Memoirs allow us a peek into the life of the author and I love them. Can't get enough of them and I loved this one because it just wasn't a view into her life but a fascinating look into so many others who are as horse crazy as she is. I read about people I had never heard of and I loved it. Just loved it so pick up this gem of a book and prepare to be dazzled. Happy reading!

Such an engaging and wonderful story to enjoy this summer. I grew up with horses and owned a horse at one time as an adult and I miss it terribly. This story brought up some lovely memories.

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir and I thought this was a very creative way for the author to tell her story, through her love of horses and the identity, and friendships that they gave her.
The author pretty much grew up from the age of two, depending on Horses to be her companions, to whom she could confide in, and give her love.
Her parents were intellectuals, who had busy lives and not as much time to give to her as she needed, but getting to know the horse world and the people in it, gave her a community to be with.
She traveled the world as a reporter and in each place that she went, she would seek out horses.
One can learn so much about horses from this book, from stories that fascinated her to breeds and habits of horses that she found so interesting.
A wonderful read that I highly recommend. This book has one of the prettiest covers I have seen in awhile,and I think it is of a Marwari horse, which is a breed from India.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book.

4.5

This book is part memoir, part information, with some travel reminiscence, science, and history added in.

At first I found it difficult to get into, as more of the book appeared to be about the author and her family than about horses. She came off as a very privileged rich girl despite her self-deprecation, which I found off-putting, but I got drawn into the story via her anecdotes illustrating the complexity of her Holocaust-survivor father. I began to think that this was two books fighting for the same space, and where were the horses?

They came, slowly at first. Another bump in the road for me was the chapter on competition over horse models. I have little interest in any type of competition, especially over plastic models, but Nir drew me in by recounting anecdotes of those passionate about it. Model horses were for those who can’t have horses—that much I understood, as I grew up in a community where the closest the “horse girls” in my classes could get was watching MY FRIEND FLICKA on TV—and collecting, and endlessly talking about, their plastic horse models. Through this chapter I got more insight into this passion, without ever feeling that Nir was condescending or finger-pointing.

And then came the horses themselves, and I was hooked. Each horse came with a story, sometimes with scientific info, sometimes historical, with quotes from experts. These chapters were often interwoven with bits about Nir’s father—the payoff being the result of a riding competition.

Then on to all kinds of horses, from the Chincoteague swim, to dressage horses to stables in the heart of New York City, horses in opera and at parties, racing. Then there are the heavy horses, such as Samson, who she rode as a teen park ranger. Ranch horses, and posh riding schools. Horses all over the world, and what they mean in different cultures. How horses communicate, and a glimpse at their thinking.

Finally it all tied back to Nir’s father, forming altogether a lovely, insightful, informative and richly storied read.

Confession: I've never been a "horse person," but.I've known a few "horse girls"in my days. Even without a personal connection, I found this book to be captivating. Or, perhaps my lack of connection made me want to understand. What is it about the horse that causes some people to connect so deeply?

Sarah Maslin Nir's Horse Crazy is a love letter to horses and their owners/riders. She weaves together her personal narrative about horses with other stories. It made a surprisingly engaging story that I won't soon forget.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Sarah Maslin Nir's "Horse Crazy" is a rich and complicated work. It purports to be a book about horses and the ways (and whys) we connect to them. She writes, for example, "That hyperattunement to their environment and to their peers is why horses can “hear” us humans and respond to our bodies, like the pressure of our heel that says “trot on,” or the rebalancing of our seat bones that asks our mount to steady. “Everything they do—reading your intention through cortisol levels and pulse rates and adrenaline levels—relates to that,” Roberts told me. “Reading that from afar is their way to survive, and they do it better than any human being ever would,” he continued. “Reading it close up—a horse can feel the artery in your inner thigh pulse through the saddle—is what they can be ridden.”" For those of us who love horses, having this bond described is quite rewarding. Readers will be captivated as the book meanders through competitions with Breyer model horses, the Chincoteague swim, stables in the heart of New York City, horses in opera and at parties, racing and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, draft horses, ranch horses, and riding academies. The other side of this story is that of Nir (and her parents') life and legacy (her father was a Holocaust survivor) and the things that horses symbolized to them. Sometimes these stories are more powerful, even, than the horse sections and give the book the feel of wanting to be two different books.

