Author: susancount

A New Horse Book in the Barn

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I’m delighted to announce the release of Book Four in the
Dream Horse Adventures Series.

Thirteen-year-old Selah’s perfect life unravels when her beloved horse is stolen. Then ten-year-old Emma buys the dream of a lifetime at a horse auction. When she learns the horse was stolen, even removing her hearing aid won’t drown out the voice telling her to make it right.

But two girls can’t divide the horse they both adore. So will life surprise them with an answered prayer?

Selah’s Stolen Dream

One girl’s victory is another’s tragic defeat when two girls can’t divide the horse they both adore.

Editorial Review

Selah’s Stolen Dream, is a polarizing tale of dealing with the aftermath of a stolen horse. I not only read each word, I felt them. As a victim of theft myself, I found the characters realistic in their reactions to their life-changing moment, so much so I often teared up while reading.  If you want to understand what it’s like to have a horse ripped from your life, the thoughts that go through your head, and how one terrible act absorbs your life–then read this book.
It is well written, riveting and a must-read for every person who loves horses.
Debi Metcalfe, President     Stolen Horse International-NetPosse.com 

#1 Best Seller in Riding Horses :)

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Mary’s Song is riding along in the #1 Best Seller spot in Riding Horses on Amazon. Thank you for letting me share the news with you. I’m enjoying the trail ride.

If you read Mary’s Song and liked it, would you take a minute to leave it a review. It doesn’t have to be much. Just your reaction to the story and why you like it. http://bit.ly/marysongebook

PLUS soon, I’ll be able to announce the release date of the third book in the Dream Horse Adventure Series. Seems amazing. I can’t wait to show you the cover.

Blessings
Susan

Goodreads Giveaway

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Goodreads Book Giveaway

Mary's Song by Susan Count

Mary’s Song

by Susan Count

Giveaway ends April 25, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Mary’s Song – NEW Release

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I didn’t mean to write backwards. After Selah’s Sweet Dream, I had to know Selah’s grandmother’s story. Her name was Mary and her quest was to save the crippled filly – Illusion.  Their story is Mary’s Song.

The cover – ah the cover! The art was done by Ruth Sanderson. (She did the covers for The Black Stallion paperbacks.)shastings-marys-cover-catalogue-sm

She is on Amazon. An ebook and a paperback.    http://amzn.to/2dLMcVu

Takes Your Breath Away – Part 1

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Amanda jumped from her bike, letting it flop against a fence draped with unlit Christmas lights. She’d only gotten her barn job two months ago, and this was the second time she’d been late. The barn manager would think she didn’t care enough to be on time. Since she worked in exchange for her riding lessons, she cared a lot. It just wasn’t the same as a horse of her own. She’d asked for a horse for every birthday, every Christmas, and in every bedtime prayer. For twelve long years, her parents repeatedly said, “It’s not a good time.”

“You’re late.” Miss Elena dumped feed in a bucket, and a grumpy bay pony flipped his nose and scattered oats. “Ponies don’t understand late.”

“I’m sorry.” Amanda’s finger explored the hole in her second-hand breeches. “The pedal fell off my bike. I’ll get them all fed and happy.” She tightened her ponytail and zipped to feed the next hungry dragon.

Miss Elena wheeled the feed cart along beside her. “I’ve got a special job for you today.”

Amanda’s brown eyes widened as she scooped feed for the last pony.

“I need to ride to a farm on the other side of Canaan and bring back a young Welsh mare. It’s four miles if we cut through the woods. I thought I’d ride Rebel and lead the pony home. But the two horses don’t know each other, so that’s not a great idea.” Miss Elena rolled the feed cart into the storage area, and Amanda followed every word. “So I was thinking, what if you rode with me? Freckles and Rebel are buddies. I could lead Freckles back, and you could ride the new pony home.”

Excitement bubbled in Amanda. “Awesomesauce.” An adventure and a trail ride!

“Rebel is already saddled. Freckles needs to be tacked up.”

“In a flash.” Amanda dashed to get Freckles’ English saddle and bridle. After adjusting the helmet straps from the last user, she pulled the stirrup irons down. Balancing on a hay bale, she settled lightly into the saddle. She and Freckles had this understanding. She wouldn’t mount from the ground and torque his back. Then he wouldn’t rear and drop her.

