kick the above literary comments around further, I’m open to discussion on my author’s page.
That’s not to say I don’t care, because I know these people extremely well, or like to think I do, and certainly have my opinions about them. But what I think doesn’t matter here, because my purpose was to recreate them artistically, hopefully well enough so that the reader is left with something to ponder, and will want to pass his own judgment.
The same goes for issues like horse slaughter. “Wide River” raises some of the moral conundrums of that economic paradox, which is what I wanted to do. But rather than tell readers what they ought to think, I simply raise awareness of the issue in passing, during the course of what is essentially a coming of age story.
“Why Men Cheat in August” is likely inspired in part by Eric Rohmer’s French comedy Pauline at the Beach (1983), an exploration of how differently young people and supposedly mature adults see the same world.
“Whiskey Creek” is a depiction of the power of alcohol to destroy the moral fabric of a human being. It advocates neither the “disease” nor the “moral failing” theory of alcoholism, yet exploits that dichotomy to play a little trick on the reader. We first see Gus as a reprobate bereft of redeeming qualities, likely causing most to despise and dismiss him as unworthy of a story. Then he is unjustly deprived of his beloved Misty, and we feel whipsawed by an unexpected rush of compassion. The reader is left to work out what is to be made of this conundrum.
“The Getaway of Eddie Lee Jessup”: Some readers felt this one ended abruptly with important issues unresolved. Did the posse ever catch Jessup? Did Nate stay with the girl? Like most authors, I’m grateful to everyone who reads my work and believe them entitled to any opinion they wish. For the record this was my own thinking: The title states as premise that Jessup escaped. The story tells how that came about: an ironic consequence of a deeply religious mother sending her son on a manhunt in an attempt to protect him from sporting girls, only to have his encounter with one on the trail result in Jessup’s escape. Whether Nate stayed with the girl is irrelevant and leaving it unresolved -- as so many things are in life -- for me added to the realism of the tale.
Call me old fashioned, but I like to use the omniscient third person voice with no point of view and without prejudice so that a reader is left to grapple with the substance of a story personally. That goes against the grain of much contemporary fiction in which we expect the author to leave no doubt about what we are supposed to think or how we ought to feel. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the pleasures of sincere genre fiction as much as anyone. But it is good to remember an author has a lot more choices than that; see, e.g., Booth’s The Rhetoric of Fiction (1961).
I’m not a calculating writer and didn’t do any of these things deliberately. The book just came out this way. Looking back, I guess it must have seemed to me the best way to write these stories.
If anyone wants to kick the above literary comments around further, I’m open to discussion on my author’s page.
August 13, 2019
Well written short stories. The book is not about horses but more about human nature. This book would be excellent in a high school classroom teaching about characters and looking for more meaning in stories.
January 13, 2019
The horses aren’t the only ones who are lost.
Instead, it’s the human characters, in their stumbling attempts to deal with love, lust, drink, and dying who take wrong turns and lose the trail. Their steadfast horse companions are all that keeps many of these folks from completely unravelling.
The collection spans the horse’s historical transition from a necessity of daily life to a life-enhancing luxury. Yet social and technological transformation has not made the world any easier to navigate, and once riders dismount, they’re prone to trouble.
My favorites are the gentlest stories about an old man setting off on horseback to find a pretty girl he should have courted in his youth—or the author’s wry recollection of how a blind horse once got the best of his father—or a fella who’s seen a thing or two giving advice to a kid who knows a lot less than he thinks he does. Other stories are harder-edged and have life-changing outcomes. All are immediately engaging, and have a long, lingering finish, making you hope for more from the author.
Instead, it’s the human characters, in their stumbling attempts to deal with love, lust, drink, and dying who take wrong turns and lose the trail. Their steadfast horse companions are all that keeps many of these folks from completely unravelling.
The collection spans the horse’s historical transition from a necessity of daily life to a life-enhancing luxury. Yet social and technological transformation has not made the world any easier to navigate, and once riders dismount, they’re prone to trouble.
My favorites are the gentlest stories about an old man setting off on horseback to find a pretty girl he should have courted in his youth—or the author’s wry recollection of how a blind horse once got the best of his father—or a fella who’s seen a thing or two giving advice to a kid who knows a lot less than he thinks he does. Other stories are harder-edged and have life-changing outcomes. All are immediately engaging, and have a long, lingering finish, making you hope for more from the author.
