A Year in the Saddle


Book Description

Cycling's vast history is a fascinating mix of gripping sporting moments, inspired pursuits and a whole host of heroes, hellions and legend-makers. A Year in the Saddle travels through the calendar year, each day telling a single cycling story: from the death of the great Fausto Coppi, through to the dominance of Sir Chris Hoy on the veoldrome track. It takes in the highest peaks of the Tour de France and the flats of Flanders, as well as celebrating the history of the bike itself.ÿ Cycling writer Giles Belbin brings together the most important, memorable and intriguing moments of this wide and varied history. With striking and beautiful illustrations by artist Daniel Seex, each inspired by the stories told,ÿA Year in the Saddle is a sporting treasure trove of human virtue, vice and cycling trivia. ÿ ÿ




Last of the Saddle Tramps


Book Description

Historically the world of equestrian travel has contained an exciting mixture of unique men and women. Some are adventurers seeking danger from the back of their horses. Others are travelers discovering the beauties of the countryside they slowly ride through. A few are searching for inner truths while cantering across desolate parts of the planet. Then there is Messanie Wilkins. She was acting on orders from the Lord! In 1954, at the age of 63, Wilkins had plenty to worry about. A destitute spinster in ill health, Wilkins had been told she had less than two years left to live, provided she spent them quietly. With no family ties, no money, and no future in her native Maine, Wilkins decided to take a daring step. Using the money she had made from selling homemade pickles, Wilkins bought a tired summer camp horse and made preparations to ride from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean. Yet before leaving she flipped a coin, asking God to direct her to go or not. When the coin came up heads several times in a row, one of America s most unlikely equestrian heroines set off. What followed was one of the twentieth century's most remarkable equestrian journeys. Accompanied by her faithful horse, Tarzan, Wilkins suffered through a host of obstacles including blistering deserts and freezing snow storms, yet never lost faith that she would complete her 7,000 mile odyssey. Last of the Saddle Tramps is thus the warm and humorous story of a humble American heroine bound for adventure and the Pacific Ocean. The classic tale is amply illustrated with photographs.




Back in the Saddle


Book Description

If only the Pine Hollow girls could be as good at relationships as they are at riding horses After scoring well on the PSATs, Carole is finally getting some of the privileges back from before she was grounded. Even though she can’t work or see her friends as much as she used to, her dad is letting her go to Pine Hollow four days a week, which means she gets to see Ben. Since returning from California, Lisa and Alex haven’t been the same. They decide to take a “break” from their relationship, but what does that really mean? Meanwhile, Stevie’s first assignment on the school paper is about marriage. It’s not exactly hard-hitting journalism, but she just may learn a thing or two about romance while writing it.




Sundancer


Book Description

A troubled girl and a damaged horse find each other, and against all odds — mistaken identity, abandonment, corruption, and fraud — make an unbeatable team. His name is Sundancer, and from the moment he arrives at Saddle Creek Farm, Bird is fascinated by him. The horse is suspicious and guarded, touchy, and even cruel. Bird’s Aunt Hannah calls him “unrideable,” and Bird has to admit that Sundancer might be trouble. But Bird, whose mother left her to be raised by her aunt halfway across the country, is a bit of trouble herself. How else would you describe a girl who hasn’t spoken since she was six, and hears things no one else can hear — like the thoughts of the animals she befriends? Sundancer is a wounded horse with a story he’s not ready to share. Bird starts to feel like, maybe, they aren’t so different, and maybe she needs him as much as he needs her. Will she be able to reach him before it’s too late?




Back in the Saddle


Book Description

The Prodigal Is Coming Home It's been a long time since Colt Stafford shrugged off his cowboy legacy for shiny Manhattan loafers and a promising career on Wall Street. But when stock market manipulations leave him financially strapped, the oldest son of legendary rancher Sam Stafford decides to return to the sprawling Double S ranch in Gray's Glen, Washington. He's broke, but not broken, and it's time to get his legs back under him by climbing into the saddle again. He doesn't expect to come home to a stranger pointing a loaded gun at his chest-- a tough yet beautiful woman that Sam hired as the house manager. Colt senses there's more to Angelina Morales than meets the eye, and he's determined to find out what she's hiding...and why. Colt's return brings new challenges. Younger brother Nick, who's longbeen Sam's right-hand man,isn't thrilled when Colt inserts himself into Double S affairs. And the ranch's contentious relationship with the town's people forces all the Stafford men to reconsider what it truly means to be a neighbor. As Wall Street recovers, will Colt succumb to the call of the financial district--or stay in the saddle for good?




