{"id":9914,"date":"2013-07-20T12:44:33","date_gmt":"2013-07-20T16:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thegreathorse.com\/?page_id=9914"},"modified":"2016-10-23T09:20:46","modified_gmt":"2016-10-23T13:20:46","slug":"excerpts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/excerpts\/","title":{"rendered":"The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy: Excerpts"},"content":{"rendered":"
Amazon Top 50 Reviewer: “Don\u2019t listen to anyone who tries to label this trilogy as a work of juvenile fiction. It is much more than that.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Legend of the Great Horse<\/strong> trilogy combines page-turning adventure and and well-researched history–no prior knowledge or special interest in horses is required. <\/div>\n

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The opening book, Eclipsed by Shadow<\/strong><\/em> takes readers from a quiet modern-day setting to an epic adventure through mankind’s past.<\/p>\n

There is no illicit language, sex or gratuitous violence, but the accurately-rendered historical scenes may not suit young or sensitive readers.<\/em><\/div>\n

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An Education in Horses<\/a><\/div>\n
Horses had been Meagan\u2019s life since she had first been lifted onto Moose\u2019s broad back. Her books were horse books; her toys, horse toys. Riding lessons and a pony were all Meagan wished for on birthdays and Christmases. Every conversation included horses. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
Mrs. Bridgestone<\/a><\/div>\n
The elderly woman waited as the tea was poured, accepting her cup with a polite murmur. \u201cI am afraid, Jennifer, that by the end of this meeting you will quite think me a crazy old lady.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The First Ride<\/a><\/div>\n
The herd\u2019s 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\u2014the stallion was waiting for the group\u2019s leader to make a decision, and he wished she would hurry. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The Scythian Tomb<\/a><\/div>\n
Meagan expected the horses to whirl away, erupting in stampede. She scrambled to avoid being trampled and was stopped by a wall of packed earth. But no horse wheeled and ran, no horse gave alarm. All stood in rigid silence, immobile, and she did the same. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The Arena<\/a><\/div>\n
There was everywhere and nowhere to run. People scattered before the galloping horses and their bristling chariots of bronze. Meagan leapt out of the path of an oncoming team. Hooves pounded across her footprints. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
A Poet Gladiator<\/a><\/div>\n
\u201cThe driver listens to no one. Fame has deafened his ears.\u201d Horace stepped into the early morning sun. His marred face was ugly in the naked light and Meagan fought her urge to step back. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
Riding with Genghis Khan<\/a><\/div>\n
Horn answered horn throughout the camps. A rippling change went through the horse nation. The few not yet mounted swung aboard. Meagan\u2019s group moved out. The camp leaders rode ahead, each holding a blazing torch. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
\u201cThe devils ride a tainted bayard!\u201d<\/a><\/div>\n
A thought came to her \u2026 if she could only get close enough to Targa. \u201cI don\u2019t know about the Tatar men,\u201d she answered innocently. \u201cBut their horses have a weak spot. I could show you. Take me to any horse with a bridle on it, say \u2026 oh, the pony I was riding would be perfect. For a demonstration, I mean.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
Knights Need Horse!<\/a><\/div>\n
Meagan walked around the huge beast. The horse\u2019s eyes were small in his coarse, heavy head. His throatlatch was undefined and the upright \u201cmutton\u201d shoulders meant he would offer an uncomfortable, jarring trot. \u201cNo Henryk, I think you can do better.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
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The second book, The Golden Spark<\/strong><\/em>, continues the historical adventure after the Dark Ages … the first section which deals with the early Conquistadors may not suit very young or sensitive readers.<\/div>\n
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A Ship in Trouble<\/a><\/div>\n
THE FLOOR ROLLED sharply and Meagan fell hard against a wall. A tide of cold water sloshed over her feet. All around in the darkness were piercing screams of horses and the thudding concussion of hooves. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The Captain’s Orders<\/a><\/div>\n
\u201cMy Brother has not heard the Captain\u2019s orders. That can be the only explanation.\u201d An uncomfortable moment passed as the men contemplated each other. \u201cUnless his wine has made him forgetful.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
A Gypsy’s Warning<\/a><\/div>\n
\u201cIt is wise to be careful of looking into fires, young one.\u201d The woman\u2019s voice was soft and low. \u201cYou do not know what might be looking back.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
\u201cWe are not leaping\u2026\u201d<\/a><\/div>\n
Robert tugged on the reins and Nero swished his tail, tucking his head behind the bit and chewing voraciously. \u201cHe seems a bit sluggish,\u201d Robert commented loudly. \u201cWhy? He used to be so spirited.\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
Time travel can be tricky<\/a><\/div>\n
Both men turned to look at Meagan. She smiled and gave an embarrassed wave. Pink satin was hardly farm apparel. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
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Into the Dark<\/strong><\/em>, the third and final book of
The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy<\/b>, concludes the historical adventure with a galloping ride through the Old West and into the 20th century … and beyond.<\/div>\n
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\u201cNice teeth \u2026 for a parrot.\u201d<\/a><\/div>\n
\u201cNice teeth,\u201d she said innocently, opening the buckskin\u2019s lips, \u201cfor a parrot.\u201d Smiling, she sidled up to a potential buyer and pointed at the horse\u2019s rear portion. \u201cYou look like a horseman, so tell me \u2026 would you say the horse is sickle-hocked, or just cat-hammed? It\u2019s hard to tell, isn\u2019t it, on account of the goose rump?\u201d [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
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The Birthright of Eagles<\/a><\/div>\n
Only once did she truly gallop on a Thoroughbred. Her mount had been a claim horse on a backwater racetrack, a \u201cprospect\u201d being bought by her trainer. She remembered letting the reins out a notch and standing in the stirrups, feeling the horse opening his stride. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The End of Cavalry<\/a><\/div>\n
In all directions Meagan saw multicolored forms, misshapen and sprawled, but her eyes would not focus, could not comprehend the thousand squirming remains of a massacre. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
\u201cTo Fly without Wings\u201d<\/a><\/div>\n
Programs fluttered onto the arena floor as the crowd\u2019s appreciation drowned the loudspeakers\u2019 sound. The pony looked around the filled stadium, seeming not to understand what all the fuss was about. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n
The Great Horse, Rafi<\/a><\/div>\n
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. [read full excerpt<\/a>]<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amazon Top 50 Reviewer: “Don\u2019t listen to anyone who tries to label this trilogy as a work of juvenile fiction. It is much more than that.” The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy combines page-turning adventure and and well-researched history–no prior knowledge or special interest in horses is required. The opening book, Eclipsed by Shadow … Continue reading “The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy: Excerpts”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":247,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9914"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/247"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9914"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14684,"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9914\/revisions\/14684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thegreathorse.com\/book-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}