Medicine Hat Horse
The story of a boy and his horse
by
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As is typical of horses, Sun in the Morning kept the birth of her foal hidden from predators in the corner of the wood rail corral on the outskirts of the Sioux village. When Little Running Deer raced to the corral to see if the miracle he had been anticipating had happened yet, he was surprised to see the mare with her foal, already standing and prepared to run with its dam if need arose. The Shaman's words came to him as he peered at the colt, "We Lakota value horses as a necessity of life. Without these great animals we would not be able to fight, hunt or travel as well. Some horses are special, with special markings on them. The Medicine Hat horse is the most special due to the markings on its head and if you are presented with one of these foals, you must care for it with all your heart."
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About the Book
Little Running Deer and his Medicine Hat horse are united as the story begins with the birth of the foal. Little Running Deer is ten years old and has been promised this foal at a gift. Problems arise as the Lakota Sioux tribe face the difficulties of living on a reservation c. 1900. As the boy and horse grow together a bond develops between them. Difficult decisions must be made for boy and horse to remain together during this historic period in Lakota history.
About the Author
I am a retired U.S. History teacher. I taught history to eighth graders for 20+ years and researched Native Americans extensively along the journey. I have always had an interest in the first people to inhabit this continent and their plight. While I was teaching my students about Native Americans, I found a lot of information lacking in the history books and began supplementing the curriculum with trade books. This is where my interest in writing my own book began. I have been writing for personal reasons, a journal, poetry, stories, since I was sixteen. I have lived my entire life in Illinois, west of Chicago, near the Wisconsin border. I have spent the majority of my life on farms, and currently reside on a small farm where my husband of 45 years and I care for an abundance of pets and other animals. My personal interests lie with the six horses we currently own, as well as six dogs and forty or so cats, most of which are at home in the barn. My husband enjoys raising chickens, ducks, and turkeys which provide us with eggs and meat. In my spare time I ride on trails, garden and walk. I also like to do a little sewing and lots of reading. My granddaughters are the joy of my heart and I love spending time with them.