Singing in the Saddle


Book Description

As the United States expanded west in the 1800s, and cattle became big business, the figure of the young brash cattleman who rode with the herds quickly emerged as a cultural icon. Victorian Americans went crazy for cowboys, snapping up dime-store novels and sheet music, and turning out in droves for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. It was only a matter of time before someone brought together these three facets-entertainer, singer, and cowboy. And when Carl T. Sprague recorded the first hit cowboy record ("When the Work's All Done This Fall") in 1925, the singing cowboy as we know him was born. A singing cowboy himself, Douglas B. Green (better known as Ranger Doug from the Grammy-award-winning group Riders In The Sky) is uniquely suited to write the story of the singing cowboy. He has been collecting information and interviews on western music, films, and performers for nearly thirty years. In this volume, he traces this history from the early days of vaudeville and radio, through the heyday of movie westerns before World War II, to the current revival. He provides rich and careful analysis of the studio system that made men such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers famous, and he documents the role that country music and regional television stations played in carrying on the singing cowboy tradition after World War II. This book, lavishly illustrated with over 140 photos, is a wealth of information that comes out of decades of research. Green has unearthed never-before-published photos and rare movie posters-including one from an all-Black western, Harlem on the Prairie (1938). Through his close friendships with other singing cowboys and their families, Green is able to provide rare insights into the ways that some like Autry became stars and others like Raoul Walsh (who lost his eye in a shooting accident and later became a famous director) did not. Green also traces the history of cowboy music, from popular songs such as "Sweet Betsy from Pike" to the instantly recognizable harmonies of the Sons of the Pioneers. Green even speculates about just when the famous yodel became a ubiquitous part of the singing cowboy's repertoire. More important, Green reveals how the imagery of the singing cowboy has become such a potent force that even now country musicians don cowboy hats so as to symbolically take part in the legend. Nowhere has the recorded history of the singing cowboy and the film history been collected in one volume, and this book is sure to become the resource for students of the style. Co-published with the Country Music Foundation Press




Trail Ride


Book Description

Lisa’s on the trail ride of her life! Lisa Atwood and Carole Hanson are going to the Bar None Ranch to see their friend Kate. Of course, the Bar None means horses, but this year there’s also a cool archaeological dig going on nearby, and the girls are frequent visitors to the site. They’re having a perfect trip–and what better way to enjoy it than with a bareback midnight trail ride to watch a meteor shower? On the trail ride, Carole falls seriously ill, and Lisa has to leave her to get help. But there are other people out in the desert that night, and they don’t want Lisa to go anywhere. Now Lisa must ride for her life–and Carole’s.




They Saddled the West


Book Description




Suit to Saddle


Book Description

"Suit to Saddle is an engaging story of determination and moxie, as well as a celebration of the human spirit. Walsh, perhaps recklessly, undertakes a significant and difficult journey that he is unprepared for, and his story holds the reader's interest as he meets this challenge head-on." —The BookLife Prize "Readers on mid-life journeys of their own will cheer Walsh on as he reminds them that a journey doesn’t have to be a means to an end —it’s the trip itself that matters." —BookLife "A deeply personal memoir..." —Kirkus "...it was remarkable how Walsh not only overcame the physical journey but overcame the sadness of his mind. In a society where so many are struggling with mental health, I think his message and story of moving forward are so important. Any reader would love Walsh’s story...!" —★★★★★ Manhattan Book Review "This book should inspire anyone who’s going through a tough time or a massive change, and anyone who wants to be challenged to embark on an ambitious venture. I highly recommend it." —★★★★★ Reader's Favorite “Suit to Saddle” chronicles one man’s epic spiritual journey- on two wheels- across the vastness of America. Ride with Larry as he experiences the challenging terrain, the tucked-away places, and the unique people that would collectively change him. Discovery, inspiration, and personal growth are on the horizon with every turn of the cranks! —William P. Apollo, M.D., Cyclist, Cardiologist, and contributor to The Outer Line and VeloNews "Your job has been eliminated." In other words, you're unemployed, out of work, and desperate to find a new purpose. When US Army veteran Larry Walsh heard those words, his world was turned upside down. With a desire to move beyond unemployment, create an exciting new future for himself, and push past his limits, he decides to fulfill his lifelong dream to bike across the country. He purchases a Surly Disc Trucker touring bike and begins his 3,120-mile ride of the Southern Tier from California to Florida. Cycling over treacherous mountains, through open plains, unforgiving deserts, and over 200 unique small towns, Walsh not only discovers a new world and new people, but he uncovers a side of himself that he thought was long forgotten—one filled with true grit and determination. In Suit to Saddle, Walsh chronicles his story of triumph over adversity. Each person he meets along the road plays an integral part of his quest for inner peace and growth. Through the eyes of a one-armed cyclist, a retired police officer, a gun-toting waitress, and a thousand miles of open road, Walsh learns that the true meaning of a life well-lived is the journey. Join Walsh on his trip across America and see what it feels like to experience life one mile at a time.




Autumn Trail


Book Description

It's Thanksgiving time at Pine Hollow Stables, and the three members of the Saddle Club have each decided to do one good deed to celebrate the holiday. Stevie has offered to do some chores around the stable; Carole's invited stuck-up Veronica diAngelo to Thanksgiving dinner; and Lisa isn't sure what her generous act will be until she realizes that there's a special horse at Pine Hollow who really needs her.