Chapters in the book conduct the reader through first steps in choosing the right horse, through properly housing, feeding and caring for the animal, selection of appropriate riding equipment, amount of time a horse requires and choice of training methods, to other considerations such as home insurance and transportation for the horse. Technical terms from the horse world are defined, and the writing is clear and understandable, even for young readers. Photos and illustrative stories from Moller’s experience add interest and zest to the text. Three handy appendices provide a detailed "shopping list” and prices for all major and minor expenses of horse ownership, a list of questions to ask and issues to consider when purchasing a horse, and a list of recommended resources for horse products and services.

     Written by Diane Moller, professional horse trainer, riding teacher and life-long horse lover, the book has a twofold aim: (1) to help horse owners make the choices that will assure their greatest satisfaction and safety in owning a horse and (2) to help horses receive the understanding and responsible treatment they deserve.

     What a "FREE" HORSE Really Costs offers guidance that any prospective horse owner, no matter what age, will find very educational and well worth the small investment.
     Ten per cent of the proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to “Habitat for Horses” rescue organization. Ten per cent of the proceeds from sales of the e-book will be donated to the Hooved Animal Humane Society.
     Save a horse......support a rescue!

About the author:

    Diane Moller has owned horses for over forty two years, and has been training owners and their horses for over sixteen years. She started taking riding lessons when she was seven years old, received her first horse for her eleventh birthday and took on her first abused horse-training project when she was just fourteen. She started showing western pleasure, equitation and trail horse when she was twelve. Next, she explored English equitation and jumping, and now rides Dressage. In 1992, Moller and her mother moved from California to Southern Oregon where they converted a twenty-acre chicken ranch into a beautiful boarding stable. Moller gave lessons and hosted riding clinics at the boarding stable for nine years before downsizing to a comfortable five-acre spread in Cave Junction, Oregon. She continues giving lessons and occasionally takes horses in training at the ranch she shares with her husband, two horses-Roscoe and Picasso-and two dogs-Banjo and Shasta.

  Gotta love animals!

  We've all had our ups and downs in life. To be able to go out and have that quiet, peaceful, majestic horse listen to problems and not be judgmental, has helped me many times throughout the years. Their unconditional love is surpassed by no other. I feel that all animals, like humans, have their own personalities and feelings for families and friends. For this reason and knowing about the inhumane treatment of farm animals, I became a vegetarian over 17 years ago. Three years ago I gave up cheese and most dairy products. My husband and I are now changing all our household products to bio-degradable, with no animal byproducts, and with no animal testing (check www.peta.org for a list of products that do and do not use animal testing). We do not support items that are produced where animals are treated inhumanly. This is why I have written What a “FREE” HORSE Really Costs, to help people understand what’s involved in owning and caring for horses. Horses deserve humane treatment which is proper food, shelter, health care and non-abusive training which includes comfortable tack.

 

Banjo the Therapy dog

      All my life we’ve owned dogs. All my adult life I’ve saved dogs from a shelter, a humane society or I found one that nobody claimed.  The most recent dog came from a friend who needed a home for their dog. He’s a three year old Great Pyrenees/Irish Setter mix. His name is Banjo. I feel so fortunate to have gotten such a well-trained, sensitive, sweet dog! He’s so wonderful that I felt that I needed to share him. He passed his Therapy Dog evaluation and is now TDI (Therapy Dog International) certified. We have started a reading program with Banjo in our local elementary school. All the kids just love him and he feels very special!

                     "Be kind to one another."
                                              Ellen DeGeneres