Horses They Rode

Bozeman author and veterinarian Sid Gustafson has the rare ability to take you from your seat and place you directly in his novel.

If you are interested in opening a book that will captivate your imagination while encouraging introspection, you need not look further than Horses They Rode. You may put this novel down wondering about the spirit of the mountains, the relationships you have with people around you, or even the relationship you have with yourself. This is, of course, not surprising when you realize Gustafson is using his own experiences to masterfully shape his characters.
Expect to read one of the finer stories related to quickly dissipating Montana culture, and one of the most impressive novels written by a Montana author this year. Hold on to your emotions, because there will most likely be an instant when Gustafson is able to open your mind in a way that is truly fascinating.
Justin Easter
Outside Bozeman Book Review
Horses they Rode
by Sid Gustafson
Riverbend Publishing
Fall 2006, reviewed by Anna Bjorklund
Author of several short stories, poetry, and a guidebook on canine first aid, Montana native Sid Gustafson is well-known for his practice of natural veterinary medicine. The Bozeman resident is continuing to grow his literary credentials with a second novel, Horses They Rode, released in September.
The story follows the transitory journey of Wendel Ingraham, a racehorse trainer newly divorced and rebuilding his life in his childhood home along the northern Rocky Mountain Front. Against the backdrop of the shifting ranch landscape, the horse trainer attempts to make peace with past loves, wrestles with the disappearance of his five-year-old daughter back in Spokane, and finally unravels the mystery of his own father's disappearance.