Stories from the Barn Aisle: Real Life Tales of Humor and Grace from a Horse Obsessed Girl

by Sarah Hickner

About the A girl’s obsession with all things horses carried her on some epic adventures and landed her in precarious situations. When her first horse came with the same name as the hero of her favorite book, Misty of Chincoteague, it seemed like a match made in heaven. However, it didn’t take long for Sarah to learn there is no such thing as a good fairy tale without a little trouble. It turns out horses cause a lot of trouble. From first rides and crashes to making road-trip errors and staring at the belly of a horse in full-on Black Stallion mode, follow Sarah on her wild adventures from the safety of your own home … or wherever you are reading.Stories from the Barn Aisle includes these 5 short Dreams & HorsehairMisty (not) of ChincoteagueIt Tastes so SweetNorthbound or BustFinding a PlacePraise for Stories from the Barn I've ridden horses my ENTIRE life so I did not expect to be entertained or impressed with Sarah's "Stories from the Barn". I was wrong—on both counts. I couldn't stop reading her book, her stories. Sarah is a gifted storyteller and between the recollection of my own memories of my early interactions with horses and Sarah’s entertaining recounting of her own, I simply could not stop reading this book. Anyone who has ever loved a horse will love this book. Highly recommend!"- Donna Barton Former Jockey, NBC Sports Horse Racing Analyst and Reporter"While I know next to nothing about horses and have never spent time in a saddle, reading Sarah's words put me there and even despite my inexperience, I can feel the thrill of it."- Erin Napier, star of HGTV’s show Hometown

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2021

About the author

Sarah makes her author debut with Stories from the Barn Aisle. Always a storyteller and a bit of an adventurer, she finally decided to write her stories for the world to read. As a kid, her favorite books were from the Thoroughbred series, and the books inspired her to leave her home state of Mississippi to gallop racehorses in Kentucky while in college. Sarah is now settled down (which sounds more grown up than she feels) in Virginia with her husband, two kids, a horse, a dog, and a bearded dragon.

Reviews

[Catherine Brusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So delightful! Hickner does such a great job -- from creative descriptions that make you feel like you're walking alongside her in the barn to the emotions of embarrassment, fear, and joy. She'll take you on a journey through her horse-loving life and leave you wanting more. Can't wait for the next one!

[A.M. Swink · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author herself states, it only takes an hour to read, so I thought, 'why the heck not?' and I was glad I did!

When trying to come down from a lot of stress, this is the perfect, delightful little pick-me-up. 'Stories from the Barn Aisle' contains 5 short stories that had me chuckling and smiling with delight. The stories are humorous and wholesome and entirely relatable, whether you are a horse person or not!

As someone of a similar age/generation and from a completely horseless suburban background, I found myself grinning in fellow feeling at Sarah's memories from her horse-crazy school days. But if you weren't one of us horse girls reading Saddle Club books under our desks and doodling ponies in our notebooks, you knew of us and can remember us in your own classes. And if you weren't/aren't close with any, Sarah's stories will throw that door wide open for you. The tales from the barn will have you remembering your own riding lessons and accidents (or imagining them if you weren't - they are so vividly rendered)! The horses are remarkable characters in their own rights, with Gideon's trailer loading antics taking (a crowded) center stage. Her short stories are highly readable and captivating in a way that you won't put the book down until you've read them all!

Got an hour? What are you waiting for? Pick this book up and spend one of the most enjoyable hours of reading in the company of Sarah and her horse tales.

[Olga Kollegger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good start for a first book in what I assume will be many more fun memories for the author, a fellow horse obsessed girl grown.

In this first installment we meet the author as little girl dreaming of and finally having her wish come true with a gift horse —a typically sour pony mare. Struggling with her pony who’s smarter than she looks, we gain a few giggles at the author’s bumpy expense.

Graduated to a gentleman big horse, the author now a teen, takes a spicy barrel racing competition by storm and boosts her confidence to dare dream of galloping Thoroughbreds for the track.

College bound and trekking from the Deep South northward, our author learns the number one big NO when trailering a horse and we horse girls sweat along with the author, hoping the trip isn’t a disaster.

Finally in Kentucky, the author steps foot in a TB training barn, overwhelmed but determined to one day gallop a two-year old around the track. The journey from hot walker to rider may be quick but I’m sure there will be excitement along the way. Stay tuned for more good-hearted horse memories!

[BlueBug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found these stories to be absolutely adorable. I was raised on a farm with horses, and there were so many of this author's stories that brought back fond memories of my time in the barns, riding with friends, and just being around these gentle beasts. There are so many moments in these stories that people can relate to even if they've never ridden or spent time around horses.

I love the way the tales are divided up in a way that the reader can put the book down for a moment and come back to a new story without missing a beat. I truly enjoyed these remembrances, and I look forward to reading more of her journey as she continues to write.

[Erica Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect quick-read for anyone who loves horses. The short stories tell of her adventures with her own horses, but they are so relatable to any horse-person. It doesn't matter if you have owned your own horse, show or not, ride english or western. These stories hit on some of the things that all horse-people have in common—things you only learn in the barn aisle.

It is a great lead in to the promised future memoir, I cant wait to read about her time at the track.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

bitten buy the horse bug

You know once bitten by the horse bug…..always in love with horses.
I can under stand her love. I myself can never get enough of them.
I can relate to the stories, and hope to read more of them. Especially
the race track ones. Race horses are just like that, nice and calm one
minute, trying to tap dance on your head the next. Mares are even worse. Keep up the good work, can’t wait to read your second book.
Debra H.

[Sali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful for horse lovers and those who want to understand them

A delightful read. I am still smiling. Read it straight through. Just could not help myself. I want to know more, especially what happened next in Kentucky.

[Barbara Kinney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stories from the Barn Aisle: real Life Tails of Humor and Grace from a Horse Obsessed Girl

Many decades ago I was horse crazy from the third grade and on. Never got one, though. This book displayed some stories with humor about horse life.

[Sarah Hickner]

I’ve read this book 1000 times I think when I was writing and rewriting and editing and re-editing it 🤣🤣. Thanks for stopping in and I hope y’all enjoy it!

[Sarah Baynum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, and story teller like book about the adventures of a fellow horse girl! Highly recommend this read for all the horse-lovers out there :)

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from a 3.5 - this was cute.

[Cathy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Really enjoyed it.