About the Book
With over sixty inspiring literary masterpieces, Blue Mountain Rider delves deep into Mary Bensons' and Hedy Strauss' life endless fascination with the “horse world.” It reflects the inexplicable charm and communication that have existed between humans and horses for thousands of years and as it continues through time.
Saddle up and explore the mountain trails. Go back in time and hop aboard a magic sleigh as it jingles over freshly fallen snow on a country lane.Gallop with the hunt. Step up to a ringside seat and capture the drama of the exciting world of thoroughbred racing and experience the joy and often the sadness that life with horses entails.
Creatively written, this anthology explores the authors’ deepest emotions,ambitions, desires, hopes, fears, and dreams.
Marshaled from real-life experiences, keen observations, and valuable knowledge acquired over a lifetime by both authors, Blue Mountain Rider illustrates the love and respect for an animal that has earned its way into the structure of man’s life—a theme that will grow in the minds and hearts of everyone.
THE HORSES
Many of the poems were based on the actual relationships the authors had with some very special horses that entered their lives.
With due respect, they deserve to be included as they were the driving force behind several of the poems.
Hedy’s horses:
“A special thanks to these horses who inspired me to write some of the poetry in this book.”
Hedy’s Honey—during the twenty-six years we spent together, you made my life just wonderful!
Black Powder—you were the true meaning of wild spirit, the greatest challenge I ever met.
Night Cap—you were the true meaning of the spirit of the Arabian horse.
Ginger—you were a Shetland pony with a big heart.
Davey—Davey and I found solace on the trails of Forest Park.
Hobo—the paint horse whose airs above the ground made him a real performer on the trail.
Cotton Starbright—Cotton found monsters on each trail teaching me that it is possible to jettison into reverse past all the other horses.
Marys’ horses:
“Always a source of inspiration and the essence of my life.”
Apache Gold—one of my greatest gifts, a little Appaloosa mare who handled with grace and aplomb anything she was asked to do.
Cold River Bear—my multitalented, big-hearted mounted patrol horse and superb trail partner who could stand quietly during a twenty-one gun salute and a fly over.
Forest Flash—the always-elegant Thoroughbred mare who could win at the track and win at dressage.
Punkin—the Triangle Ranch Quarter Horse who showed me what sliding stops and rollbacks were all about.
Ravens Pride—sweet, sensitive, and smooth, my beautiful sorrel Tennessee Walker mare and horse camping buddy.
Rizzo—the multitalented Thoroughbred who could jump the moon but could not always contain himself.
Roland—an old Thoroughbred campaigner who gave my daughter her first blue ribbon in hunter over fences.
And of course for both of us, the horse who started it all . . .
Trigger the golden palomino who was every little kids’ dream horse and inspiration.
- Mary Benson and Hedy Strauss