I once loved trail riding, and could spend many happy hours in the saddle, but I never thought about riding clear across the country (or further)! Many have, however, and John Egenes was one of them. In 1974 he and his horse, Gizmo, put their feet into the Pacific Ocean and then headed across the country to do the same in the Atlantic. Man & Horse: the Long Ride Across America is their story. Something about it really caught my attention ... what he had to say, what happened along the trail, I can't really put my finger on it, but this was a one day read.

It's an old theme: city boy meets country girl ... this time with hysterical results. I laughed so hard my sides hurt while reading The Reluctant Farmer of Whimsey Hill, by Bradford M. Smith with Lynn Raven & Nancy Raven Smith. There's a horse who loves water (picture those automatic waterers for stalls), a pony who is clever with latches, a cat named Duck ... and many other beasties who find a home at Whimsey Hill (did I mention the wife likes to bring home rescue horses)? A delightful and charming memoir.

Reading Hermit With Dog