The Power of Horses
 Lisa Wysocky
 (Reviewed by The Editor - Rebecca Brown)
 2002 Fura Books, Inc.
  ISBN: 1890224103


Entertainment publicist, Lisa Wysocky gathers True Stories from Country Music Stars about their inspiration from & their love of horses.

In the Author's Note, Lisa Wysocky tells us how Snoqualmie, a white Appaloosa mare, came into her life & was her companion all through her first two decades. When she could no longer ride in competitions or breed & train horses, she became an entertainment publicist in the Country Music world. There she realized that many of the stars also had a great love of horses & some interesting stories to tell.

Lisa Wysocky has gleaned these stories from performers such as Brad Paisley, George Jones, Susan Ashton, Clay Walker, Toby Keith, the Bellamy Brothers, Lynn Anderson, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Charlie Daniels, The Wilkinsons, Mustang Sally, Tommy Shane Steiner, Chris LeDoux, Roy Clark, John Berry, Kix Brooks, Wild Horses, & Perfect Stranger.

In The Power of Horses each star has a different take on the influence their horses have had in their lives -- both as youngsters & in later years.

George Jones, says: “I find horses very relaxing, and totally unlike the entertainment business...My fans have been very good to me and I've had a great career...I like to step back from that. I like walking around the fields and watching the sun set. I don't have nearly the time that I'd like to spend with the horses, but it brings something extra, and very nice, to my day to see them out there.”

Each Star's section begins with a quote from a magazine reviewer's observations about the star, & then a publicity blurb about their history, place & achievements in Country Music's constellation. At the end of each section are listed the star's Website & Fan Club address.

As Clay Walker says: “I think that the most important thing for me in life is to learn from whatever I'm doing. I don't really like to participate in things that I'm not learning something from and getting something out of. With horses, you learn constantly and you get so much back.”

The Power of Horses is dedicated to the spirit of Snoqualmie, & to the healing, learning & pure affection horses have given to all with whom she spoke.

Ryan Rygmyr, lead singer of Mustang Sally, recounts: “The thing I love most about horses is their personality. You just can't realize how much personality a horse has until you've had one of your own. They are all different. And once you know what to look for, they are great communicators, not like a dog or a cat, but in their own horse-like way. We can learn a lot if we can only try to see the world through their eyes.”

My only complaint about The Power of Horses, which I mentioned to Fura Books, is that the photographs of the Country Music Stars are too darkly reproduced. They said in future prints, that has been remedied.

One of the things Roy Clark, who came to loving horses later in life, says is: “...horses really take your mind off any other problem that you have when you are around them. You come in off the road, you've been out on a long tour, you go to the farm and start just walking around the horses, seeing how they are maturing. You just go into a different world and boy, that's a wonderful place.”

All in all, The Power of Horses is an unusual & unique smorgasbord of Country Music headliners' love affairs with the most powerfully beautiful creatures ever to grace our lives & the Earth.
(09/01/02)

Rebecca