First, the move to Maryland. Then Dad’s deployment to Afghanistan. Sadie is in trouble. Then she gets Lucky, a new young horse who proves to be a handful. But that’s just the beginning. Together they encounter horse thieves, Maryland storms,and unwanted horses destined for auction and uncertain futures.
Sadie makes it her personal mission to save them. Along the way she meets other people who are dedicated to rescuing horses. She also learns that some people in the horse industry are driven by greed.
Maryland author Valerie Ormond’s debut novel details the very real issue of the unwanted horse problem in the United States, and one girl’s commitment to saving a group of horses. Although a work of fiction, many of the issues addressed are true to life. According to the 2010 American Horse Publications survey, the issue of unwanted horses ranked number one in the area of concerns among horse people.
A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to the non-profit organizations Freedom Hill Horse Rescue, in Calvert County, Md., and Thoroughbred Placement and Rescue, Inc., in Prince George’s County, Md. Both organizations supported the author’s research for the book and are active “horse savers.”
Jonathan Boudin, President of J.B. Max Publishing, stated: “This is a story that has to be known,” when he made the offer to publish the book. “The depths of the descriptions throughout the book are such that I felt like I was actually there with Sadie in her adventures. The story is very inspiring, particularly to kids who want to make a difference and have their voices heard. This is a story that teaches not only about horses, but also about lobbying, campaigning, and having a voice.”
195 pp • 5 x 8 • 978 09736330 2 3 • $11.95 • Ages 9 and up