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Chosen By A Horse

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 3,481 ratings · 601 reviews

"Proof that love for another animal can alone make one human and humane: wit and crushing sadness chasing each other all across the page; intelligence and bravery and perfect literary pitch... Damngreat."--Melissa Holbrook Pierson, author of "Dark Horses and Black Beauties: Animals; Women, a Passion"
"A bold and sensitive memoir of what it means toopen one's heart to love....more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published April 24th 2008 by Constable (first published 2006)

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Apr 02, 2008 Sammy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-the-best

I cried. Not going to lie, if my mom hadn't been in the same room as me, I probably would have been bawling with a baby. Now I want to say why (it could have been happy crying, it could have been sad crying, it could have been both) so, you are officially warned that there are probably going to be spoilers contained in this review...

Chosen by a Horse is an amazing novel whether or not you're a horse or animal lover. It may touch those of us who have loved and owned animals a little more, but don...more

11 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2009 Aleksandra added it · review of another edition

That we have to put ourselves in the other beings shoes, in order to understand their unmet needs and driving emotions. I guess you can just say emotions are one type of need, but just as real as thirst, or dominance. Two parallel lives here, who saves whom?
A good book to cry over. You dont usually deal with the gritty details of putting down a sick and abused animal. Richards gets a good review from Temple Grandin and I guess I needed that cry over my dog.
If you feeling that comfort in death s...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in, 2009, horse, memoir

This is an approachable and fast memoir that most any animal lover would enjoy. Susan Richards had a lot of baggage, but by the time she entered her 40s she regarded herself as an independent woman in control of her life. She had conquered the alcohol addiction that dominated her for decades. She shed an abusive husband and family. But when she agreed to take care of an abused mare and foal, she got more than she bargained for. The mare, Lay Me Down, had every right to hate humans, but she didn'...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a book selected by my bookclub. It was the true story of a woman's journey of self-exploration and healing when she takes care of a rescued horse. From the outset things are not easy. She ends up with a horse she would never have chosen and her other horse dislikes the new horse. The horse, like the woman, had been mistreated in her life, so she feels a connection with the horse, named Lay Me Down. Together they begin to heal and grow and learn about love and friendship.

The author is fr...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Jesse rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The journey that the author takes in "Chosen By A Horse" is at times filled with humor, happiness, pain and sadness. Anyone that has ever experienced the unspoken bond between an animal and human will appreciate the beauty that this memoir encapsulates. It is difficult to understand how an animal experiences joy and grief and the other emotions. Emotions are usually attributed to humans, but this memoir helps with the awareness that all animals with a brain are fully capable of having them.

Anoth...more The journey that the author takes in "Chosen By A Horse" is at times filled with humor, happiness, pain and sadness. Anyone that has ever experienced the unspoken bond between an animal and human will appreciate the beauty that this memoir encapsulates. It is difficult to understand how an animal experiences joy and grief and the other emotions. Emotions are usually attributed to humans, but this memoir helps with the awareness that all animals with a brain are fully capable of having them.

Another quality present within the memoir is the language and voice and tone of the author. It does not take long to become accustomed to it. Listening to the audio book version, it was difficult to remember that the narrator did not write this book. The narrator suited the voice that I felt the author was speaking with. As a writer I was able to appreciate the humor and profundity throughout various points in the memoir. I felt as if I knew the character of the horse Lay Me Down.
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From this point on, I will get into the details of what happens in the memoir, so this is the spoiler alert for those who have not yet read the book.
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I find it fitting that the horse's name was Lay Me Down, in a sad way it describes the final moments of her life. This is not to say that it describes the fullness of her life, because she was a loving and grateful horse. The book talks about whether or not animals show gratitude and whether they are capable of understanding that they have been rescued, as Lay Me Down was. I think it's difficult to answer this question, much in the same way as it is to understand how animals experience emotions.

I believe, as the memoir shows, animals live in the moment and perhaps have no recollection of what their life used to be like--that is to say they do not contemplate the past. I think this provides an important lesson to us, although it's important to remember what has happened to you in the past, it can be difficult to move beyond a difficult time in our life. Susan Richards learned from Lay Me Down the lesson of not being afraid of the future, to learn to be comfortable with the person you are and want to be. Animals, when they do not have to worry about surviving, are capable of enjoying the sunshine and not having a care what happens tomorrow.

