This is the true story of Joey, a broken horse who brought healing to others.

The story of Joey is one that you will need a box of tissues or a handkerchief close by. I cried both happy and sad tears as I read about all the lives that Joey touched and the way he helped heal everyone he came in contact with. I was filled with awe as I read this inspirational story, filled with faith both human and animal.

Throughout the story of Joey, Jennifer mentions having blind faith which is definitely not easy. Having blind faith is always a work in process no matter whether it is with an animal, another human being, or with God. As a dog owner I witness blind faith on a daily basis. I see that blind faith in my dog’s eyes that I will always be there to provide for him. All animals love unconditionally which is something that we as humans need to learn to do. Kim’s one word thought throughout this story “trust” which is something we have to learn do in order to actually develop blind faith. Once we trust blind faith with come.

Kim Tschirret the founder of Hope Reins said something that really stuck with me as she consoled Sarah, “Sarah, all of us are works in progress. We all bring hurts and sins and brokenness to the ranch. But that’s the beautiful thing! God takes our messes—our heaps of ashes—and turns them into something more beautiful than we could ever imagine.” This made me think and I realized that God does this for all of us everywhere we are as long as we have faith in him and put our lives in his hands.

Jennifer Bleakley may be a debut author but you would never know it reading this heartfelt story. Jennifer has a calling and that is writing. She drew me in, and transported me to Hope Reins where I also found healing as I read the story of Joey’s life. Thank you Jennifer for answering your calling to write this story. By doing so you have forever continued Joey’s mission of healing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the author’s Celebrate Lit book tour via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had no idea that this was a true story. I was completely surprised as I finished this book and discovered that Joey did exist. children
I have heard about how horses could be used in therapy. But reading about the impact Joey and the other horses had with the children and staff were inspiring and so touching.
Others might have looked at Joey as flawed or past his prime. Joey had so much to give despite his blindness. His heart shined through so that others could heal. GOD is a waster of none. Joey was a gift from GOD.

I highly recommend this book. It was uplifting. It was sad. It was a joy.

I received this free to review.

A horse story for adults? This idea was quite intriguing to me when I read the sign-up information for Joey, so I looked into the book a bit farther. What I saw made me want to read the story. I was not disappointed—this is an incredible account!
The prologue is enough to draw you in, as a woman discovers a herd of horses dying of neglect and starvation. Although we are never told what happened to cause this, the book follows the life of one of the horses, Joey, an appaloosa, for the next several years. Because of the neglect, Joey was completely blind. Kim, who had recently founded an equine therapy ranch to help troubled children, took him under her wing—but would he be able to adjust to living in a new home, with a new companion, and be able to help children?
The account of the founding of Hope Reins, the ranch, which is in North Carolina, is very interesting. The story of how the ranch was founded and how God provided what was needed to build it and keep it going is interwoven with Joey's story, as well as the stories of the people who volunteered there and cared for the horses.
I found it fascinating to read about the various solutions the staff of Hope Reins came up with to help Joey. I had never thought about what it would be like for a horse to go blind. It was also incredible to read about how he helped children who came into his life. I had never heard of equine therapy before, but it makes sense that hurting children would be helped by helping hurting animals. And, it wasn't just children that found help and healing; some of the adult volunteers did, as well.
This is a book for horse lovers—but not just for horse lovers. This is also a book for anyone who likes to read about the different ways God works in people's lives, and it is a book for people who care about hurting children. I highly recommend this true story.

Joey

A very inspiring story about a horse named Joey that was blind. He came to stay at Hope Reins that is a ranch to help children and horses alike. Kim took in horses that were mistreated and in exchange they did so much for the children and the workers at the ranch. It was so refreshing to read a book like this, I love stories about animals and I really learned a lot about horses in this book. The relationship between the horses themselves and relationships the horses has with humans. I have never gotten to be around horses much but really enjoyed reading Joey story. Such an inspiration. I was fortunate to receive an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit.

I could tell from the beginning that I was going to need tissues to read this book. I can't imagine what it would be like to find horses starving and begging for help. Some didn't survive and my emotions were felt deep in my heart. The author has written an honest heart wrenching story that will have readers crying throughout the story. I loved Penny and her determination to get help for the animals. Her anger burned the pages as I read how desperate she was to find out who was responsible for this horrendous sight. I hear on the news all the time about cruelty being done to animals and I want to run and save them all. Penny is a force to be reckoned with.