February 13, 2019
“They connected like a clean pool shot.” That line, by story-teller Mark Saha, describes the relationship of Gus and Iona in “Whiskey Creek” but is apt for how his collection of short-stories attach to a reader. Stories similar in their lament of the loss of horses in contemporary American life — animals once so central to the very idea of America, now replaced by the automobile. Yet, the resonance of loss ripples through different characters in different ways. In “Whiskey Creek”, the loss of Gus’s horse “Misty”is caused by his own misguided life. In contrast, college student Les, in "Wide River" loses a girl he first considered unattainable through a painful growing-up lesson, with the certain destruction of a horse at the centre of that lesson. Mark Saha’s simple, straight forward prose reveal difficult, complicated people in a changing world.
April 15, 2019
This book consists of seven short stories filled with humor, sorrow and compassion. I really enjoyed this book and although I wish they were longer they are bittersweet. I liked the way the stories ended and felt like not knowing the whole story was intriguing. My favorite stories were Wide River and Why Men Cheat in August. I felt this book was well written and found the characters interesting. Im glad that horses were mentioned in each story with such significance. Horses seem like great companions.
October 6, 2020
This delightful collection of short stories is entertaining and uncommonly well written. The imperative of the short story format is that each and every word must do service. The author has done an excellent job of honing these stories. Of the seven stories, horses are involved, if not featured, in six. It is clear that the author has a love of the history of the West and Texas in particular.
April 10, 2019
It was a very good read. Seven tales told in great fashion of the American Heartland. I had just finished a very intense Michael Connelly Book and it was a perfect bridge to rid my mind of the
psychological thriller. Try it you will like it.
psychological thriller. Try it you will like it.
October 25, 2020
Well written emotion driven
I can see where some people feel there's ambiguity and characters because the environment plays such a strong role in the book.
it was an easy and fast read for me it was able to broaden my experience about people of that area.
I can see where some people feel there's ambiguity and characters because the environment plays such a strong role in the book.
it was an easy and fast read for me it was able to broaden my experience about people of that area.
April 1, 2019
I really liked the stories but thought they ended a little abruptly. I wished they had been full books as I wasn't ready for the story to end. I wanted more. The last story, Lost Horses, has a great ending so I was glad the book ended after that story.
September 16, 2019
Although I am normally not a fan of short story collections, this was very enjoyable. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed one this much. "Grandpa Goes to Mexico" was a treat!
August 27, 2020
Not really a “horse” book–more about lost people
This tight, evocative collection of seven short stories deals with engaging characters making their way through small and momentous events in their lives. Each story has a horse or horse-riding in it, but the tales are about the people. Authentic details and elusive meanings help the stories and characters ring true.
This tight, evocative collection of seven short stories deals with engaging characters making their way through small and momentous events in their lives. Each story has a horse or horse-riding in it, but the tales are about the people. Authentic details and elusive meanings help the stories and characters ring true.
August 21, 2020
What a Good Book
I really enjoyed the stories in Lost Horses! The writing is excellent and there were no glaring errors, that I find in many books to distract me. Even though the stories are short, the characters are very well developed. I found several of the stories quite emotional.
The chapter Wide River was somewhat shocking is describing the fate of excess horses yet it is actually a love story that I knew wouldn't work out.
Grandpa Goes to Mexico was my favorite. The authors words paint a beautiful picture as Wes, a nonagenarian, embarks on what will likely be his last journey with Ralph, a horse who seems to understand the situation better than Wes.
What an enjoyable read! I'll read it again.
I really enjoyed the stories in Lost Horses! The writing is excellent and there were no glaring errors, that I find in many books to distract me. Even though the stories are short, the characters are very well developed. I found several of the stories quite emotional.
The chapter Wide River was somewhat shocking is describing the fate of excess horses yet it is actually a love story that I knew wouldn't work out.
Grandpa Goes to Mexico was my favorite. The authors words paint a beautiful picture as Wes, a nonagenarian, embarks on what will likely be his last journey with Ralph, a horse who seems to understand the situation better than Wes.
What an enjoyable read! I'll read it again.
December 27, 2019
I received this copy in a Goodreads giveaway.
Lost Horses is a comprised of seven short stories connected by the presence of the horse. For thousands of years, humankind has used the horse as a machine, means of transportation, and a general best friend. But the use of the horse is no longer what it used to be with the rise of automobiles and engineers over the past couple hundred years.
These short stories are each unique in their own way, shedding light on the relationship between man and horse. The horse has not changed over the decades, but man certainly has.
Mark Saha's writing is such a pleasant read and his voice is like a familiar friend. All seven of these short stories were entertaining and thought provoking in their own way. My only disappointment is that these short stories were just that, short. I would love to read several of these stories as novels and become more connected to the characters than I already am.