Miss Elena smoothed her layered, black hair under her designer helmet and unclipped her Andalusian from the cross ties. “Let’s head out. Rebel will love an outing.” The horse tossed his head and fussed about standing still at the mounting block. When Miss Elena didn’t let him canter away, he collected into a mass of energy—begging to be set free to run. In spite of Rebel’s excitement, Freckles followed behind like he had all day to get there.

The thick, chilly air was as quiet as it was still. The only noise was the soul-soothing, dull thud of the horses’ hooves on the path. Amanda admired Miss Elena’s Spanish riding style. Her teacher had the same classic grace of a ballet dancer. Checking her own equitation, Amanda flexed her ankles and let her heels sink in the stirrups. She urged Freckles alongside Rebel. “Miss Elena, please tell me about the pony.”

“She’s nine years old and about fourteen hands high. They’ve owned her since she was two, and had her professionally trained. Her conformation is balanced, and she has a fluid, effortless way of moving.”

“She already sounds expensive.”

Miss Elena swished a fly away. “With her breeding and training, she should be expensive.”

Freckles lagged, and Amanda cued him to trot and keep up with Rebel. “Why didn’t you pick the pony up in the trailer?”

Miss Elena laughed, and her smile lingered. “Ahh… She has some quirks.”

“Quirks?”

“Quirks are something that makes a pony—affordable. For one, she is a trailer-loading horror.” Miss Elena grinned. “The lady sold her twice, but when the buyers come to pick her up, she won’t leave. Ten strong men couldn’t get that hardheaded mare into a trailer.”

“Sounds like she’s a little spoiled.”

“They absolutely pamper her. When you see her, you’ll understand. She thinks she is the queen of hearts.”

“So she’ll be one of your lesson ponies?” Amanda asked hopefully. “I trust Freckles to be good, but I’d love to ride a pony with more go. I’ve always wanted a horse of my own. Maybe I could save up and buy her.”

“Maybe. But there’s a family interested in her. They should be in the upstairs viewing area when we get back.”

“Oh.” Amanda’s bubble popped. Someone was going to buy her, and that was that. “Figures. She sounds incredible.”

Leaving the woods, they trotted along the board rail fence to the farm. The mare’s dappled palomino coat glistened in the morning sun. Her white princess mane lifted gently in the soft breeze. Amanda gasped. “She’s fairy-tale perfection. She takes your breath away.”

Miss Elena smiled. “I agree with you. The pony of my dulces sueños when I was a niñita,” she said, slipping in and out of her native Spanish as she tied Rebel and went to greet the owner.

In a daze, Amanda slid from Freckles’ back. “Wow,” she breathed. Her fingers outstretched, daring to touch the mare. “Are you an illusion? You’re so beautiful.” Her coat felt luxurious like it had been infused with magic. Hand over hand, Amanda stroked the pony’s neck. Her mane rippled under Amanda’s fingers like soft, delicate, baby-bird feathers.

Miss Elena didn’t interrupt Amanda’s blissful dreaming. She pulled the saddle and bridle from Freckles and settled it on the new pony.

Are you an alicorn? Amanda peeked under the mare’s forelock. No horn hidden there. She pressed her fingers into the crease behind her shoulder muscles. No wings either. Wings would explain the spell the pony cast over her.

Miss Elena held the pony still. “Up you go.”

Still in a trance, Amanda settled into the saddle. The pony mare stepped gracefully alongside Rebel and Freckles. Amanda and the pony moved as one being as if they’d always been a team. “She is so light and responsive. She reads my mind. Just the slightest pressure on the bit and she softens.”

After they turned into the woods, Miss Elena tried to hurry Rebel and Freckles home. Freckles grunted his objection to trotting.

Amanda tightened her calf muscles, and the mare sprang into a steady, posting trot. She was riding a dream right out of a fairy tale, and she wished this moment would never end.

When the barn came into view, Amanda’s heart plummeted into her boots. Her ride was over. Whoever gets this pony is the luckiest person in the whole wide world. Of course, the family will love the mare the minute they see her. Amanda couldn’t hold the dribble of tears leaking from her eyes. She quickly brushed them away so Miss Elena wouldn’t be sorry she’d let Amanda ride the mare home. Instead, she displayed the best smile she could manage. “Who wouldn’t want her? She’s amazing.”

“She is special, and our job today is to get her a good home. Take her into the arena. I’ll check on the family. They would be an ideal match so do your best to show her off.” Miss Elena disappeared into the barn.

Amanda stared at her hands on the reins. “If this family doesn’t take you, I will find a way. Try not to be too dazzling, okay? Maybe throw a buck or two,” she whispered as she walked the golden treasure around the arena. “If you’ll be naughty today, then we can be together. It will be our little secret.”

