Zen and the Art of Horseback Riding

You either have it, or you don’t. Either your bicycle was a horse, or it wasn’t. Either you drew horses on all your schoolbooks, and every piece of blank paper you could ever find, or you didn’t. You either drooled in desperation every time you were in the car and you drove by a horse, or you didn’t. You were either a born horse lover, or you weren’t. Author Mary Anne Donovan was a born horse lover, and in this book, she regales you with tales of the tremendous effects these sensitive, magnificent creatures have had on her life. You will go with her on spring morning rides, lazy summer days at the barn, and winter adventures with the horses in her life, but in particular, with Buzzy, a stalwart, former harness racehorse who completely devoted himself to the author in his career as a pleasure horse. In her memoir, Ms. Donovan captures not only the experiences of riding so you feel like you’re riding alongside her, but also how her horses and riding were instrumental in helping her overcome a difficult past. Take the worst “f” word there is – fear! By facing and overcoming her saddle-born fears, Ms. Donovan overcame a host of fears that had crippled her for years. She writes of the parallel between riding and life: “In each case, I did it. I learned. I asked for help, I regrouped, I questioned myself, I found answers within myself, I sweated, I shook, I cried, I laughed, I'd think, 'I should give this up.' I didn't give up.”

It is freezing – an unusually cold winter day. The sun hints deceptively of a warmth that’s not there – at least in temperature. But the snow on the fields and the icy waters of the nearby creek reflect the sunlight in a dazzling array of diamonds and jewels reserved for this horse and rider. No coldness for this rider who is enveloped in the warm vibrations generated by the horse beneath whose breath advances in a musky-smelling steam. All thought dissipates as the rider is lost in the here and now -- all present, all being, all is, and nothing else. This book is about my foray into the magic of the equine world, about my journey of personal growth alongside and astride my beloved ponies, about difficult choices, financial disaster, children who hated horses, and lots of guilt. It is a book dedicated to horses and horse lovers everywhere, people who love the horse for what it is, and not for its grand accomplishments. But it is especially dedicated to a little, non-descript, bay horse named Buzzy: A horse who told me who I was, taught me how to live, and most important, gave me a piece of himself.

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker: It’s been said that the average number of careers held by today’s professional is seven. Author Mary Anne Donovan fits the bill with her positions as technical sales rep, service manager, technical writer, book author, college professor, website writer, editor, and instructional designer. On the personal level, variety has also spiced up her life, with favorite activities that include running, reading, writing, horseback riding, hiking, and just about anything that takes place outdoors. “The more you experience in life, the more opportunities you have to know who you are and what you want,” she says. “I found my true self while on the back of my most stalwart and wonderful little horse, Buzzy.” After teaching a myriad of writing classes at various colleges, currently Mary Anne is teaching Business Writing at the College at Brockport, a State University of New York School, and basic composition at Colorado Technical University Online. In her “spare” time, she writes books, blogs (checkout http://madmuser.wordpress.com/) and biographies (recent title, The Biography of Christina Aguilera).