Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could by Sandy Nathan

March 9, 2011 — Pat Bertram

Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could

Tecolote’s chances were not good. Born prematurely on a freezing night, the buckskin colt had to fight for his life. When he was still a baby, Tecolote lost his mother. Would he be able to find a horse to help him grow up and teach him the ways of the herd? Would he ever know a friend who would love and protect him?

Be with Tecolote as he masters the challenges that young horses–and young people–face as they grow up and become all they’re meant to be. Tecolote: The Little Horse That Could will inspire children and adults alike. The illustrations in this book are snapshots taken while Tecolote’s story was unfolding. In using snapshots, the author wanted to bring you as close to the action as possible and introduce you to the real Tecolote, Shambho, Rosie, and all the other horses of Rancho Vilasa. This truly is Tecolote’s scrapbook–welcome to his world.

Excerpt––The beginning of Chapter One

“We’d better call Dad,” Lily said, “just to make sure everything’s all right.” My daughter Lily and I were headed for a gospel concert. We were already in the spirit, clapping and laughing as we drove through the twilight in our lovely valley.

I pulled out my cell phone and dialed home. Things weren’t all right–I could tell the instant I heard Barry’s voice.

“I need you,” he said. “Rosie had her baby. He’s early. He can’t stand up. I need help.”
“We’ll be right there.” We whipped the car around, all thoughts gospel and joy gone.

We had bred horses for almost twenty years. We knew that baby horses need all the time they can get inside their mothers. A baby horse that’s born just two weeks early probably won’t make it. His little lungs may not be able to give him the air that he needs. He’ll be too weak to stand or nurse.

Rosie’s baby was ten days early. He could die.

Bio:
Sandy Nathan has been active riding, showing, breeding, and loving horses for most of her life. She and her family raised Peruvian Paso horses for more than twenty years. “Horses enabled me to be the person I am. As a child, I was so shy I seldom spoke. When I got my first horse at age thirteen, I learned to assert myself. Over my years with horses, I’ve learned competency and self confidence that transferred all over my life.”