I think humans have a better grasp at death and what it means to be without life, but we do not know what it feels like to die. We can understand that we become the earth, but we do not have a better understanding of what happens after. Because animals, at least horses, live in the moment they are not worried about what it feels like to die. It is true that animals have survival instincts, but this is different than fearing death. Perhaps I will forget to not be afraid of what happens after life and death, but this book has taught me that it's important to learn from your mistakes. It has taught me that it is more important to live your life with your survival in mind, but to not be consumed by what happens after life.

"Chosen by a Horse" is about the journey many of us have with an animal and how it is full of moments of learning and joy and pain. It is truly transformative to have an animal in one's life; they are honest and patient (except perhaps for Georgia), they do not get angry--unless they are taught anger, they provide people with tremendous joy. For these reasons and many others, we have fallen in love with our animals and companions and this memoir is a tribute to what it means to be touched by an animal or as the title suggests, chosen by a horse.
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Nov 25, 2011 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book reminded me a lot of "Nickel and Dimed" - it's a great premise that the author ruins with her incessent whining about her own life. This isn't a book about a horse or even a book about how " a broken horse fixed a broken heart." The author had already battled her alcoholism and left her abusive husband well before Lay Me Down came into her life. The horse part of this book is pretty thin - Richards gets Lay Me Down, Lay Me Down hangs out in a field for a while, gets cancer, and then di...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Ruth Sims rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chosen by a Horse
Susan Richards

This book is one of my favorite forms of literature: a memoir. A well-written memoir is better than any novel, and I say that as a writer of novels.

From the back cover: ” …Lay Me Down, a former racehorse with a foal close on her heels walked right up that ramp (of the waiting trailer) and into Susan’s life.”
The author has three other horses and they are so individualistic and personable that they are real characters in this true drama without descending into Disn...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Diane A Brown added it · review of another edition

Opening your heart can be a risky decision …..

Sometimes you do things on the spur of the moment then wonder later if it was the right choice. Taking on a starving, mistreated mare and her foal seemed a crazy idea to Susan and yet it seemed the natural thing to do. However, she didn’t think it would be this hard. In fact, it was down right over whelming!

Living alone with her three horses was a physical and mental stretch for Susan. But an advocate for those in need, she had willingly opened her b...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Linda Lipko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards

Simply stated: This book took my breath away. A BIG thanks to McKait (Kath) for her recommendation.

Written with humor, poignancy, candor, and clear, crisp poetic style, the author takes us on a wonderful journey regarding the redemptive power of love.

There are times in life when we spontaneously, unexpectedly break out of character, when previous behaviors are uncautiously thrown to the wind and afterward we ask ourselves -- What just happened?

It was fate that...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Danielle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir, non-fiction

I would just like to say that this is what happens when I go to the library with my kids and without having put something on hold. I grab pretty much the first thing I see (or, rather, the first 3 or 4 things I see) hoping that one of them will be good enough to last me a week.
This isn't normally my kind of book, but I saw it on a recommended reading shelf and thought it might surprise me. As it turned out, the story itself was predictable, but the finesse of the writing was a pleasant surprise...more

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Feb 27, 2010 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Susan Richards was more or less minding her own business, when all of a sudden a horse landed in her life. After getting a rather frantic call from a friend, telling her that the SPCA had just confiscated more than forty abused and neglected horses who needed new homes immediately, Susan came to the rescue and found one horse who seemed all to eager to come home with her. This memoir tells the story of their developing relationship.

