Always Hope: How dairy cows and Arabian horses inspired grit in a young girl's life

by Hope Ellis-Ashburn

Some of us are born with a sense of agency over our lives. Some of us acquire this sense of agency at a later age while others never acquire it at all. I was born knowing that I was in charge of my own destiny. My stories are equal parts sad, humorous, and everything in between. For example, my father taught me how to drive a tractor at age three. At age thirteen, he taught how to artificially inseminate cows. Once, we almost lost a farm hand in our manure pit. Always Hope is my coming of age story grounded in the rural life, dairy cows, and one amazing Arabian horse.

123 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2019

About the author

Hope Ellis-Ashburn is an award-winning author, dynamic agriculture educator, equestrian, and farmer! Her content has been featured in such iconic publications as Hobby Farms, Western Horseman, Horse Illustrated, Hoof Beats, EQUUS, The Horse, Arabian Horse Life, US Equestrian, Sidelines, Young Rider, Arabian Horse Times, Experience Arabian Horses, American Quarter Horse Journal, and The Sound Advocate. Her memoir, Always Hope: How Dairy Cows and Arabian Horses Inspired Grit in a Young Girl's Life, was named Best Memoir for 2019 at the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest while her current book, Kimbrook Arabians: How an Unlikely Midwestern Couple Influenced an Ancient Breed, was named Reserve Champion in the Equine History category at the same festival in 2021. Her latest release is a riding diary, New Horse Journal. She lives on a Century Farm, an Angus cow-calf beef operation, in the Sequatchie Valley of Southeast Tennessee with her Quarter Horse gelding, Basilone, American Warmblood gelding, Bucky, and two donkeys, Harmony and Goobie. The family also has two Border Collie dogs, Gus and Daisy.

Reviews

[Carly Kade]

Hope Ellis-Ashburn takes readers through the tenacity, challenge, and also the pride of hard work one develops from growing up on a southern farm. In her memoir, Hope reflects on how rich life becomes when one respects her roots, yet travels her own path, develops a strong work ethic, and finds love in both a special horse and human. An educational and enjoyable read!

[Janet Wolanin]

How fun to discover that a rural farm girl (the author) and a big city girl (me) have so much in common! Born horse crazy, we both worked to buy our horses, became teachers, fell in love with a Crabbet Arabian, married (our husbands) late, and became horse authors. I have a new sister!

[Anna Rashbrook]

A great insight into farm life

I thoroughly enjoyed this insight into farming life in the US. The social history was fascinating then I was so drawn in to Hope's life. What some people might see as hard, I read as the story of a strong woman; a view into unacknowledged roles that women have in agriculture. Brilliant.

[Malissa]

Anyone who has grown up near a farm will love this book! And those who did not, you will learn some of the reality of farm life. I smiled at so many memories, and I'm sad that my kids will not have these memories. I am having my daughter read this book for her summer reading.

[Patsy Ellis]

A very easy and quick read. Very sentimental and heartwarming. Would recommend especially if you enjoy farm life.

[Schell Millán]

Magnificent read.

There were stories I laughed at and others my heart felt for Hope.

Don't hesitate in picking up this book.