Sarah Maslin Nir is an acclaimed journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a lover of horses. Nir has lived a fascinating life, traveling the world as a journalist and taking the time to track down the horses in each of the places that she visited. Her stories are funny, heart-warming, filled with little known facts about horses and include a timely discussion about racism and some of the white-washing that has happened in our country's history. Her stories allowed me to relive my youth, filled with Breyer horses and reading Misty of Chincoteague, and to live vicariously through her many other courageous adventures. I was captivated by her bravery and doggedness and was touched by her openness and vulnerability. Every horse lover should read this story but you don't need to be a horse lover to appreciate it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this journey deep into the heart of the horse world, to places I’d never been and stories I’d never heard, even as an equestrian for most of my life. Maslin Amir’s thoughtful and loving treks into different pockets of equestrianism were well-researched, well-written, and obviously from the heart. Her familial history, was intriguing to read as well, woven expertly into the equine-centered tales so as not to detract from the “horse crazy” one bit. Incredibly informative and heartfelt without being saccharine; a comparison to Mary Roach’s style and body of work would not be amiss.

My seventy-something mother dearly loves horses -- still keeps two on her acreage. As a child I had my own pony, was obsessed with books like "Misty of Chincoteague" and Black Stallion books, drew horses incessantly (although I never got them quite right =(), and have loved reading about horses like Seabiscuit and Snowman. When I saw this ARC available, I was in. The cover is spectacular! The different chapters followed her life chronologically and also featured a particular horse. I appreciated that structure and the different horse stories and information we learned along the way. Although I do not think the bits about her father's history needed to be left out, sometimes they were distracting and/or it was not clear how that piece was relevant to the horse theme. All in all, the "horse lover" theme was more successful than the "memories of my father" theme. I would still recommend to horse lovers and even to book groups.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I am crazy about this book. Esteemed journalist Sarah Maslin Nir shares her passion for horses, which began when she was two years old. This book gives us the opportunity to peer into her world.

Each chapter focuses on a particular horse she has known. We also get to know the humans who are involved with the horses, and we visit many different parts of the world where horses live. By sharing these stories, the author also shares herself and her family. The best part is when we get to gallop or show jump right along with Ms. Nir. Well, that’s what it feels like, because her descriptions are so vivid.

I intended to read the book slowly- perhaps a chapter or two a night. However, I found each chapter to be so wise, yet approachable, factual yet entertaining, that I galloped (sorry) right through the book. You may have loved Marguerite Henry and Misty, but how much do you know about Black Cowboys? Want to visit a multi-level stable in Manhattan, gallop in India, or ride on a jumbo jet with horses? You can do all that as well as get acquainted with a variety of horse breeds, learn all the wonderful horse-world lingo, and even revisit your childhood passion for Breyer horses.

Horses are expensive, and you can fall off of them. Instead of spending a small fortune on a horse, buy this book! I guarantee it will fill that horse-shaped whole in your heart!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

While I'm a lover of animals in all forms and appreciative of the beauty and power of horses, I have never been "horse crazy." However reading these evocative and beautiful stories of horses, I almost became roped in. Nir's mastery of language and storytelling grips the reader as she tells us of people who compete with miniature horse statues to racing along the beach wild in the wind. Highly recommended!

I received this book as an digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

This book is part memoir, part travel log with some history thrown in for context. It accurately portrays how horses capture our attention, love and affection. It was interesting to read about different breeds and their purpose and learn how horses have impacted people and communities. I would have liked a little more history and biology, but overall a satisfying read for this "horse crazy" woman.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Nir offers us a history of her (and her family's) lives through horses she's known and loved. This memoir is just as much an exploration of human nature in relation to horses, as it is a book about them. Each easily digestible chapter is set aside for one horse I could enjoy in a sitting while still building on each other. Sarah's writing style was easy to follow and offered enough history and background to flesh out the stories without getting too in the weeds.