As someone with only moderate experience with horses, some of th...more

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Nov 06, 2009 H.orses rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Horse Lovers

Shelves: favorites

Alright, so, I was in Barns&Nobles one day and I'm sitting in front of the horse section that I am often shuffling through and I see this book and automatically have to buy it. One because it has a horse on the cover(duh), and two because I read the back and know there aren't many good nonfiction horse stories out there. I loved this book(not just because of the horse on the cover... But by the way it was also about horses so that's a bonus), it even made me cry a bit when this amazing horse...more

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Jul 26, 2009 Hayley Moore rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Advantages: Innate understanding of the horse lover
Disadvantages: American style, overly self absorbed

*Synopsis*

Susan Richards agrees to provide a home to an abused and neglected mare named Lay me Down that has been rescued by a local animal welfare centre. Susan has had a traumatic life. She lost her mother at a young age and was raised by uncaring relatives; she married unhappily and divorced; and she'd been an alcoholic. At this point in her life, aged 43, she lives alone on a farm with three...more

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May 09, 2013 Mwahaha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Chosen by a Horse is one of the most amazing stories I've ever read - and one of the saddest. As soon as Susan Richards went on to explain about how she'd 'chosen to do something she'd previously avoided' by adopting a mistreated, emaciated horse from the SPCA, the book became glued into my hands and trapped me inside it until I reached the last word. It was just impossible to put down and even if I could have torn my eyes away, I would have chosen not to.

Chosen by a Horse is one of those books...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 26, 2009 Trish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, biography, nonfiction, totally-unexpected

This is a bittersweet tale, beautifully written and edited. It had nothing extra. What may have taken a year or two to write, took just an evening to read. It exhibited, for me, a very affirming personality. A woman who'd knocked about (read: been knocked about) a bit, but who shows us the best of the human condition: love, integrity, generosity, acceptance, humor.

I loved reading of the horses, because she has such long experience handling them, and of Cornell, certainly one of the most beautifu...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Lis Carey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, horses, audiobooks

Susan Richards has survived an abusive childhood and a bad marriage, and now, in her forties, is living on a small farm with her three horses, working as a social worker, and determinedly protecting her independence. Having given up alcohol, casual sex, and in fact men altogether, she may be lonely, but at least she’s safe.

Then she gets a call from the local SPCA, which has taken in more than forty horses from an abuse case. Their barn was already full; they need foster homes immediately. Agains...more

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Jul 31, 2011 P. Kirby rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Is it just me, or are Friesians now the only horses who are allowed in movies or to grace book covers? The titular horse in Chosen by a Horse is a Standardbred. The horse on the cover, though lovely with its long mane and forelock, is a Friesian. (Or maybe a very dark Andalusian, it's hard to tell.) I guess Standardbreds aren't showy enough for book covers.

Susan Richards's writing is engaging and her descriptions of all things horsey, is dead on. But this memoir, nevertheless, falls short.

First,...more Is it just me, or are Friesians now the only horses who are allowed in movies or to grace book covers? The titular horse in Chosen by a Horse is a Standardbred. The horse on the cover, though lovely with its long mane and forelock, is a Friesian. (Or maybe a very dark Andalusian, it's hard to tell.) I guess Standardbreds aren't showy enough for book covers.

Susan Richards's writing is engaging and her descriptions of all things horsey, is dead on. But this memoir, nevertheless, falls short.

First, although this is supposed to be a kind of transformational story--woman finds her lost humanity and the capacity to love via one extraordinary horse--there is little character development. One might expect, for instance, that Richards's decision to adopt Lay Me Down, an elderly broodmare with a foal at her side, would be fraught with reluctance. Instead, Richards jumps right in, doing everything she can to nurse her abused charge back to life.

Richards, by the way, is a victim of abuse herself, and I guess the reader is supposed to see author's situation mirrored by the horse's. Or something. To her credit, Richards is clearly an animal lover and takes good care of Lay Me Down and all her horses. I've seen some reviewers complain that Richards is too self-involved and that the story is too much about her angst. I'd argue the opposite. Richards never really tells the reader how she was abused. She parcels out a few details, but is otherwise almost dismissive of the abuse. Her almost flippant attitude lessens this reader's sympathy.

About midway through the story, Richards starts to date a man, her first relationship in years. But readers expecting any kind of growth via this relationship will be disappointed. Hank is a self-involved twit and Richards know this. She keeps dating him because she likes the attention. Also, because when she tells her "friends" that Hank isn't right for her, they dismiss her concerns and tell her to give him another chance. Some friends. The relationship ends, not through any effort on Richards's part, but rather when Hank cheats on her.

