The paradox of horses is that they do not have to carry us, but they agree to do so, according to author Teresa Martino, a horse lover and philosopher to the core. "Why is this?" Martino asks rhetorically. "The horse gives their consent and brings a grounding that humanity craves. The horses carry the power of the wildness that graciously allows us to fly above the land." In this unique memoir Martino tells the stories of all the horses she has ever loved, weaving her memories into a sage-like narrative that examines the spiritual and passionate relationships between humans and horses. Recalling a mare from her girlhood, Martino writes: "With Sunny I experienced what the Greek historian and commander Xenophen called the "divine sensation." The feeling of oneness and power that you share with the horse when you both understand one and another and move together in balance.... I was no longer a dusty child in cut-offs ... I was Artemis chasing deer, my bow to shoulder under the ancient moon." What makes this memoir especially readable and important is that Martino also understands human-to-human relationships--whether she"s exploring her own Native American roots, dealing with mysterious sightings of her deceased father, or accepting her own limitations as a rider. This is one wise soul and strong storyteller--an excellent book for any lover of horses and life. --Gail Hudson