The First Ride

The herd’s stallion trotted fretfully around the edges of his band. A stallion may choose his group but he is not the boss. Equine society is based on friendships and roles—the stallion was waiting for the group’s leader to make a decision, and he wished she would hurry. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

A prehistoric horse herd-inspection…

“It’s all right,” Meagan calmly told the wary circle of horses. She moved slowly as individual horses stepped closer to sniff suspiciously. “I’m not going to hurt you.” She stroked the gray mare’s neck to show her good intentions.

The herd’s stallion trotted fretfully around the edges of his band. A stallion may choose his group but he is not the boss. Equine society is based on friendships and roles—the stallion was waiting for the group’s leader to make a decision, and he wished she would hurry.

The actual chief was a squat sorrel mare. She paced around Meagan with tight steps, her head held stiff and high. She was not pleased. Yes, this noisy pale monkey was interesting, mildly, taking a predator’s position to do nothing but gurgle. But the mare was impatient. She had a specific destination in mind today, a sheltered area with quality grass. The clinging creature was plainly too clumsy to be a concern, so perhaps a good day’s grazing could still be had.

To Meagan’s relief the sorrel mare snorted and swung around. The stallion moved to the rear as the herd fell into a brisk trot.

“Really, I won’t be any trouble,” Meagan assured the horses as they moved off, patting her mount’s coarse neck. The little mare flattened her ears and crow-hopped.

« “Mrs. Bridgestone” || “The Scythian Tomb” »
The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … each section is about a different time period. The above excerpt is from “Home,” the 1st section of Eclipsed by Shadow, set in modern-day California.

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book #1 of the trilogy) won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

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The Great Horse, Rafi

The Great Horse, Rafi “Meagan found herself growing angry; no one seemed to know how to care for the animal properly. She wanted to brush the horse’s unkempt coat, to oil his cracked hooves. Her eyes fell to a plaque. It was a metal sign with raised letters, fixed to a podium before the plexiglass stage…” – Into the Dark (excerpt)

 Into the dark cover image

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history―on horseback. Into the Dark (Book #3 of the Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) was honored as a Bookwatch Selection for Young Adult Fantasy.

In this excerpt, Meagan has stumbled into a strange, horseless world …

“God forbid I should go to a Heaven where there are no horses.”

—R.B. Cunningham-Graham (1852-1936)
‘Rafi’ from Into the Dark by John Royce - Artwork by Marti Adrian | (c) 2012 Micron Press

Meagan ignored the speech around her as she moved through the audience. She could see the top of a clear plexiglass wall above the heads of the crowd, but it wasn’t until moving closer that she saw it encircled a platform of artificial turf—upon which stood a living horse.

“Look!” hooted a spectator. “How would you like to clean up after that, honey?”

“I want to pet it!”

“No dear. It’s cruel to them.”

The manure had not been cleaned from underneath the horse, and there were no water buckets or haynets visible. The animal’s smooth gray coat had lumps of scurf from poor grooming and his halter was fitted too tight. Meagan recognized the horse’s Arabian breed by the dished profile of his diamond head and the long tail which draped from his level croup. The animal’s muzzle narrowed to a mouth that could almost “fit in a teacup.” Dark, expressive eyes turned their faraway gaze to Meagan. The Great Horse, Rafi.

The gray stallion was held between handlers in upbeat yellow shirts, standing before a small crowd of helpers wearing matching green Animal Hero t-shirts. Meagan found herself growing angry; no one seemed to know how to care for the animal properly. She wanted to brush the horse’s unkempt coat, to oil his cracked hooves.

Her eyes fell to a plaque. It was a metal sign with raised letters, fixed to a podium before the plexiglass stage…

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We plan to share updates about the trilogy, along with interesting news, quotes and info about horses & history. Come by and say hi!

The 3 Rules of “The Great Horse”

The Three (3) Rules of The Great Horse (aka “3 Great Rules”) are derived from legends and (possibly apocryphal) history associated with the supernatural equine manifestation herein and heretofore described as “The Great Horse.”

These guidelines have been issued by The Bridgestone Institute in the interest of protecting generally innocent but unwary victims, by assisting in the identification of any suspected “Great Horse” (or “Horses”) … and specifically to rescue one such individual, Meagan Roberts, who vanished from a suburb of California in June of 2001 and is currently considered quite hopelessly lost.

The Three (3) Rules of The Great Horse (aka “3 Great Rules”) are derived from legends and (possibly apocryphal) history associated with the supernatural equine manifestation herein and heretofore described as “The Great Horse.”

Rule #1
(alternative labeling: The Great Horse Rule Numero Uno)

The Great Horse is born at dawn.


Rule #2
(aka the Bucephalus Rule, or bronco-loco-mojo-juju)

No one may ride a Great Horse
without the owner’s permission.


Rule #3
(otherwise known as “the Bummer Clause”)

No one but the owner of the Great Horse
will believe the legend.

* Available information is admittedly scant, being virtually (and actually) limited to words the above, and no ascertainment of its validity or usefulness will be described.The Bridgestone Institute Law Office