As told to Janice M. Ladendorf
PUBLISHED BY iUniverse, Bloomington, IN
ISBN: 978-1-4502-6960-5 ~ U.S. $15.95 – SOFTCOVER

Reviewed by Jess Hallas-Kilcoyne

How often do we riders wonder what our horses are thinking? A Marvelous Mustang is a fascinating story seen through the eyes of Skandranon Rashkae (“Skan”), a Spanish Mustang. Author and Skan’s owner, Janice M. Ladendorf, relates the tale of Skan’s first four years of life, from his birth as a wild horse on the range at Horse Head Ranch in North Dakota, to his capture, gentling, and eventual acceptance of life as a riding horse.

Ladendorf effectively illustrates Skan’s character and tells of his experiences in a charmingly realistic manner. As a reader, you almost believe that you are reading the horse’s words as he wrote them. As he learns to accept a halter, shelter, and finally a saddle and rider on his back, and then finally places his full trust in “Wind” (Skan’s name for Ladendorf), Skan’s story evokes a tremendous amount of empathy. It is a thought-provoking look at life from a horse’s perspective.

This book comes highly recommended to all, from the non-horsey person looking for a good read to the serious rider looking to gain new perspective on the inner workings of a horse’s mind.