The arena sound system crackled. Then Miss Elena said, “Thumbs up if you can hear me.”

Popping her thumb high, Amanda strained to see who was in the viewing area. She squinted, but the sun’s glare obscured the family.

“Don’t forget our deal.” Amanda coached the pony. “Maybe start bucking right after the first jump. Not too big a buck, but enough to get them worried about your behavior.”

Miss Elena’s voice on the speaker broke into Amanda’s private chat. “Show us what she can do, please.”

Amanda eased the pony into a smooth trot, then a posting trot in perfect cadence. She tightened her contact with the bit and applied leg pressure. The pony responded with a brilliant extended trot. When the mare transitioned into a carousel horse canter, Amanda knew for sure she truly had wings.

“If you’re comfortable, pop her over the cross-rails.”

Amanda guided the pony to the small jump and cleared it with ease. “You were supposed to buck. Are you on my team or what?” She tightened the reins hoping to coax a sour attitude out of the pony, but the mare didn’t even shake her head in protest. “You’ll have to try harder to be a bad pony. See that brush jump? None of the ponies like it.” Amanda trotted her straight at it. “You could veer away. Go to the right, so we both go in the same direction.” Amanda leaned forward in two-point jumping position to make sure the pony was hearing her. “When I turn you around to try again, that’s when you should rear up. That should do it.”

Four feet from the jump. The mare hadn’t shown any sign of faltering, so Amanda gave her a subtle nudge to run out. But they soared over the brush with flying confidence.

With that, Amanda forgot all about the deception she needed to pull off to keep the mare for herself. They turned to take the line of jumps along the rail. One after another the pony leapt, tucked her knees against her chest, and arched over the jumps. Maybe they could lift off and fly away together. Did she hear wings flutter?

“Thank you, Amanda. Beautiful job.” Miss Elena sounded too happy.

Amanda’s show ring smile fell off her face as reality swept her. She’d blown her chances of keeping the mare. This was their one and only ride together. Someone else would love the pony of her dreams. With a heavy heart, she slid from the saddle and slogged into the barn.

Miss Elena bounced down the stairs from the viewing area. “You did a wonderful job showing the pony.”

“And they loved her and are going to buy her.” Amanda didn’t bother keeping the dejection from her voice.

“She will have to pass the vet check.”

Blinking back the tears, she spotted her parents by the barn office.

“Something wrong?” Amanda questioned. “Why are you here?”

“To watch you ride.” Her dad tilted his head to look into her eyes.

“You just missed it. I got to ride the most amazing pony ever.” Amanda rubbed small circles under the mare’s mane.

“That’s a pretty pony,” Her mom said.

Amanda nodded. Her fingers lingered on the pony’s soft coat.

“So… do you like her?” Amanda’s mother probed.

“Love her. I’m sad she’ll be sold.” Amanda gave the pony a long hug and handed the reins to Miss Elena. She turned away intent on straightening a bucket of brushes.

Amanda’s dad put his hand on her shoulder. When she turned to him, he wiped her tear away with his finger. Then he cupped her chin in his hand and smiled. “We think you should pick out a name for your new pony. How about Ho Ho Merry Christmas?”

Amanda clamped her hand over her gaping mouth. “My pony! Really?” Her arms flew around her father and then her mother. “You knew about this all along?” she challenged Miss Elena.

“Guilty as charged. I couldn’t be happier about being part of this surprise.”

Amanda latched onto the pony’s bridle and smooched her nose. “I’m gonna love you so much and take the best-best care of you! I’ll read to you and sleep in your stall. We’ll be best friends forever and ever…”

If you enjoyed this short story you might like my fiction novels.

Mary’s Song  http://bit.ly/marysong

 

First Place – Fiction

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Selah’s Sweet Dream was honored at the American Horse Publication Media Awards in Orlando, Florida on June 18, 2016 with a First Place in fiction.

First Place - Fiction
First Place – Fiction

We toured Ocala and met lots of amazing people involved in the horse industry. One of the stops was Goldmark Farms!!! Goldmark treated us to a great lunch and took us on a tour of a premier race horse facility.  Lynn Palm treated us to a cowboy dressage demonstration!!  We visited the Sanctuary Rehabilitation Center or spa for horses and the Florida Horse Park. The Gala of Royal Horses demonstrated their “airs above the ground”. Thanks American Horse Publications for a great tour!