I would recommend this memoir to horse lovers and anyone who enjoys learning about how our relationships with animals can shape us.

A wonderful read for a girl who loves and adores horses. I could relate to so many stories in this book, from horse shows, to Breyer models. It brought back so many happy memories, I found myself smiling as she spoke of her adventures through the years. I had a huge collection of those models, and remember playing “horses” when I was young with other horsey friend.s. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves horses or just wants a good read and insight into this interesting world...you won’t be disappointed.

This book was entertaining as well as educational. As a non-rider, but with respect and appreciation for horses, I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book. The author organized the chapters by names of the horses in her life, and she skillfully wove past and present as she told their stories. I was intrigued by the settings and adventures, and I even bought her father’s story of escaping the Nazis during WWII to read next.

This was an interesting look at the world of diehard horse lovers. The author goes into a variety of horse-related subjects that were quite fascinating such as 'horse shows' involving Breyer molded plastic horses for children but with adult participants. This is certainly not a dull read. I had a bit of a problem with the jumping back and forth with time lines, and the author's obvious political views, which had no place in this book, but I really enjoyed reading about her father and his life. It's also a somewhat sad book, to be a child and be raised by a nanny, the yearning of the author for more parental oversight was palpable. I'm not a rider but I have always loved the animal albeit in an aloof manner, those teeth! those hoofs! that sheer size! but after the author deemed riding an 'extreme sport' I've certainly felt justified.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC.

I am not horse crazy myself, but this book brought back so many memories of watching my sister take lessons, collect the Breyer horses over the years, and read every book she could find with a horse on the cover. What a treat this collection is! Varied, informative, and engaging in the best way. My niece is now the horse person in the family, and I look forward to giving copies of this book to both of them for Christmas. Horse Crazy is the perfect gift for horse lovers of any age.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating look into the author's life through the lenses of horses and her family life as well as a detailed and wonderful exploration of horses--their history, behavior, and the personalities of specific horses Nir has known. A must read for teen and adult "horse people" as well as anyone who enjoys quality narrative nonfiction.

This is a wonderful read I love how she artfully intertwines stories about real people with her experiences with horses. For anyone who loves horses even if you don’t have one of your own, this book will give you a new appreciation for how amazing they are.

Horse Crazy is a highly engaging, kaleidoscopic blend of memoir, travelogue, humor, journalistic sleuthing, pedagogy and personal insight. An eclectic mix of emotions are evoked as the author traces her life story through the horses she’s known and loved: loneliness. Longing. Frustration. Joy, delight, and triumph.

Told in the first person, the story prances between past and present. This could result in a colossal clutter in lesser skilled hands. But master storyteller Nir keeps a firm hand on the reins at all times. Her narrative is both piercing and comforting. Questioning and consoling. It’s a literary tour de force for anyone who’s ever entered a stable, wondered where they belong, or just loves a good story told well.

Among other things, Horse Crazy readers will discover an oft-overlooked history of frontier cowboys, a rare horse of India, mounted police, spills and tumbles, Holocaust survivors, trips to Chappaquiddick and the Hamptons and all points in between.

Horse Crazy connects with horse lovers in a variety of venues and levels. They may see themselves as the young reader yearning for Mom and Dad to buy them a horse of their own. Or recall diving between the pages of Marguerite Henry’s “Misty of Chincoteague” and riding with the Saltwater Cowboys. Dressage competitions. Beach rides. The sharp scent of saddle leather. Hearing a welcoming whinny. Gazing deep into the luminous eyes of one of God’s finest creations: the horse.

The ending tucks in the tail of the author’s own story as it overlaps with the loss of her father. It remains true to its narrative anchor: a heartfelt, authentic tribute to one of the most marvelous and mysterious creatures on earth: the horse. By the final page – if not before – readers will understand that “horse crazy” is another word for “love.”

Indeed, Horse Crazy is perhaps the most informative and insightful “horse book” to come down the pike since Monty Roberts’ classic, "The Man Who Listens to Horses." It’s also about a lot more. Much more.

Ritorna Vincitor!

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