The Tale of the Dancing Slaughter Horse: A Memoir - Softcover

Shade, Victoria

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0997237775 ISBN 13: 9780997237771

Publisher: Amberjack Publishing, 2016

Synopsis

When Victoria meets Moonshine, an ex-racehorse saved from the slaughterhouse and abuse, she despairs at having to ride such a difficult horse. The pair compete in dressage, a sport that tests the unity of horse and rider as they engage in what can only be called dancing. They compete against horses bred solely for the sport, always struggling to overcome the bias against horses like Moony. As she grows and comes of age, Victoria teaches Moonshine to trust, and Moony teaches Victoria the importance of heart and perseverance. Together, they master many trials and compete in the Junior Nationals in this inspiring and compelling true story of how a girl and her horse changed each other’s lives forever.

About this title

About the Author

Victoria currently practices law, focusing on animal law and personal injury protection. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Animal Law Committee, as well the Animal Law Committee’s Legislative subcommittee, and is involved in several groups supporting the humane treatment of animals, from the SPCA to the Animal Legal Defense Fund. She lives with her husband, also a horse-lover, and their young daughter, Olivia Jane, who had her first ride on Moony when she was in mommy’s belly. The family lives on a horse farm where Moonshine is one of many beloved family pets.

From the Back Cover

As a young girl, Victoria's world is peppered with chaos after her parents' divorce and abusive father. To find stability, Victoria throws herself into the world of dressage, a sport that tests the unity of horse and rider as they engage in what can only be called dancing. She finds a sense of calm in the stables near her New York home.

When Victoria meets Moonshine, an ex-racehorse saved from years of neglect and a future in the slaughterhouse, she despairs at having to ride such a difficult and ill-tempered horse. Victoria is discouraged about competing at the highest levels of dressage with a slaughter horse like Moony. They must compete against horses bred solely for the sport that the judges praise and favor, and Victoria begins to question her dreams.

As she comes of age, and as she and Moonshine train together and get to know one another, Victoria teaches the horse to trust, and Moony teaches Victoria the importance of perseverance and heart. Horse and rider drastically change the course of each others lives in this true life story of overcoming adversity and believing in yourself, no matter how hard the road.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up—This dressage-focused memoir features strong characterization through the use of dialogue. Shade, the daughter of Romanian immigrants, is hooked on horses. When she meets Moonshine, an abused and abandoned ex-racehorse, she initially finds his belligerent behavior an unwelcome challenge. But, as in most romances, first impressions prove to be wrong; Moony has it in him to be a great show horse, and he ultimately becomes the love of young Shade's life. As Shade trains vigorously throughout her teens, she learns that dressage isn't just about fancy moves but about the connection between horse and rider. She must learn how to "keep her seat" while facing naysayers. Readers similarly devoted to a sport might understand a life of being coached, traveling to events, and connecting more with athletic peers than classmates. Shade lives to ride, daydreaming about the stable during school and framing teenage milestones (taking the SAT, getting a driver's license) in terms of her future as an equestrian. Family drama, particularly around money, is the only counterpoint to an abundance of insider details that may be lost on nonriders. There is some in-context profanity, mostly directed at Shade's father, portrayed as a narcissistic deadbeat. VERDICT Recommended for horse lovers and teens who enjoy redemptive memoirs about unlikely pairs.—Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD

Edition details

• Publisher: Amberjack Publishing
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0997237775
• ISBN 13: 9780997237771
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 314