Joey is one those animals that just tugs at your heart. I could see him gazing into Kim's eyes as she decides whether he will fit at Hope Reins. After looking at Joey how could anyone walk away from him? Although Joey is blind, Kim knows he needs to be at Hope Reins. I loved when it was said in the book, "Some scars go unseen." The emotional scars we have no one can see, but they are there. I can't imagine what Joey went through before he was rescued.

I admire the work being done at Hope Reins. It has changed many lives and given new hope to children who felt lost and unwanted. Pairing an emotionally scarred child with a horse is very therapeutic. The faith that Kim and her husband have for Hope Reins is refreshing. Their belief that God would supply their needs is so powerful. One of the things I really liked about the book was all the information about the different types of horses there are and how much work it takes to take care of them. The work these horses did to reach the hurting children overwhelm me.

I think one reason this book touched me so much was because of a special animal my brother adopted. This lonely looking dog was up against the cage in a shelter. She was looking sad and hopeless. People passed her up because to them she was damaged. She had one eye missing and people were looking for the perfect dog. My brother couldn't walk away from her and adopted her. The shelter named her Faith and she has given my brother faith to fight for his health. The dog is his constant companion and they have gained trust from each other. Just like Joey, Faith showed us that she may have emotional scars but she has a big heart.

As I end my review my tears stream down my face. I was a little girl locked in a shell. I cried out to God many times when I was scared and needed rescued. I never felt that He heard me as I suffered through a violent childhood. What I did learn from this book was I may have deep emotional scars ,but God felt every pain I felt. He led me to a man who would become my husband. My husband shows me unconditional love every day. He didn't toss me away like the horses had before being rescued. God gave me a man who gives me emotional support and takes my hand when I hurt. To all the hurting people I say, never give up. You are valuable and God is waiting to take you in His arms. Joey's story is a story of pain, sorrow, tears but most of all hope. I pray that someday we will all find a "Joey" to heal us.

"God takes or messes-our heaps of ashes-and turns them into something more beautiful than we could ever imagine."


"At Hope Reins, the horses are the counselors, not the humans."


I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

This story will make you cry so have lots of Kleenex available. I loved how Kim came up with the idea to put rescue horses together with children with problems. All of the animals and people helped each other. This is a fantastic book. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This was based on a true story. The story was touching, real, and such a wonderful idea. I smiled and yes teared up a few times as I watched how the ranch grew into one big family. I enjoyed the faith element and Joey was truly an inspiration to many..
I was gifted a copy and my review is voluntary..

Oh this story will capture your heart very early on. This is a powerful story where yes, the main character is technically a horse, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it is some whimsical child’s book. This is a book about hope, never giving up, healing, and moving forward. Yes, Hope Reigns needed Joey, but Joey also needed Hope Reigns.

First of all, I happen to have a place similar to this in my local community. Although it is not a ranch, we do have a horse “farm” that is dedicated to helping people. Mostly they work with disabled children, and they do miracles. It’s not on a large scale – there is two horse trainers and only about three horses, but the work they do is incredible. When I was reading the beginning of this book, and how detailed the author described starting the ranch, it was a real eye opening experience for me. And then to see how Joey adapted, as well as the kids adapting to him, well it was amazing.

I highly recommend this book to all readers. It is a story that will easily uplift your hearts. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This nonfiction book will touch your heart and bring the horses it features to life. I’m not a horse person, although we are surrounded by them in our area, but the author presented the horses and their personalities and lives so well that it seemed I was actually relating to them personally. It made me want to go befriend a horse in real life. The book deals with the ministry Hope Reins, where rescued horses help hurting kids heal. The first part tells about the ranch getting started so it’s drier, but the latter half of the book gets into the nitty gritty of daily happenings and the lives of the volunteers who help there. The main “character” is Joey, the blind horse, whom everyone loves. Warning: you cannot read this without tears. I cried more during this book than any story I’ve ever read. So have the tissues handy. It’s one I think anybody could relate to. I recommend it. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

This book will move any reader to tears more than once, and you might find yourself ugly crying in parts (I know I did). But this book will give your heart hope, you will feel hope to having such a faith that Joey showed. A blind horse, abused and lost found his meaning at this ranch, he opened his heart and trusted, never seeing, he just went with his faith. Now, that isn’t science and I won’t attest to knowing that a horse has faith, but in this book Joey did. If there is anyone to follow in faith filled living, it is Joey. I want a faith like Joey’s.

This is an amazing book. Bleakley is a skilled writer and I felt like I was right in the paddock with the horses and the volunteer trainers. I felt the frustration of the volunteers, trying to help heal and then train the severely damaged horses. I felt the grief they experienced when a horse was lost. I sensed the wonder they experienced when an autistic child responded to the nuzzle of a horse.

