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Memory meadows: Horse stories from Canada's past
Book by MacEwan, Grant
- GenresNonfiction
212 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1985
About the author
Grant MacEwan
75 books6 followersJohn Walter Grant MacEwan, best known as Grant MacEwan (August 12, 1902 – June 15, 2000) was a farmer, Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Dean of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba, the 28th Mayor of Calgary and both a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada.
MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta and the MacEwan Student Centre at the University of Calgary as well as the neighbourhoods of MacEwan Glen in Calgary and MacEwan in Edmonton are named after him.
MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta and the MacEwan Student Centre at the University of Calgary as well as the neighbourhoods of MacEwan Glen in Calgary and MacEwan in Edmonton are named after him.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 13, 2020
Ever since I learned to read, I have loved books about horses. I recently read some fun B. M. Bower titles which made me lonesome for these animals, so this book seemed a logical choice at this time.
I am familiar with the names of many famous horses bred in the United States, but I did not know any of the Canadian horses the author talks about here. Well, that is not exactly true. I had heard of Midnight, the famous bucking horse, but did not know or did not remember that he was born in Canada. And I knew about Sir Barton, who was the first horse to win the three races known as the Triple Crown. That was in 1919. I had seen his name on lists, but somehow I never caught on that he was a Canadian horse.
The author does not talk only about Thoroughbred racers here. There are pacers, bucking horses, champion draft horses, firehouse horses, cavalry horses, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police horses. The stories are short but interesting, easy to read, and full of fun information about each horse and his or her character.
He talks about Barra Lad, who set a 1925 high jump record of 8 feet one and a half inches. There was Sandy, who served in WWI and was the pride of his regiment. So much so that in 1935 when the horse died after serving thirty-three years in the armed forces, the officers used his hide to upholster a chair, one of his hooves to make a snuff box, and kept his tail for 'pure sentiment'. Okay, that is a pretty gruesome way to remember an old friend and fellow soldier, but that is what they did.
I have a few names to google to see if I can learn more about certain horses. And there was an author mentioned that I want to see if I can discover somewhere too. so this book fed my curiosity in the usual way: by most likely adding to the Books To Read pile.
I have only two little problems with this book. One is that the book itself is a paperback with one of those stiff spines that don't open easily and wants to split so I had to handle it carefully and will have to do the same when I re-read someday.
The author signed my copy, which I thought was pretty cool but to tell the truth I would have been much happier with a few pictures of all these wonderful horses. How could anyone write a horse book and not include a few pictures?! Sigh.
I am familiar with the names of many famous horses bred in the United States, but I did not know any of the Canadian horses the author talks about here. Well, that is not exactly true. I had heard of Midnight, the famous bucking horse, but did not know or did not remember that he was born in Canada. And I knew about Sir Barton, who was the first horse to win the three races known as the Triple Crown. That was in 1919. I had seen his name on lists, but somehow I never caught on that he was a Canadian horse.
The author does not talk only about Thoroughbred racers here. There are pacers, bucking horses, champion draft horses, firehouse horses, cavalry horses, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police horses. The stories are short but interesting, easy to read, and full of fun information about each horse and his or her character.
He talks about Barra Lad, who set a 1925 high jump record of 8 feet one and a half inches. There was Sandy, who served in WWI and was the pride of his regiment. So much so that in 1935 when the horse died after serving thirty-three years in the armed forces, the officers used his hide to upholster a chair, one of his hooves to make a snuff box, and kept his tail for 'pure sentiment'. Okay, that is a pretty gruesome way to remember an old friend and fellow soldier, but that is what they did.
I have a few names to google to see if I can learn more about certain horses. And there was an author mentioned that I want to see if I can discover somewhere too. so this book fed my curiosity in the usual way: by most likely adding to the Books To Read pile.
I have only two little problems with this book. One is that the book itself is a paperback with one of those stiff spines that don't open easily and wants to split so I had to handle it carefully and will have to do the same when I re-read someday.
The author signed my copy, which I thought was pretty cool but to tell the truth I would have been much happier with a few pictures of all these wonderful horses. How could anyone write a horse book and not include a few pictures?! Sigh.
Displaying 1 of 1 review