HORSE by Dave Ferruolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Horse – an eloquent story of salvation
The prose in this book is elegant and sophisticated. Jason Masters is a war veteran, newly returned home from the war torn Middle East. He is troubled and guilt ridden by his experiences in the army and seeks the solace of the Colorado wilderness. It’s a return to his roots where he immerses himself in the solace of nature and where he relies upon his survival abilities.
During a rock climbing accident where he miraculously survives, he takes every survival technique he’s learned to stay alive. Suffering from a severely broken leg, broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, he often slips between the reality of his dire situation and memories of the war conflict. During moments of clarity he becomes aware of a wild mustang that is entrapped in barb wire, his movements hindered as the wire is still attached to a fence post
He is able to remove the wire from the mustang’s flesh, and slowly he develops a bond where eventually he is able to ride the horse to safety.
Here is one of my favourite paragraphs:
“In the Mustang’s resilience, Jason saw his own. The wild, wounded horse had learned to accept his presence, not as a captor, but as a companion. Similarly, Jason realized that he could embrace his past without being imprisoned by it. He could blend the strength and vigilance of the soldier with the empathy and vulnerability of the man he wanted to become.”
The language used is eloquent and I highly recommend this book for anyone who understands, or wishes to learn about the powerful healing presence our equine friends offer.