I had no idea horses could sense so much, especially when a person is hurting or in another way in need of a nuzzle. Kim, strengthened by God and with the help of so many volunteers, has created a wonderful ministry of equine therapy. I was moved to see how a child responded to a horse when he had spurned human interaction. It was heartening to see how humans and horses healed together.

This book is full of heartwarming stories and a few that will bring tears to your eyes. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I'm a sucker for a good animal story, so when I saw Joey the horse looking so cute on the cover of a book with his name, how could I say no (thanks, Celebrate Lit, for a review e-copy)?

"Joey" is a sweet story. It opens with a woman named Kim who has the dream of starting a ministry where she could rescue horses, and then use them to help children overcome difficulties. This sounds like a huge undertaking, and it is. But she commits the plan to God, and things start happening. A church offers her several acres of land for almost free. She begins finding horses who need a home. In this way, Hope Reins begins. Yes, it's a real place, and Joey is a real horse. I always think this makes a story more fascinating.

The book introduces us to several horses, with Joey being one of the main ones. He has had a traumatic youth, one result of which is his blindness. Yet he works very well with children, and many of the kids experience breakthroughs while spending time at Hope Reins. A girl who never speaks begins to speak when she works with Joey.

It's not just the kids who benefit, either -- the adult employees and volunteers are changed by their interactions with the horses as well. I learned in this book that horses reflect the behaviors and emotions they're seeing in humans back to those people, allowing the humans to learn things about themselves. I hadn't heard that before, and found it interesting.

It was inspiring to read about the horses (and, I have to say, sad at times as well: spoiler alert, two of the main horses in the book die. Ugh). I also enjoyed the stories about the adults working at the ranch. Kim's mantra was always "worry and trust;" she was frequently worried about how various things at the ranch would work out, but she used this as a reminder to trust in God's timing and answers: "She paused for a moment, waiting for a flood of peace to overtake her, or for some kind of sign or reassurance to appear from above. But the only thing that pierced the silence was Speckles whinnying in the distance. 'Worry and trust,' she thought. 'You've done plenty of worrying. Now it's time to trust.'"

The book is written in a very basic, straight-forward style. It was easy to read. Recommended.

Hope Reins Ranch was a wonderful ministry using abused and broken horses and pairing them children who need healing from emotional and medical issues. The characters were well-fleshed out and made me feel as though I really knew them. This was an emotional read so keep the tissues handy.

I'm walking away after reading Joey, with a new understanding of horses and their healing aspects. I highly recommend this book to animal lovers an people in general who enjoy a deeply moving book that touches your heart long after the last page is turned.

There are just so many good reviews on this beautiful story of love, blind faith and trust Children and horses.
that this one will probably put mine to shame.
(I recommend a box of tissues beside you of course for you'll need them).
I fell in love with Joey. Joey is a hero for many people and including me.
I also love Joey cause he's a horse. Horses are my favorite animals and I have always wanted a horse. But I never got one. I guess God had his reasons.
Joey has made me see the many blessings life has to offer even if that person is in pain all the time.
So, I can certainly relate Lauren.
There's just so many things that I can relate to in this story that it humbly touched my soul.
You See, as Kim said we are all broken people. All of us fall short of the glory of God and we need only to ask Him to help us.
I enjoyed reading the authors more at the end of the story. I also loved how her love for the "real Joey" inspired her to write his story.
You can also see her love for God coming through her writing and her heart.
I have so many wonderful things to say about this book but I'd better stop before I give anything away!!
Y'all just have to read this wonderful book!
I think that Joey still has a lot to teach about things in life.
I don't know if he's gone in real life or not but he's still a hero in my book!
I will want to re-read this book again to remind me how to keep my faith intact and I want to read it bc it can still remind me that God is always there with us. He'll never forsake us.
I hope there's a continuation

Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See is such an inspiring read. Since my daughter is a horse lover and wants to rescue horses when she is older, I was excited to read Joey‘s story. It was heart breaking to see how this poor beautiful horse could be neglected and treated so horribly until he was rescued by the Hope Reins ranch. This facility displays such a true testament to what unconditional love leads to. Though the family struggled, they continue to have faith and not give up!

Joey is just a beautiful and heartwarming story that many readers will lead to be inspired and have trust in God. It is a perfect example why to never lose hope. It is most definitely a must read and I would give it 100 stars if I could. I will be placing this book on my keeper shelf.

Highly recommended.

I received this book from the publisher. This review was 100% my own honest opinion.