Basically, Richards starts and ends the memoir pretty much the same person.

The real flaw, however, is that she chose the wrong equine protagonist. Lay Me Down is sweet. And "sweet" has its allure, especially when dealing with a 1200-pound animal who has the equivalent of hammers on the ends of its feet. But one might argue that her nature is the result of old age; she's an animal who has seen it all and just doesn't have the energy to give a shit. Because of her tractable nature, Lay Me Down never really challenges Richards.

I'd argue that the real equine hero should have been Richards's obstinate, headstrong Morgan mare, Georgia. It was with Georgia that Richards, years before, battled her darkest demon, alcoholism. This should have been the story of Richards and Georgia.

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Jan 15, 2012 Kim rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horses, ok-2-3-star

By the end of the book I can say I enjoyed it. I'm still annoyed about the random jumps in narration and the sometimes overly indulgent and random descriptions. Considering I didn't realize that this was a memoir until she talked about buying Georgia in upstate New York, I can say that I feel less disappointed in her character and the characterizations of the horses. I thought the references to Ithaca were pretty hilarious, and the reverence for Cornell's veterinary institute was well deserved....more By the end of the book I can say I enjoyed it. I'm still annoyed about the random jumps in narration and the sometimes overly indulgent and random descriptions. Considering I didn't realize that this was a memoir until she talked about buying Georgia in upstate New York, I can say that I feel less disappointed in her character and the characterizations of the horses. I thought the references to Ithaca were pretty hilarious, and the reverence for Cornell's veterinary institute was well deserved. In fact, the only other part that made me close to tearing up besides the end was the worker telling her that if something were wrong with her own horse, Cornell would be the first place she sent him.

My main problem with the book is her mentioning of Natural Horsemanship, and then turning to show Georgia as an insane mare brought up on that idea. The only thing that saved it was her realizing that the mare's behavior is insane, but she never actually does anything about it. In fact, all she ever really does in the book is try to save Lay Me Down.

I would have liked to see the story of Georgia more than the story of Lay Me Down, as I don't really see how Lay Me Down changed her. I see the events leading up to where she is at the end, and I understand them. I realize that Lay Me Down did change her lifestyle, but her personality basically remained static.

In fact, I would say her relationship with Hank is basically the catalyst for her emotional change and discovery of self worth, which is totally unrelated to Lay Me Down. Hank is a jerk, and I don't blame the woman for wanting a relationship for the idea of feeling wanted, because she basically never had that feeling sober. She needed it to be able to realize that she was actually worthwhile when the men around her weren't drunk, and that she could also be social when not drunk. As bad of a person she probably seems, Hank shouldn't have done that to her. Good for her to sit down and confront him and not let him convince her it was OK because it wasn't. You're supposed to end a relationship before starting a new one- period. Although she should have known that a man who would start dating before being divorced from his wife wouldn't care about ending one relationship before getting a newer, younger replacement. He probably said the same thing to his poor ex-wife about her when they went on that "not a date."

I'm not sure if I would recommend this book, though. It's a hodgepodge of a pity party and an attempt to rescue a mare that ultimately fails (of course, it's a horse book). There are some interesting moments, but they aren't very gripping and don't last long. It was more of a story about the woman with sprinklings of the horses and musings about their behavior that made them all too human.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Heather added it · review of another edition

Written in a style that made me feel like Susan was a friend catching up with what is going on in her live. It is funny, sad and touching all at the same time. At times Susan exposes her history and life with unvarnished openness that surprised me at times, but definitely gave flavor to the story.

It is not just about a horse, but more about life and how people cope with the events and changes that are dreamed about, persistently pursued and dropped on us unexpectedly. A book that was hard to put...more

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Jan 03, 2008 Jen Geraedts added it · review of another edition

I was reluctant to read this because I'm not a "horse person", but my book group picked it, so I went ahead and I LOVE it. It doesn't matter if you're a horse person or not, if you've ever cared for another creature and had to battle your way through rough times in life, then you'll "get" this book. My favorite passage from this book has nothing to do with animals - it has to do with writing.

