Status Updates From Falling for Eli: How I Lost...

Looks like with all the dressage training no one did any desensitizing. Poor horse is scared of a shrub! But I am glad the author found the backbone to stand up for what she wants for her horse. That takes a lot of courage.

I feel its kind of sad that the author got stuck into doing dressage with all of those rules instead of just riding her horse. Because she found herself in a dressage barn / stable without first asking what kind of riding did she actually want to do? Not everyone does dressage. It certainly looks amazing to watch but its fussy and critical too. And maybe something more relaxed would be better for her.

Shulins accurately portrays barn life and the culture within. She dodges judgy boarders and scarily vocal trainers to take care of her puppy-dog Thoroughbred as a first-time horse owner. Anecdotal and easy to read, I liked this book. I hoped Nancy's tolerance towards her overtly-critical (dare I say abusive?) trainers would be lower and she'd move on quicker, but it goes to show life is a learning curve.

Love me a horse story. Especially one that is well-written.