Lost Horses is a comprised of seven short stories connected by the presence of the horse. For thousands of years, humankind has used the horse as a machine, means of transportation, and a general best friend. But the use of the horse is no longer what it used to be with the rise of automobiles and engineers over the past couple hundred years.
These short stories are each unique in their own way, shedding light on the relationship between man and horse. The horse has not changed over the decades, but man certainly has.
Mark Saha's writing is such a pleasant read and his voice is like a familiar friend. All seven of these short stories were entertaining and thought provoking in their own way. My only disappointment is that these short stories were just that, short. I would love to read several of these stories as novels and become more connected to the characters than I already am.
January 14, 2019
With a title Lost Horses, I was expecting the horses to play a bigger part in the stories. Often they seemed to be more of a backdrop to the others. Each person lost something. This was a group of stories that left a sadness in me. Often they seemed to be snippets of a larger story that never seemed to be quite finished. I truly wanted to love these stories but found myself just wanting more and not completely in a good way.
October 24, 2019
Seven of the sweetest stories about life each one involving horses in some way. Every story was a jewel. From the very poignant like "Wide River" and "Whiskey Creek" to the hilarious "Why Men Cheat in August" I loved reading them all. It was hard to pick a favorite, but maybe mine was "Grandpa Goes to Mexico". If you like stories that are a slice of life and leave you feeling delighted with what you just read you should get this book.
December 12, 2019
I received this book free from the author because I had read and reviewed his earlier book, Lady Joe. As a rule, I am not a big fan of short story collections, but this is an exception. I thoroughly enjoyed reading every story! There is a great variety of characters and situations, and the writer knew exactly how to bring them to life.
February 9, 2020
A quick read of short stories with a western theme. The stories were well written and very diverse. Each story generated a different feeling-humor, sadness, shock. Recommend for a short, easy read.
May 22, 2020
Lovely collection of stories!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book of short stories! While they all had thr theme of having something to do with horses they were all surprisingly unique! Well written and entertaining!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book of short stories! While they all had thr theme of having something to do with horses they were all surprisingly unique! Well written and entertaining!
December 23, 2022
I bought this book from Amazon. I bought the eBook version. It's a collection of short stories with themes around horses and acts of desperation. The author writes with compassion for failed second chances and provides redemption.
January 21, 2021
A book about human nature
This book is not really about horses, but more about human nature and human experiences. There’s a great variety of characters with different personalities and life stories, that I found delightful to go through, even though some things were hard to digest. Even though this is fiction, the author manages to make the characters believable, especially since human nature is complex and there’s no purely good or bad people, everyone is a mix of both, which leads to some characters being quite annoying from my perspective. But that’s how people are in reality, and that’s why these characters are so believable.
For example, in one of the stories, a man was pushed into seducing and sleeping with a teenager, even though he didn’t feel comfortable with it:
“... I want you to go down to the Cactus Rose Café and ask her to have dinner with you…”
“Ginger, I can’t ask a nineteen-year-old girl for a dinner date. I’m a middle-aged married man. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Anyway, she wouldn’t do it.”
….
“She’ll go. The minute that skinny little strumpet sees that bottle of scotch on the nightstand, she’ll put two and two together and figure out what’s going on. That little trollop’s going to be all over you.”
Even though the title might be misleading, it’s a great short read about typical people in day-to-day American life.
This book is not really about horses, but more about human nature and human experiences. There’s a great variety of characters with different personalities and life stories, that I found delightful to go through, even though some things were hard to digest. Even though this is fiction, the author manages to make the characters believable, especially since human nature is complex and there’s no purely good or bad people, everyone is a mix of both, which leads to some characters being quite annoying from my perspective. But that’s how people are in reality, and that’s why these characters are so believable.
For example, in one of the stories, a man was pushed into seducing and sleeping with a teenager, even though he didn’t feel comfortable with it:
“... I want you to go down to the Cactus Rose Café and ask her to have dinner with you…”
“Ginger, I can’t ask a nineteen-year-old girl for a dinner date. I’m a middle-aged married man. It wouldn’t be appropriate. Anyway, she wouldn’t do it.”
….
“She’ll go. The minute that skinny little strumpet sees that bottle of scotch on the nightstand, she’ll put two and two together and figure out what’s going on. That little trollop’s going to be all over you.”
Even though the title might be misleading, it’s a great short read about typical people in day-to-day American life.
