Equestrian Author, Susan Friedland
Equestrian Author, Susan Friedland, with her retired racehorse, Tiz A Knight.
I first came across Susan Friedland’s books: Horses Adored and Men Endured: A Memoir of Falling Off and Getting Back Up, Strands of Hope: How to Grieve the Loss of a Horse - Advice and Stories to Help You Heal, and Unbridled Creativity: 101 Writing Exercises for the Horse Lover a few months ago, but didn’t have the time to purchase and read them until now. I have to say I enjoyed reading all of her books.
Horses Adored and Men Endured is the perfect title for her memoir. Wonderfully written and full of humor and the rich details of her horse life - the story of initial horse love through owning her first horse to having her current horse - will captivate her readers, whether they are equestrians or not. Her dating dilemmas and disasters (who hasn’t had them?) are often humorous despite Friedland’s goodhearted nature and strong sense of optimism for finding an enduring love partnership. Readers will find her memoir highly entertaining and a joy to read. One can’t help but champion Friedland into finding the love of her life after everything she endures, but I won’t spoil anything. You’ll be captivated from page one to the end of the book. I read it in almost one sitting. I had to find out how it would end for her - a horse and a husband, or only a horse. You’ll have to pick up a copy and read her memoir for yourself to find out.
I was hesitant to read Strands of Hope: How to Grieve the Loss of a Horse - Advice and Stories to Help You Heal, not because I thought it would be poorly written, but because I was afraid of what it would bring up for me and my life around horses. But Friedland’s writing was caring and deeply sensitive to one of the most challenging aspects of owning or working with horses - their eventual death due to illness, accidents, old age, etc. This loss is deep and never easy to navigate, but Friedland offers hope in her book from the vantage point of having lost her first horse, DC. Some of the chapters are: Cry, Do the Things, Embrace Your Grief, and Ride Again. Filled with stories of other women who lost horses, great advice, and practical resources, Strands of Hope is the perfect gift for a grieving horse owner, or even someone who rides or cares for them daily. I highly recommend this volume for all horse owners and for those whose loved ones have suffered a horse loss, but can’t find the words to comfort their grieving partner, family member, neighbor, etc. A beautifully written book.
I have been a daily journal writer for almost three decades and can’t wait to start Unbridled Creativity: 101 Writing Exercises for the Horse Lover. I enjoy writing prompt journals, but horse related? Sign me up! The book has nine chapters, each with a different writing prompt theme, such as 12 Ways to Be a Better Writer, Lovely Lists, Delightful Descriptions, and Creative and Cool. Each page has a prompt at the top and lined space below to jot down your thoughts. I would probably use a different notebook because one, I write a ton and need more room and two, I want to keep it looking nice. (I own about 40-some journals and refuse to write in some of them because they are unique. This one will be added to that pile.) I was inspired after going through all of the chapters that the answers to some of Friedland’s questions would make great blog post ideas. This is a fun book that will encourage creativity and help with writing practice.
Susan Friedland also has a featured article in this month’s Horse Illustrated magazine - May, 2023. Her article is about her upcoming new book, Marguerite, Misty, and Me, due out this summer. It’s her journey to learning more about Marguerite Henry and her life as a horse author. I am eager to read it when it’s out since I loved the Misty books as a child. You can learn more about her new book at the link below.
Friedland’s Books
Susan Friedland, author of three books: Horses Adored and Men Endured, a horse lover’s dating memoir; Unbridled Creativity: 101 Writing Exercises for the Horse Lover; and Strands of Hope: How to Grieve the Loss of a Horse, never grew out of that horse phase. She shares her passion for all things equestrian at her blog, Saddle Seeks Horse, and by writing for Horse Illustrated and Young Rider, and co-hosting Barn Banter, the Horse Illustrated podcast. A former middle school teacher, Susan is now writing a book, which will debut this summer, about beloved horse book author Marguerite Henry (Marguerite, Misty and Me now available for pre-order saddleseekshorse.shop). Trot along with Susan and her retired racehorse Tiz A Knight at saddleseekshorse.com.
