Only Heroes and Horses

by Natalie O’Rourke

'[Park Lane Stables] is such a force for good' - Rob Brydon
'[An] uplifting story' - Horse and Rider

This is the story of Park Lane Stables. It is about hope, about horses and about lots and lots of heroes.

Natalie O'Rourke was an ordinary little girl from Birmingham in all respects save she was lonely. When she discovered how much she loved horses, she decided she wanted to grow up and run a riding stables. She wanted her stables to cater for children and adults with disabilities, additional needs and anyone who needed a friend - people who you might not expect to find riding, but who she knew could find happiness through horses, because she had.


Full of guts and optimism, Natalie fought tooth and nail to achieve that dream in the face of some hefty tragedy, heartbreak and hardship. Even the Covid-19 crisis couldn't slow her or her league of fearless Park Lane colleagues down - despite barely surviving financially in lockdown, the stables' 'Pavement Ponies' paid visits to the community on a mission to cheer their neighbours up, and tirelessly supported the NHS. But when the news came that the landlord was selling the stables, and that the Park Lane horses and their humans would be evicted unless they found a whopping £1,000,000 to buy the plot, it seemed a mountain too high even for this plucky team to climb. Could they win the support of the nation and with it their fight to save the stables?

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 30, 2022

Reviews

[Gail Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story - hear warning and have to confess shed quite a few tears!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read and display of what the Riding for the Disabled is all about. Natalie’s story packs a punch from the start with such vivid writing and excellent story-telling that you have to remind yourself you’re not reading a work of fiction! This book is written with such a clear voice and sense of self that it makes you feel like you’re there right alongside Natalie. Nothing is missed out from the highs to the lows and it is a wonderful account of an admirable journey and extraordinary achievements. Inspiring to read.

[Sally B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. I bought the book at Nationals and the Park Lane spirit is a real thing of kindness. I’m incredibly grateful to the kind person who while saying “do you want to say hello?” moved aside to allow my daughter to meet the horse she was being lent to ride at Nationals. That was such a kind thing to do - thank you.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a sweet recount of a woman’s dream to run an inclusive stables and all the obstacles and successes along the way. I did shed a few tears at points.