October 1, 2020
A Collection of Lost Horses You Can't Bring to Water
What Worked for Me: The collection of short stories reminds me of my time growing up in Oklahoma. Different characters each represent a caricature of individuals you're used to seeing and hearing about when your parents come home. The town drunk, the wannabe cowboy runoff to sow his seed, the rancher's son disillusioned with the cowboy life, the manipulative spinster, etcetera. There's a lot to unpack, but overall, nostalgia makes me want to rate this a bit higher than I usually would.
What Didn't Work For Me: There's not a ton negative here for me to dissect. There are some odd bits here and there, but nothing downright disagreeable. I think my only complaint is the price point of $3.99, which is quite steep for a short collection of short stories.
The Gist of It: Overall, Lost Horses is a nostalgia trip for those who grew up in the midwest or the south-central US. While pricy, it reminds me of home in both the best and worst ways possible. Recommended if you like short, to the point human stories.
What Worked for Me: The collection of short stories reminds me of my time growing up in Oklahoma. Different characters each represent a caricature of individuals you're used to seeing and hearing about when your parents come home. The town drunk, the wannabe cowboy runoff to sow his seed, the rancher's son disillusioned with the cowboy life, the manipulative spinster, etcetera. There's a lot to unpack, but overall, nostalgia makes me want to rate this a bit higher than I usually would.
What Didn't Work For Me: There's not a ton negative here for me to dissect. There are some odd bits here and there, but nothing downright disagreeable. I think my only complaint is the price point of $3.99, which is quite steep for a short collection of short stories.
The Gist of It: Overall, Lost Horses is a nostalgia trip for those who grew up in the midwest or the south-central US. While pricy, it reminds me of home in both the best and worst ways possible. Recommended if you like short, to the point human stories.
October 28, 2021
Seven interesting tales set to a common thread. So easy to jump from one to the next! I had fun with these stories. Mark Saha lets us catch a glimpse at life through the eyes of very different people in these seven stories. Horses are the common backdrop for the people he introduces us to. The end comes too soon for nostalgic tales where I realized that maybe it’s not the horses who are lost, so much as we are sometimes. Good, well thought-out and entertaining writing.
March 10, 2022
A short story collection surrounding horses.
Short stories are difficult for me. I finish one and I am left wondering what just happened. The Blind Horsewas the one in this collection I didnt quite appreciate.
Why Men Cheat in August was over the top funny. And sad. Wide River had a twist I didnt see coming. Grandpa goes to Mexico had me aching for the old man
These were good, quick stories . Perfect for a lunchtime read
Short stories are difficult for me. I finish one and I am left wondering what just happened. The Blind Horsewas the one in this collection I didnt quite appreciate.
Why Men Cheat in August was over the top funny. And sad. Wide River had a twist I didnt see coming. Grandpa goes to Mexico had me aching for the old man
These were good, quick stories . Perfect for a lunchtime read
September 7, 2020
As a girl, I devoured horse stories to make up for the lack of a real horse in my life. From the description of this short story collection, I thought I had found a nice collection of more adult-themed short stories about horses. Not so. Horses are, at best, tangential to the majority of these stories. The writing is amateur, with little characterization and mediocre plotting.
June 10, 2021
Great Collection of Short Stories
This is well written and has wonderful dialogue and each of the characters are full of personality that allows you to get to know them quickly. I even started thinking in my head who I would play some of the roles as the camera was shooting the stories in my head.
This is well written and has wonderful dialogue and each of the characters are full of personality that allows you to get to know them quickly. I even started thinking in my head who I would play some of the roles as the camera was shooting the stories in my head.
February 10, 2022
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you.
Inserted in my copy was a review/disclaimer from the author that helped me understand "Lost Horses" better than I would have reading it cold. The stories took me back to lit classes that expected the reader to think rather than look at words. Didn't enjoy the cliff hanger endings of a few of the stories, though.
Inserted in my copy was a review/disclaimer from the author that helped me understand "Lost Horses" better than I would have reading it cold. The stories took me back to lit classes that expected the reader to think rather than look at words. Didn't enjoy the cliff hanger endings of a few of the stories, though.
September 16, 2020
Well written and entertaining short stories
The first story grabbed my attention and held it through out. All of the stories left me wanting more. I never set ot down until I had read the entire collection.
The first story grabbed my attention and held it through out. All of the stories left me wanting more. I never set ot down until I had read the entire collection.
February 27, 2019
Write more, expand on the stories and give us more of it. Just one of those stories could become a stand alone novel. I want to know what happens next on some of the shorter stories....
June 17, 2019
I enjoyed most of the stories in the book. I felt some could have been longer but then i guess they wouldn't be short stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews