For thousands of years, humankind has relied on the horse for companionship. Powerful and spirited, yet gentle and trusting, horses inspire both the hearts and imaginations of many. In Horse People: Writers and Artists on the Horses They Love, notable horse lovers collectively celebrate the equine in words and images. Some 25 writers present stories from the heart, including Jane Smiley"s account of overcoming a lifetime of paralyzing fear by jumping her horse; poet Henry Taylor"s tale of Goldheart, a memorable horse of his youth; and Rita Mae Brown"s horse Peggy Sue"s valuable horsy advice. Photographs and paintings, illustrations and sculpture--including the work of Tess Gallagher, Fritz Scholder, John Derryberry, and Deborah Butterfield--offer stirring images in both full color and black and white, skillfully capturing the spirit of horses and of those that love them best.