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Nov 17, 2010 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bios-memoirs, am-life

This is a memoir of a woman's personal transformation with the help of a rescued horse. It is interesting and pretty well written, with some very interesting 'asides', (her great grandmother!) and the fascinating manor house in New York state where she is a social worker... intriguing to me because of the architecture she describes and the stunning setting... so interesting for a halfway house from hell for so many of those she works with. Also interesting to me is that this is the second contem...more

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May 23, 2009 Betita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: emprestado

Este foi um livro que me tocou no fundo do coração.
A dedicação de Susan aos seus cavalos e em especial à sua égua fez-me emocionar várias vezes.
Susan, com os seus cavalos aprendeu que a solidão por vezes somos nós mesmos que a criamos pois há sempre uma maneira de ser feliz, apesar de todos os dissabores que a vida por vezes nos causa.
Lay Me Down, a égua que Susan acolhe juntos dos seus 3 cavalos, depois de esta ter passado por mais de uma década de maus tratos, vai fazê-la ver que a vida tem s...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Ingrid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first glance, Chosen by a horse, seems to be the story of a rescued horse and her recovery. But it's not. It's really about the woman who sees herself clearly for the first time when she comes face to face with a horse who despite abuse & neglect chooses to love and trust huamns anyway. The author had had a very different reaction to the abuse & neglect in her own childhood, choosing instead to bottle it up inside herself, to pretend to be normal, pretend to not be so desperately need...more

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Mar 08, 2009 Fbeatriz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: other

Este livro, acima de tudo, mostra-nos como os animais, neste caso uma égua, são capazes de nos chegarem ao coração e ajudarem-nos a ultrapassar traumas e medos adquiridos por percalços da vida.
Lay Me Down é uma égua mal tratada e marcada por um dono cruel, sendo "adoptada" por Susan, que a leva para junto de mais três cavalos, cada um com a sua história e marcas humanas, após um pedido de ajuda, após ter sido retirada ao dono.
Esta égua, que tinha todos os motivos para ser distante e difícil, é...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Linda A rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Moving past childhood trauma, to a place of wholeness is a couragous journey. Unconsciously past hurts are recreated, relived until something snaps Susan awake. When it does, awareness plants her at a fork in the road. The choice to heal, to trust beckons. Susan rescues a badly abused horse named "Lay Me Down." Her name appears a metaphor for Susan to do exactly that. Lay Down the weight of anger, sadness and lonliness she has carried all too long. I ached for her as I read her story but she mad...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Adriana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

In Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards, the author has been happily living alone on her farm for 10 years when she uncharacteristically decides to help the SPCA foster an abused horse. Wanting a horse with a fantastic name, Richards is a little disappointed to find herself with Lay Me Down, whose passive prayer name does not indicate independence or spirit. However, Lay Me Down is no ordinary horse. Despite her ill treatment, she is friendly, gentle, and trusting, completely the opposite of what...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Sarah burrows rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: animal lovers x

Shelves: 2011-reads, realistic-real-life, gifts-presents, 4-star-books

a heart warming and heart breaking story of a rescued, abused horse fixing the broken heart of her abused and divoursed new owner.
the story and plot are amazingly written and touching. it explores the relationships not only between humans but also between animals. and owner and pet relationships, showing how normally both sides get something from the bond.
as a horse owner myself i could relate to the relationship between susan and her horses and can understand her diffecult decisions in the book...more

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Feb 27, 2008 Adina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a sweet story with sections of good writing and lucidity. Overall, the author allows herself too many repetitive moments of self-indulgence. Even a memoir should be allowed to unfold with subtlety and more "showing" than "telling." That being said, the ending is clear, creative and poignant.

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Jan 10, 2013 Mandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this book and read it in a couple of days. As a horse lover I loved the descriptions of the author's horses, their characters and her relationship with them. Similarly, and for the same reasons, the details of their daily routines and the vetinary issues were interesting if not always pleasant reading for me. What I wonder is would a non-horse lover enjoy this book? The author tries to draw comparisons between her feelings and experiences of life and her experience with "Lay Me Do...more

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“They say you can't escape your past, but I don't believe that. I believe you escape it every day, over and over again, always cognizant of the difference between past and present” — 16 people liked it

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